Engaging Your Team in Sustainability Without Overwhelm

Let’s be honest, getting your team excited about sustainability can feel… challenging.

When you’re running a small or medium-sized business, your people are already stretched. Targets, tight deadlines, customers to serve - the day-to-day never stops.

So when you introduce “sustainability” into the mix, it’s easy for it to sound like just another project on top of an already full plate.

But here’s the good news - you don’t need a big budget, a dedicated sustainability officer, or a full-blown “green strategy” to get your people on board.

You just need to start small, make it relevant, and build a sense of ownership.

🌱 1. Start with the why

Before you talk about recycling bins or switching to renewables, start with the reason why sustainability matters, both to your business and your people.

For many teams, climate change and carbon targets can feel distant or abstract. But when you connect sustainability to something that matters locally, like saving energy costs, attracting new clients, or improving workplace wellbeing, it becomes more tangible and personal.

Try this:

• Explain how your business benefits when it uses fewer resources (for example, lower bills or reduced supply chain risks).

• Share simple stories of positive impact, such as a supplier moving to electric vehicles or a customer choosing your business because of your values.

• Remind your team that sustainability isn’t just about emissions, it’s about efficiency, innovation, and pride in the workplace.

People are much more likely to support change when they can see how it connects to their own work and community.

💡 2. Keep it simple and celebrate small wins

The biggest barrier to engagement? Overload.

When sustainability feels too big or too complex, teams tune out. So instead of presenting a 20-point carbon reduction plan, start with a handful of clear, achievable actions.

That could mean:
✅ Setting up recycling or food waste collection in the office
✅ Running an “energy awareness week” to reduce equipment left on standby
✅ Encouraging hybrid or remote work to cut travel emissions

Then, celebrate the small wins. Share progress updates in team meetings, thank individuals who suggest ideas, and show what’s been achieved such as, “We cut electricity use by 10% last month!”.

These small celebrations build momentum, and they make people feel part of something bigger.

🤝 3. Empower, don’t instruct

Sustainability works best when it’s not just handed down from management.

Instead of saying, “Here’s our sustainability policy,” ask:
💭 “What would make our workplace more sustainable?”
💭 “Where do you see waste we could reduce?”

Give people permission to contribute ideas, and act on them.

Some of the best sustainability ideas come from the ground up: the person who spots unnecessary deliveries, or the one who suggests reusing packaging materials instead of buying new.

If you can, create a small “green team” or sustainability group within your business. It doesn’t need to be formal, just a few enthusiastic people who can help lead initiatives, gather feedback, and keep things moving.

⚙️ 4. Make it part of everyday work

For sustainability to stick, it needs to be part of the culture, not an occasional campaign.

That could mean:

• Including sustainability in team meetings or business planning sessions

• Adding environmental goals to performance reviews or recognition schemes

• Choosing suppliers and partners who align with your values

When sustainability becomes “just the way we do things around here,” it stops feeling like extra work, and starts feeling like good business practice.

🌍 5. Lead by example

Leadership sets the tone.

If business owners or senior managers are openly committed to sustainability, such as switching to renewable energy, sharing updates on progress, or asking for feedback, that enthusiasm filters down.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, being open about challenges (“We’re still figuring this out, but here’s what we’ve tried X, Y and Z…”) builds credibility and encourages others to contribute.

Sustainability isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about consistent, visible action.

✳️ A final thought

Engaging your team in sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated or costly.

It’s about building understanding, creating ownership, and celebrating progress, even the small steps.

Because when everyone in your business feels part of the journey, sustainability stops being a burden, and starts becoming a source of pride, motivation, and growth.

At The Net Zero Co., we work with UK SMEs to turn sustainability from something abstract into something actionable, helping you build engagement across your business, at a pace that works for you.

👉 Learn more about how we can help, starting with our Sustainability Health Check.