It is interesting to see the evolution of the workforce and their belief system.A recent Gallup study found that only 29 percent of millennial say that they feel engaged at work. It is always not about Ping Pong tables and Beer Cart Fridays, 76 % of millennial & Zillenials are extremely concerned about the larger purpose that their organization is working towards and want to see a higher sense of social responsibility in organizational culture and intent.
One of these is about conserving our planet and natural resources.
At a recent training program, one of our activities involved crushing paper into balls and throwing them. One of the participants was extremely displeased about the wastage of paper and refused to participate in the activity. A wake up call for us.
In another meeting, one of the client team members refused to discard her paper coffee cup…said she will recycle it for another round.
Facts & Data
1. Close to 90 percent of millennials would consider taking a pay cut to work at a company whose mission and values align with their own, according to an Entrepreneur article.
2. A Nielsen poll found that 73 percent of millennials worldwide are willing to pay more for sustainable products.
3. Among Zillenials, 94 percent believe companies should address urgent social and environmental issues, compared to 87 percent of millennials and 86 percent of the general population, according to a Cone Communications 2017 study.
4. According to a WeSpire 2018 survey, Gen Z is the first generation to prioritize purpose over money.
5. Gen Z is also far more aware of the environmental impact of their purchases than the generations before them according to a CSG study.
Go Green Agenda
Going green means to live life in a way that is friendly to the environment and the earth as a whole. It could also mean contributing towards maintaining the natural ecological balance in the environment and preserving the planet and its natural systems and resources. Overall, people who go green take steps to minimize the harm that they do to the environment, such as the carbon footprints they leave behind.
If you want to get ahead in business these days, it’s not enough to have a great product and a desire to make it big. It’s also essential to understand the evolving needs of your customers and employees, who are looking for products and organizations respectively that are driving a bigger purpose, one of which could be to be environment friendly.
1. Providing A healthy work environment could include providing green spaces, natural products, healthy food options, reducing plastic usage, using bio-degradable materials and so on. Provide filtered water instead of bottled water.
2. Builds employer brand and profitability- With green initiatives increasing in popularity, economic studies have shown that companies utilizing green technology and selling green products are seeing an increase in profits. Companies such as Wal-Mart and Target have incorporated green changes such as composting and recycling, changing transportation routes to save gas, reducing packaging, and stocking their shelves with greener products. As a result, these companies have seen customers respond positively to the changes, with green product sales alone jumping somewhere around 20 percent.
3. Small changes lead to better ways of working- Going green can improve the overall efficiency of a business. Reducing unnecessary waste can trim operating costs for the business. for example,turning off lights in vacant offices can save energy, save on utility costs and increase the company’s bottom line. Printing less cuts down on paper usage, and can lower the budget spent on printing materials. Refilling ink cartridges instead of throwing them away is another money-saving practice, since it saves money on the purchase of new cartridges, and it also reduces the amount of plastic thrown away from the cartridge and packaging. Placing recycling bins in each of your common work and meeting areas sends the message to employees and visitors to your offices that you take environmental responsibility seriously
4. Reduce Travel and use technology- Meetings are an important part of doing business and global businesses means travel. If you want to attend conferences or meet potential clients outside your immediate area, you have to hop a plane or take a long drive. Travel not only cuts into your business’ bottom line, it has a negative impact on the planet.Instead of going to a conference to network, schedule a webinar and get your customers to join you online, saving everyone money and reducing carbon emissions. Learn to interact with your clients on video chat, since it can bring similar face-to-face benefits as an in-person meeting.
According to the Cox Conserves Sustainability Survey of small & medium-sized businesses (SMBs), 65 percent of SMBs are committed to increasing their eco-friendly activities, and 60 percent said that cost reduction and company values were the top factors driving investment in sustainability.
By addressing environmental concerns, businesses can work towards creating a more sustainable future. Whether companies start green initiatives at work, or bring about change on an international scale, every step taken towards a greener future is one worth investing in. So, the whole idea is to involve everyone in these changes so that the whole business is aware of the priority you place on environmental responsibility and to build a culture of conservation.