Project Study on Sustainability Teams and Employee Engagement

Description
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. In ecology the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time.

Sustainability Teams and  Employee Engagement
Business Case & Guidance Melissa A. Schweisguth FTSLA Webinar 11/11/11
Thanks 2010 FTSLA sponsors

Agenda
•? Introductions and Logistics (5 min) •? Overview (15 minutes) Melissa Schweisguth, FTSLA
–? Business Case –? Sustainability teams –? Internal engagement –? Internal education

•? Peer Case Studies (15 min each) –? Alissa Becker, UNFI –? Lisa Drake, Stonyfield Farm •? Q&A and Discussion (10 min)

Agenda
•? Business Case •? Sustainability Teams
–? Structure –? Responsibility –? Coordination

•? Internal Education
–? Guidance –? Peer examples

•? Internal Engagement
–? Guidance –? Peer examples

Business Case
•? Tap diverse talents & passions
•? Address general impacts shaped by individual actions
•? Drive functional innovation
•? Align focus and resources
•? Build unity
•? Improve recruitment, retention and morale
•? Create brand ambassadors

Business Case
•? Employee commitment tied to perception of Corporate CSR

Source: Center for Creative Leadership, 2010

Business Case
•? 79% of employees want employers with aligned values
•? 85% of investors prefer socially responsible companies

Data sources: BBMG, 2009; BCCCC/Reputation Institute,Institute, 2008; Yankelovich, 2007 Data sources: BBMG, BCCCC/Reputation Yankelovich

Sustainability Teams: Structure
No single “best” model – ?nd what’s right for your organization
•? None – management team handles
•? Senior level or mixed levels
•? Part of job description or not
•? Assigned or self-selected
•? Long-term or rotating
•? Ongoing or ad-hoc
•? Dedicated budget or not

Sustainability Teams: Composition
•? Choose functions per your needs & focus
–?Sustainability/CSR
–?Environmental Health & Safety
–?Community/Philanthropy
–?Human Resources
–?Marketing/PR
–?R&D/Packaging
–?Logistics
–?Procurement
–?Finance

Sustainability Teams: Roles
•? Strategy, goals
•? Performance measurement
•? Internal liaisons
•? Internal trainings
•? Communications
•? Project development
•? Project implementation
•? Employee engagement
•? Budget management

Sustainability Teams: Coordination
•? Chair/facilitator?
•? In-person meetings
•? E-mail
•? Intranet (forum, wiki)
•? Conference calls (video)
•? Shared documents  on server
•? Regular updates (e-news)

Sustainability Teams: Tips
•? Ensure key functions are represented
•? Ensure CEO-level support
•? Communicate activities and progress across organization
•? Allow for grassroots input
•? Allocate suf?cient time in overall workload

Sustainability Teams - Bene?ts
•? Ef?cient decision making
•? Coordinated action
•? Mobilize organization more easily
•? Gain necessary  cross-functional insights
•? Build teamwork

Sustainability Teams: Examples
•? Sustainability Department Team w/ Dedicated Roles
–?Clif Bar, Frontier
–?Nature’s Path
–?Organic Valley
–?Stony?eld, UNFI

•? Part of Management Team
–?Hummingbird
–?Organically Grown

Sustainability Teams: Examples
•? Cross-Functional Team
–?Glory Bee Foods
–?Wholesum Family Farms

•? Facility/grassroots teams
–?Ashland Food Co-op
–?Clif Bar Eco-Posse
–?PCC Markets
–?UNFI
–?Whole Foods Market

Internal Education: Venues
•? Internal website
•? E-mail
•? Blog
•? Flyers
•? Newsletter
•? Trainings
•? Staff meetings
•? Photos, video
•? Social media

Internal Education: Bene?ts
•? Build common understanding
•? Inspire action
•? Build pride
•? Invite ideas
•? Ensure uni?ed messaging
•? (see business case for others)

Internal Education: Tips
•? Speak to & respect different levels of interest & understanding
•? Use everyday language
•? Use examples, images
•? State business & sustainability bene?ts
•? Build on known frameworks, e.g., Lean Manufacturing

Internal Education: Examples
•? Glory Bee Foods
–?Trainings
–?Internal Newsletter

•? Ashland Food Co-op
–?Trainings – new employees and new programs
–?E-mail
–?Postings

Internal Education: Examples
•? Sustainability and/or Organic Trainings
–?Ashland Food Co-op
–?Clif Bar
–?Glory Bee Foods
–?Nature’s Path
–?Organically Grown  Company

Employee Engagement
•? Bottom up vs top down
•? Ad-hoc committees
•? Project development
•? Department liaison, trainer
•? Campaign
•? Suggestion box/website
•? Incentives
•? Matching Donations
•? Functional innovation

Image: Frontier Co-op

Employee Engagement: Bene?ts
•? Develop leadership
•? Drive functional innovation
•? Embed sustainability across company
•? Tap unused skills, knowledge
•? Pilot programs for expansion
•? Enhance credibility in sustainability
•? Build cross-functional collaboration
•? (see business case for others)

Image: PCC

Internal Engagement: Tips
•? Get management buy-in
•? Empower employees to create, shape and lead programs
•? Set guidelines & expectations
•? Allow ?exibility: depts., sites
•? Include program options
•? Offer multiple ways to engage
•? Provide funding &recognition
Photo: Hummingbird Wholesale

Internal Engagement: Examples
•? Promote conscious individual actions
–?Ashland Food Co-op: Water, waste
–?Clif Bar: Energy, water, waste & climate
–?Glory Bee Foods: waste
–?Hummingbird: Energy, waste
–?Lundberg: Energy, waste
–?Nature’s Path: Waste, climate
–?Organically Grown: Paper use
–?Wedge Co-op: Energy
Photo: Nature’s Path

Internal Engagement: Examples
•? Alternative Commuting
–?Ashland Co-op. Clif Bar
–?Lundberg, Nature’s Path
–?Organically Grown Co
–?Organic Valley, PCC

•? Volunteer (bene?ts)
–?Clif Bar, Frontier
–?Nature’s Path
–?Organic Valley
–?Wedge

Photos: PCC, Clif Bar

Education & Engagement: Examples
Unique programs
•? Clif Bar: Employee CSA’s
•? Equal Exchange: Employees visit producer partners
•? Nature’s Path: Employee gardens
•? Seeds of Change: New employee orientation at  seed farm

Resources
•? Utilities
•? Waste reduction programs
•? Allied nonpro?ts
•? Government programs
•? Peers
•? Community volunteers
•? Interns
•? Professional websites, e-news articles

Resources
•? FTSLA member public reports http://ftsla.org/OurMembers/activity.html
•? FTSLA member websites http://ftsla.org/OurMembers/members.html
•? Related FTSLA presentations (Communications, Governance) http://ftsla.org/LinksResources/presentations.html
•? Center for Creative Leadership, “Employee Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility” http://www.ccl.org
•? GreenBiz Green Team Center http://www.greenbiz.com/topic/green-team
•? Net Impact, “Making a Difference at Work”
•? Melissa Schweisguth, FTSLA, [email protected], ftsla.org



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