Engaging employees in sustainability initiatives can have a powerful impact on achieving a company’s net-zero goals. By establishing a culture where employees feel responsible and committed to environmental objectives, companies can see substantial improvements in sustainable practices. Tracking specific metrics helps not only in measuring the efficacy of employee engagement but also in aligning with broader organisational sustainability objectives. Here are five critical metrics to monitor for effective employee engagement in sustainability:
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are one of the primary contributors to climate change. Monitoring these emissions allows companies to understand the environmental impact of their operations and workforce activities.
Why It Matters
Tracking GHG emissions as part of engaging employees in sustainability helps identify areas where employee behaviour can directly contribute to emission reductions, such as in travel, remote work and sustainable commuting options. For example, a reduction in travel emissions due to an increase in virtual meetings may indicate the effectiveness of remote engagement efforts. Organisations that want to involve employees in sustainability efforts must understand the three scopes of emissions. Industry data shows that scope 3 emissions (all indirect emissions that occur in the supply chain of an organisation) represent about 88% of an average company's total emissions. This makes it a vital area that needs employee involvement.
How to Track and Manage Emissions
Energy management has become essential in corporate sustainability strategies. Reducing energy use not only lowers emissions but also decreases operational costs.
Why It Matters
Engaging employees in sustainability by encouraging mindful energy use can have a significant impact on the company’s overall energy consumption. Studies reveal that energy efficiency investments can cut company energy bills by an average of 30%
How to Track and Manage It
A Sustainability Knowledge Score measures employees’ understanding of sustainability issues, best practices and the company’s specific environmental goals.
Why It Matters
Organisations can learn about their environmental programmes when they measure their employees' knowledge of sustainability initiatives. Companies can identify awareness gaps and improve their training strategies with a detailed sustainability knowledge score.
How to Track and Manage It
Learn more here: Employee Engagement Survey Service Wrapped Up
Environmentally responsible commuting serves as an effective way to measure employee participation in corporate environmental initiatives. This encompasses using eco-friendly alternatives like public transport, carpooling, walking and cycling.
Why It Matters
Commuting choices have a large environmental impact due to fuel consumption and emissions. A higher Green Commuting Percentage indicates effective employee engagement in sustainable commuting options. Organisations can use this data to further promote eco-friendly transportation, such as adding more bike racks or partnering with public transit providers for discounted fares. This metric also aligns with Scope 3 emission reductions, helping companies report on indirect emissions resulting from employee activities. While also engaging employees in sustainability initiatives.
How to Track and Manage It
This measures the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives led or supported by employees. These projects might range from energy-saving challenges to biodiversity projects.
Why It Matters
Tracking success rates helps organisations understand which sustainability projects employees are most enthusiastic about and where they can make the most impact. High success rates can encourage the company to implement similar initiatives more broadly, while low success rates may indicate a need for additional resources or improved communication.
How to Track and Manage It
Tracking these five metrics could offer a comprehensive view of how effectively employees are engaged in sustainability efforts and provides actionable insights into areas where the company can improve. Engaging employees in sustainability can not only help reduce environmental impacts but also enhance brand reputation, employee satisfaction and retention rates.