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Sustainability specialist is one of the top rising jobs globally as per the world economic forum report 2023. This fact itself signifies the importance of sustainability in today's world. Sustainability refers to the ability to sustain in this changing world as we can see the term is self-explanatory. While we talk of sustainability in a business context we are constantly talking about environmental sustainability which involves reducing the carbon footprint of the company by planting trees, using environmentally friendly raw resources, cutting energy in the production process as much as possible, and going for economic packaging options, etc. Sustainability operates on the balance principle means balancing between fulfilling present needs without emptying the stocks stored for the future. Sustainability ensures present luxuries don't cost future survival.
Companies are hiring sustainability specialists to reap the benefits of sustainable practices. Let's see how sustainability practices help a company in doubling the figures.
The Benefits of Hiring a Sustainability Specialist
A. Environmental benefits: The environment needs actions to sustain itself for a long in the present scenario. The benefits of sustainability to the environment are numerous.
Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions: Greenhouse gases absorb and emit infrared rays hence leading to several environmental disasters like global warming. This phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect which traps solar energy on earth's surface in the form of light or thermal energy.
Conservation of natural resources: The natural resources on the planet are already in deficit. The planet is tackling major problems like overconsumption and low recyclability. For natural oil, the topic of exhaustion in the near future is a matter of concern. In the case of plants, deforestation is a problem that needs to be addressed.
Mitigation of climate change risks: Sustainability specialists tackle problem like global warming, climate change, and pollution by opting for the best sustainable strategy like cutting down the carbon footprint and reducing production waste. It paves the path to profit with actionable steps to have a good impact socially, environmentally, and economically.
B. Economic benefits: Economic benefits basically are about high and sustainable profit with low resources. A sustainability specialist helps in acheving these outcome.
Cost savings from efficiency improvements: Sustainability focuses on three Rs- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Apart from this, it increases efficiency by cutting down the production waste, and strategic management of the production process.
Increased revenue from new markets and customers: Good sustainability strategy helps the company in getting new eco-conscious consumers. Companies having a genuine concern for nature and sustainable products easily get a place in the market.
Improved reputation and brand image: When a company actually comes to the ground and works on the environmental footprint of its product and services. They contribute towards nature and sustainability in certain ways that impact consumers and the globe as a whole and this way the company gets a good brand image for what they do.
C. Social benefits: The benefits it holds for society are called social benefits. It plays a pivotal role in improving social settings.
Improved stakeholder relationships: The same ultimate goal becomes a reason for strong bonding. Amid the rising environmental issue, sustainability becomes a common ground for stakeholders to connect.
Attraction and retention of employees: If the company is sincere towards its sustainability goal, it automatically attracts the right talent. And a good company culture makes them stay. In most cases, employees are retained when they truly connect with the organization's values.
Positive impact on local communities: Humans easily tend to get influenced and motivated by their surroundings. So a sustainable organization will inspire them to take action for protecting nature.
The Role of Sustainability Specialists
Sustainability specialists play a crucial role by devising and implementing sustainability strategies within the organization to reduce the environmental footprint of the business, save resources and promote social responsibility. The sustainability specialist creates positive change by promoting sustainable practices across multiple industries.
The sustainability specialist needs specialize knowledge and skill required to address environmental concerns. Considerable work experience in the field like energy efficiency, waste reduction, carbon footprint analysis, and sustainable supply chain management is required to work efficiently. In addition, sustainability specialist job description includes performing environmental audit to design sustainability program.
Sustainability specialist works in diverse fields, for example- manufacturing, construction, hospitality, healthcare, and transportation. In manufacturing the focus is on eco-friendly production and reducing waste generation. In hospitality, designing energy efficient systems and trash management programs. In this way, they drive sustainability efforts and help organisations in becoming environmentally conscious and socially responsible.
Case Studies to see how Sustainability Plans Improve Business
Example 1: FedEx
Background information- FedEx was founded in 1971 as Federal Express Corporation on the land of Little Rock Arkansas. It was restructured in 1997 as FedEx Express. It is a courier delivery service providing overnight deliveries all around US cities and Within different fixed duration internationally.
Sustainability initiatives- The sustainability strategy of FedEx includes the implementation of 3rs- reduce, replace, and revolutionize. It includes reducing production waste and pollutant emissions into the environment, replacing old tech resources with new ones, and revolutionizing the facilities and packaging.
Results and benefits- The sales of FedEx services are continuously increasing since its launch starting at 35.5 dollars in 2009 to 93.5 billion dollars in 2022.
Example 2: H&M
Background Information- Erling Persson started H&M with the vision of making affordable fashion clothes in a sustainable way. It started in 1947 and soon became a brand offering a range of fashionwear to customers globally. Today, H&M is the second-largest international clothing retailer.
Sustainability Initiatives- The "Let's Close the Gap" project (2013) from H&M was launched as a strategy for the circular economy. The clothing discarded by customers was transferred to a new owner. After a full lifecycle, it is recycled and repurposed into new products. Customers who donate their worn clothing are given tokens that may be used for discounts at H&M stores. And this way an entire CE loop is produced via customer incentives.
Results and Benefits- Since the launch of the project, the company has gained momentum in sales, and the net revenue has increased despite ups and downs as per statista.com. According to Forbes, 57% of H&M's raw materials were sustainably sourced in 2019. The business plans to go completely sustainable by 2030.
Example 3: Starbucks
Background Information- The first Starbucks store was established in Seattle in 1971 by three co-founders Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl. Starbucks- One of the most well-known coffee brands in the world is an American firm. Seattle, Washington, serves as its corporate headquarters.
Sustainability Initiatives- Starbucks has pledged to reduce its carbon, water, and waste footprints by 2030. The company will accomplish this through waste diversion, community support, renewable energy, greener cups, and energy and water saving. The business provides farmers with high-precision agronomy equipment and is also working on a "resource-positive" strategy.
Results and Benefits- Starbucks is a multi-billionaire company that generates billions of revenue every year.
The Challenges and Opportunities in Hiring a Sustainability Specialist
A. Challenges in hiring sustainability specialists
1. Limited Talent Pool- Finding qualified sustainability specialists can be challenging due to the limited number of professionals with specialized knowledge and skills in this field.
2. Lack of Standardized Qualifications- The absence of standardized qualifications or certifications for sustainability specialists makes it difficult for employers to assess candidates' expertise and suitability for the role.
3. Competing Priorities within Organizations- Organizations often face competing priorities, and sustainability initiatives may not always receive the necessary attention and resources, leading to difficulties in hiring dedicated sustainability specialists.
B. Opportunities for sustainability specialists
1. Growing demand for sustainable practices- The increasing focus on sustainability across industries creates a high demand for specialists who can develop and implement sustainable strategies and initiatives.
2. Diverse career paths and opportunities- Sustainability specialists have a wide range of career paths available, with opportunities in various sectors and organizations of all sizes, including corporations, NGOs, government agencies, and consulting firms.
3. Potential for impact and positive change- Sustainability specialists have the potential to make a significant impact by driving positive change within organizations, communities, and the environment, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.
Conclusion
Sustainability specialists play a vital role in the business by designing the sustainability strategy for the brand. Implementing the right sustainability strategy can lead to fast business growth as seen in the case of FedEx, Starbucks, and H&M. Today every business needs to work on its sustainability strategy. Hiring sustainability specialists is no more an option now, it's a compulsion. Seeing the high demand for sustainability specialists in the market, one can say there is a vast scope for this job role in the future.
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