There are numerous hats worn on the heads of today’s HR leaders.
Regardless of which industry the function sits within, HR is at the core of the business, adept at working to combat the rising challenges in the constantly changing landscape.
Global environmental hazards have elevated discussions surrounding the climate crisis and the HR department is now firmly wearing the sustainability integration hat to keep up with the demands of both investors and consumers.
The department’s remit was more commonly recognised for employee welfare and talent sourcing, but the margins have expanded, and HR leaders are in the prime position to galvanise business operations to meet sustainability targets.
According to the World Economic Forum, 90 per cent of executives believe sustainability is important but only 60 per cent have sustainability strategies in place, therefore HR leaders play a key role in amplifying the importance of sustainability.
Are HR leaders sustainability experts?
The truth is, the majority are not. However, they understand core sustainability requirements and are in a strong position to spot opportunities where they can influence others and implement robust strategies that align the business with meeting its ambitious sustainability and ESG goals.
Even the most talented Chief Sustainability Officer requires company-wide support, regardless of the level at which employees work, and so HR strives to bolster the sustainability team which may be a one-person band in a small start-up or a well-established team in a larger organisation.
How does HR support sustainability strategies in the workplace?
The HR function is the catalyst between the board and the workforce, where robust discussions can be opened and shared among stakeholders. These lines of communication can spark ideas or feedback through the distribution of surveys or focus groups to assess any sustainability concerns that need to be addressed.
Conversations with employees will strengthen engagement with sustainability activities at work and ensure everyone is on board with the programme.
The protection of people and the planet should remain equal key drivers alongside making a profit and HR leaders are primed to ensure this balance is met efficiently.
They can define sustainability goals within the hiring process from the get-go to attract top talent with similar values, which will also demonstrate the company’s sustainability commitments externally.
Development and training courses can also hone in on a multitude of sustainability topics from environmental issues to ethical practices which can be conducted across the entire organisation to upskill employees.
Why is it important for HR to sharpen the lens on sustainability?
HR has in-depth knowledge of culture creation and combines this with the company’s ESG goals to weave sustainability in the fabric of the company.
Businesses can no longer rest on their laurels when it comes to protecting the environment. Climate change is now a stark reality, and governments, leaders, businesses and communities must unite to overcome critical global challenges by driving solutions.
HR plays a vital role in highlighting sustainability due to the increasing pressure from younger consumers which acts as a driving force for businesses to do good. Millennials and Gen-Z are particularly vocal about ensuring the products they purchase are as sustainable as possible.
Their increasing demands are forcing business to step up their sustainability agendas and deliver more sustainable products, from using less plastic to using a transparent supply chain with strong ethical values. The HR function is geared up to guide such a journey.
How can I get a deeper dive into the HR function and sustainability challenges?
Acre recently released a Change Management paper which further unpacks the relationship between HR and the sustainability agenda.
It looks at sustainability from the perspective of building resilience and achieving operational success, while highlighting the importance of collaborative partnership between the Chief Human Resources Officers (CHRO) and the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO).
The sustainability landscape is constantly evolving and departments are developing new skill sets to keep up.
How do you see the HR function evolving within your organisation? Is employee engagement with sustainability more successful because of ESG initiatives driven by the HR department?
