Is green your new favourite colour? How to spot a sustainable organisation
Would you consider turning down a job offer because the employer wasn’t working hard enough in the sustainability space?
If you would then you are not alone.
A recent survey by NZ-based Frog Recruitment found sustainability was a factor when it came to job hunting, although not always a top priority - more run-of-the-mill issues like job security and work/life balance were more important. But more than two-thirds of respondents said their current employer wasn’t doing enough to protect the environment. Younger employees placed particular emphasis on good environmental credentials. Just over 30% of employees under-25 said their organisation’s environmental efforts were very important to them.
In Europe, a European Investment Bank survey found that three-quarters of Europeans aged 20-29 said the climate impact of an employer was an important factor when job hunting.
Even if sustainability isn’t on your “must meet or it’s a no” list, you might still be keen to work for an organisation that is making improvements in this area. To help you decide, you can do some research before you hit the apply button.
Four simple ways to explore how sustainable an organisation is
#1 Research on the organisation’s website or social media
The obvious place to start is the organisation’s own website or social platforms. Many include their sustainability practices and aspirations on their About Page or even on a separate page, depending on their size and how far along the journey they are.
Examples of sustainability initiatives might include:
Offsetting carbon emissions
Reducing waste and use of paper
Replenishing natural resources
Working with developing countries or sections of society
Ethical gifting for corporate gifts
Beware greenwashing! In recent years, greenwashing has become a big deal. Many brands have been accused of promoting green credentials or practices that really weren’t as good as they should have been. One of the most famous recent examples is BooHoo, a fast fashion company that announced reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian Barker as its new sustainability advisor in 2022. The backlash was swift, with the company being accused of unsustainable practices and poor working conditions and lambasted for its choice of a jet-setting, lavish lifestyle living reality star in a sustainability role.
Greenwashing has happened in New Zealand too. In 2017, Fujitsu were fined for misleading customers over the energy efficiency of their heat pumps.
Looking for the inclusion of details over vague statements like being eco-friendly and climate-focused will help you decide how authentic the organisation’s story is.
#2 Look for third-party accreditations
Organisations that are working hard in the sustainability space may have partnered with or won accreditation from third-party organisations. Many of these have an application and assessment process, so it can be an indicator that the organisation is taking action as well as simply talking. The Sustainable Business Network and its Circular Economy Directory, and the Ākina Foundation are two good starting places for New Zealand organisations.
#3 Google and see what comes up
If you want to research an organisation more widely, then a simple Google search could throw up some answers beyond the organisation’s own website. Look for new articles about initiatives they have been involved in, interviews with senior staff or any less-than-positive stories.
#4 Ask in the interview
If you haven’t been able to find out much about the organisation’s green credentials, it doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t think it’s important. They might just not be very good at talking about it. So you know that bit of the interview where they say, “Do you have any questions for us?” - that’s your chance. Ask directly what their thinking on sustainability is and what efforts they are making in that area.
Sustainability is becoming ever more important and every organisation (and individual) needs to play their part. But when you are researching the green credentials of a potential new employer, don’t be too hard on them. Many organisations are just starting out on their sustainability journey or don’t have the resources to make huge progress quickly. This may be particularly true for organisations in the for-purpose and not-for-profit sector that don’t have large budgets. Consider intent as well as actual progress - if they are going in the right direction, that may well be enough.
If you are keen to find jobs with values-aligned organisations who care about the future, then head over to our jobs board. If you are interested in working directly in the sustainability space so that you can make an impact, we recommend filtering jobs by categories to narrow your search - environment and Conservation would be a good one to start with. Or use our Sustainable Development Goals filters to hone in on the right area.
