How to Involve Employees in Ecoprojects

According to WWF estimates, ROI of companies with environmental goals is on average 9% higher than of those without them. DuPont saves up to $ 2.2 billion a year through energy-efficient solutions. M&S was going to spend £200 million on social responsibility programs over 5 years, and in the end of the day – it has saved £105 million.

"Green" principles are beneficial for non-productive companies as well. The most eco-friendly Russian offices (offices, not plants!) reduce their costs through saving electricity and water. The Guardian explains: environmental responsibility goes side by side with the "lean production". From "greening" business moves to reduction of unproductive costs (funds and time). That's why IT companies and financial institutions, which do not produce anything and can not save billions on rational use of materials and energy, also invest into eko-initiatives.

In short, environmental responsibility of business is both the way to the future and profitable investments.

How to involve employees in Ecoprojects? Start from communication!

The company will become "green" and will receive the corresponding benefits under 3 main conditions:

1. It has a considered strategy...
2. ...supported by the company's management.
3. Employees of the company embody "green" values in their daily work.

In Russian realities, the most important point is the second one. But the third one is important as well. If for the past 10–20 years, a company has not thoughts on the environment, where can employees take the motivation to change habits from? In a team, not light enough on foot, a number of objections may appear:

• "Saving technologies are an unnecessary risk. I will inform the Technical Director on the issue."
• "To save electricity? You are attacking my comfort for the sake of saving a penny?"
• "We already work well, and these LEAN and Green technologies are just a waste of time."

The problem can not be solved without considered and regular communications.

• Talk about the benefits of "green" solutions not only for the world as a whole, but also for your company ("if we spend less electricity, we will save funds for the playground near the office").
• Encourage managers to show a personal example.
• Involve your colleagues – discuss environment solutions with them, learn (and consider) their opinions, invite them to join initiative teams.

The effect will be better if you combine communication... with recreational and entertaining activities.

A fascinating way to environmental responsibility practice is through entertainment

For example, employees of ICL Services regularly participate in 4 environment initiatives: (1) cleaning suburban lakes and forests, (2) landscaping the city, (3) collection and recycling of batteries (4) saving energy and water in the offices of the company. The initiative is under consideration and development – separate waste collection and waste paper collection.

The company has developed an atypical algorithm of "green" solutions integration: they are initiated by employees-volunteers and supported by the company. For the company's employees, it is a way of self-realization and even intangible motivator, and the company solves "green" issues with minimal involvement of specialized services.

The company's team was initially favorably disposed to care on the environment. People are inspired by environment experience of international clients. The average age of the company's employees is less than 30 years, it means that the company has many active people of "Y Generation." However, "approving" and "active participation" are not one and the same thing.

To involve employees in environmentally responsible activities, it was decided to introduce them under an "entertainment sauce." This recipe has given its effect.

• "Green Entertainment" is an annual summer bike ride with cleaning the shores of the suburban lake and a picnic (fun and useful). For the first time it was organized by the company's HR service and employees were happy to take part in the ride. Then the ride has become a tradition one, and the volunteers-employees have taken up its organization. Gaining experience, they started to get involved in other environment initiatives, including non-corporative ones.
• "Do it for ourselves." One of the company's offices is located outside the city. Employees like to walk around the area adjacent to offices during lunch time, and that's why many of them have responded to the invitation to "green" the area. Like a bike ride, tree planting has become a regular event. The first and the second iteration were organized by the HR service. Starting from the third one, the task (together with the smooth-running organizational process) was adopted by the company's employees-volunteers, and landscaping (at the expense of the company) goes out of its own offices to the city and suburban parks.
• "Do it like I do." Administration of ICL Services, together with HR Department, has organized a constant collection of used batteries. Employees are willing handing over batteries in the office (instead of disposing them into their household garbage); the company annually sends to recycle up to 100 kg of toxic waste. When the idea to organize separate waste collection and waste recycling appeared, based on existing experience in batteries collection, it was easy to attract volunteers for its realization.

These activities have launched environment volunteering. Another group of volunteers has improved energy consumption plans for corporate PCs, has prepared feasibility study (saving of up to 130,000 kW∙h per year) and has transferred them to the IT service for implementation. There appeared those wishing to organize the waste paper collection.

Experience has shown: that in order to promote environment initiatives, the company can give them the initial impetus through fun, enjoyable events. Over time, a "pendulum will swing" and environment processes will become self-sustaining. And then the employees will be involved in the environmental policy of the company much deeper than they would if it was put into practice by a directive "from above."