Developing and operationalizing a sustainability plan is usually a top-down process, but landing the goals requires engaging the entire team because solutions need to come from all aspects of the organization. While it may seem like everyone should want to take positive actions for the environment and benefit the greater good — it’s not always easy to grow and sustain participation and engagement in the long run. But when you know how to motivate employees to participate in your sustainability initiatives, the benefits are immense, even going beyond the employee and organization.

So, why do employers struggle to get their employees to sign up, show up and keep going with sustainability initiatives?

4 most likely reasons your employees are not engaged with your sustainability plans: 

1. 1. They think it is too complicated. If it’s not simple and easy to join in, your employees won’t consistently contribute to it. They’ll think it’s too hard if they need to learn yet another new tool or make major lifestyle changes at the drop of a hat. 

2. 2. They don’t have the time. Everyone is busy and spare time is a luxury most don’t have in their workday. When workloads are high and deliverables are the top priority, employees feel they do not have the time to learn about, never mind make lifestyle changes to drive sustainability goals.  

3. 3. The initiatives do not interest them. If your sustainability plans are not relatable and easily applicable, employees likely won’t want to be a part of it. People are interested in varying activities and want to contribute to initiatives that are aligned with their interests and lifestyle. 

4. 4. They don’t think it’s a priority. Getting employees to buy-in to initiatives starts with leadership setting clear goals tied to the organization’s strategy and vision. Commitment and applied focus come when an organization goes beyond talking about plans to creating a culture that champions change. 

How to motivate employees to participate in your sustainability initiatives: 

Inspiring employees to actively engage and contribute to your sustainability initiatives is a highly fruitful cause. You can overcome barriers in a few simple ways: 

1. 1. Make it relatable. No one wants to make lifestyle changes that are of no benefit to them or engage in activities that they can’t contribute to. Keep employees interested in your sustainability initiatives by providing a range of activities that cover different themes and address the three sustainability pillars – social, economic and environmental sustainability. Have a combination of general themes that can apply to a broad group of employees and role specific themes across different teams in the organization. When employees can pick and choose which activities they want to participate in, it makes the initiative relevant and interesting to them. And as a bonus, science shows that when people have a choice, they feel more motivated to complete tasks. 

2. 2. Make it a priority. Employees need to know that sustainability is important and an integral part of your organization’s success. Leaders should create an environment that truly supports sustainability initiatives. They need to model behavior and set aside time for sustainability activities like walking meetings, volunteer activities and lunch-and-learn events. An organization’s culture needs to be embedded with the belief that, individually and collectively, we can improve our climate outcomes. When everyone feels they have the support to drive change regardless of their title, solutions and engagement will emerge. 

3. 3. Provide incentives and rewards. Taking the first step to contribute to sustainability initiatives can be overwhelming, so give employees a little something from the start — not just when they achieve sustainability goals. Ask your employees what motivates them and tailor incentives to align — relevant sustainability incentives and rewards change from person to person. 

4. 4. Keep employees connected. Effective sustainability programs don’t just exist in the office. To sustain long-term participation in the program, sustainability initiatives need to become a real part of employees’ lifestyles. Leverage multiple touch points in on-site and offsite communication to reach employees in their preferred methods and communicate with all employees. That way, employees can check and update their progress, see which initiatives they’re participating in and stay involved outside of work.  

From meaningful carbon impact to real-world financial savings, sustainability initiatives benefit employees and employers, but only if employees are participating. When it’s easy, fun, convenient and rewarding, long-term employee participation in sustainability programs is achievable. 

Check out our top practices for how to increase employee engagement and participation in sustainability programs with Greenaider’s eco-impact platform.