The numbers speak for themselves:

• 71% of employees and employment seekers say that environmentally sustainable companies are more attractive employers.
• more than two-thirds of the full potential workforce respondents are more likely to apply for and accept jobs with environmentally and socially responsible organisations
• Almost half of those surveyed would accept a lower salary to work for those organisations.

Given that one in four employees surveyed in February 2021 plans to find a new role this year, companies could face a risk of losing top talent to more sustainability-conscious competitors.

Here are 5 ways to retain your staff and attract the best people:

Are your raw materials sourced sustainably?

Sustainability starts at the source. The first step toward making your business more environmentally friendly is to work with suppliers who integrate strong ethical, social, and environmental performances in the production of their materials. 

Make sure your materials are manufactured by ethical, fair trade suppliers that pay their employees fair and liveable wages.

Are your raw materials made with recyclable, renewable, and/or biodegradable materials? 

Source materials that have a minimal impact on the environment, for example, responsible water usage in manufacturing. Other factors might include:

• Cardboard and paper
• Corn starch
• Bagasse paper (sugarcane fibre pulp)
• Mycelium (mushrooms)
• Degradable bubble wrap

Where possible, make every effort to source your goods and services from local suppliers. This supports the local economy and cuts down on transportation costs, reducing your carbon footprint.

Use Eco-friendly packaging

Packaging is one of the biggest contributors to plastic waste in Australia. At any given time there are just under one million tonnes in our marketplace. Only about 32% of this is ever gets recovered and less than 5% is made of recycled plastic.

Use biodegradable packaging – Look for alternatives to single-use containers in favour of materials that break down quickly and effectively, like corn starch, mycelium, wood pulp, and seaweed.

Stick to one type of material – Avoid using packaging that contains different types of polymers. This can render it unrecyclable. 

Packaging is an important part of your brand experience. By ensuring it's made from sustainable or ta least recyclable materials, you’ll leave an even better impression.

Go paperless

In today's digital economy, there’s no reason not to be 90% paperless. Yet, the average employee uses around 50kg of paper a year. 

This is an astonishing amount, contributing to the 4.1 million hectares of forest – an area the size of Tasmania – being destroyed every year to make paper (Clean Up Australia).

Going paperless, not only drastically cuts down on paper waste but can increase your physical office space enormously. 

Replacing storage cabinets for desks and seating can help you maximise your office space. 

The best talent tends to be savvy tech users. In today’s digital environment, being paperless lets prospective talent know you embrace technology and tools that support the success of your employees.

Being 100% paperless is a noble goal but not possible for everyone, so if you must use paper, supplying your office with sustainably sourced recycled paper can save trees. 

Just make sure you recycle.

A Sustainable Supply Chain

Good sustainability practices in the workplace aren’t just good news for the planet or even your companies’ finances. 

It’s a prime driver in attracting the best talent. 

More than ever, job seekers are increasingly drawn to organisations that walk the walk when it comes to sustainability and the environment.

For FMCG Businesses, this means looking at your supply chain. 

Considering suppliers with green credentials, who are actively working to minimise their impact on the environment is a great way to practice climate protection and responsibility daily.

Working with suppliers who boast The Blue Angel stamp of approval signifies their efforts to protect the wider environment including health, water supply and other resources. 

Not only that, it lets job seekers know you don’t just talk the talk.

Remote Working Is Key

Commuting to work every day leaves a substantial environmental footprint. 

Adopting a hybrid-working model is a desirable proposition when looking to attract the best talent - many job seekers expect some flexibility. 

Giving your employees the option to WFH when possible cuts down on pollution and fossil fuel usage helping to reduce your company’s overall carbon footprint.

When employees are in the office, encourage green initiatives like cycling to work or zero-waste days. 

Set sustainability goals and celebrate your successes with the team to help build an environmentally aware culture.