What is a green team?
A green team is a group of engaged employees, brought together to advance sustainability within an organisation. Also known as a sustainability committee, members of a green team can use their influence to drive climate action within their own departments, further embedding sustainability into everyday operations.
Who should I include in a green team?
It’s important to recruit members from across your organisation including from your executive teams. Getting senior management involved will ensure your green team has the correct profile, credibility, and influence to create change. Ask for volunteers and get representation from all key business functions to ensure that everyone has a voice and that suggested changes will not negatively impact another department’s targets. Keep the team small, to begin with, and meet regularly to maximise impact. Make sure your team members are given the time to commit by integrating their green duties into their job roles.
What are the benefits of a green team?
Key Benefits:
In smaller companies, the green team might be your main sustainability action group, tasked by senior management to implement your net zero plan. Even larger organisations with a Chief Sustainability Officer can benefit from the support of a green team. Delivering on an organisation’s climate commitment will take collaboration, fresh ideas, continuous feedback and buy-in across teams. Our Flotilla surveys overwhelmingly show that employees and want to work for an organisation that is actively reducing their carbon footprint. Passionate staff want to put their ideas and passion to good use and will choose companies where they are able to make a difference, either as part of a green team or in their individual roles.
What activities can my green team perform?
Each company will have different areas of focus, depending on their industry and their emission hot spots. However, try to choose projects that are likely to feature wider employee engagement and have the most impact.
