Embracing Sustainability in the Workplace: Key Strategies for Businesses in 2024 and Beyond

Sustainability as a social and business concept has come a long way since it first burst onto the scene in the early 2000s. Today, with the negative impact of climate change and countries around the world battling rising food prices, sustainability has become a non-negotiable aspect of business strategy.

From a branding point of view, a renewed focus on green industries, green stewardship, and environmentally friendly practices needs to inform the identity of every company.

This is especially important for businesses that hope to attract the best young talent at a time when educated young professionals are particularly committed to making a planetary impact.

Let’s take a closer look at what embracing sustainability means for companies in 2024 and beyond, as we re-evaluate our business practices and office spaces in our efforts to become more environmentally conscious.

Sustainable HR

When people think of sustainability, they often imagine solar panels or water recycling systems. But in reality, sustainable practices that contribute to a stable and healthy planet begin with human actions.

In terms of the activities of most companies, the department responsible for monitoring and shaping these actions is typically HR.

From a hiring and employee engagement point of view, sustainable HR means showcasing the desirability of your business as an employer. This is not only beneficial for monetary reasons but because working with your organisation is an intrinsic motivator for your team to come to work every day and do their best.

With the younger generation of professionals placing purpose on the same level as financial reward, and quickly removing themselves from workplaces they consider toxic or damaging to society and the planet, businesses are having to do a lot of marketing to prospective talent in order to convince them to join.

In today’s world, where social media plays a huge role in decision-making, even small mishandlings of an HR issue can result in a viral exposé describing draconian practices. Unfortunately, management is seldom given the opportunity to present its side of the story, and it may be too late to undo the reputational damage that has already taken place.

To navigate today’s tricky HR landscape, training is essential for management and teams to establish consensus on all aspects of tasks assigned to staff members.

Having clear policies and following through with fair and equitable disciplinary action should result in lower turnover and improve the overall perception of the business in the interconnected world that talented young professionals inhabit.

Sustainable Facilities and Building Management

Returning to the physical aspect of sustainability, every company can reduce its carbon footprint by selecting an office space in a building that follows green best practices.

Some of the features that make a green building environmentally friendly are not immediately obvious from the outside, making it important to discuss these amenities with your commercial property agent and landlord before signing a lease. Some of these green features include:

Climate Control: Air conditioning systems and automatic window shutters and tinting that respond to temperature and sunlight changes can keep buildings at an optimal temperature and significantly cut down on energy usage.
Space Repurposing: A building waste policy that emphasises recycling and repurposing existing spaces can maximise efficiency and cut down on obsolete or unused areas, transforming them into common areas that boost wellness and productivity.
Waste Reduction. Reducing the amount of trash a building generates through a comprehensive recycling and paperless policy can have a huge impact on the environment, especially if implemented by every office in the country.
Energy-Saving Features: Energy-efficient computers, printers, office air conditioning, and lighting can significantly improve a building’s green impact.
Natural Lighting: Design that maximises natural light and reduces reliance on artificial lighting not only promotes a healthier environment for employees but also boosts productivity and creates a progressive, sustainable workspace.

Businesses Embrace Sustainability in Every Sense of the Word

Impactful terms like “sustainability” are easy to encounter in a business setting, yet deeper discussions around its true meaning are just as important.

The word sustainability itself and the philosophy it represents can be interpreted in various ways at multiple levels of a business organisation and may be understood differently by prospective clients and employees.

From a management perspective, embracing sustainability is often understood in the context of the viability of ongoing business operations.
Prior to the green movement, this usually meant maximising profit and expanding to new markets, with a strong focus on revenue and profitability.
However, with the rise of ESGs (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in the SA corporate world, sustainability has come to include considerations about people, planet, and profit.

While business owners and managers interpret sustainability in both financial and social terms, members of the public are more likely to dwell on the environmental aspects of the concept – and employees are likely to do the same.

From the perception of a potential customer or new team member, a company’s green footprint is a crucial sign of its commitment to the environment and society as a whole.
As a result, a reputation for ignoring the needs of the planet can be detrimental for businesses now and in the future.

To project the best sustainability image possible—one based on genuine and tangible efforts to protect the environment, and not simply sustainability in name alone—businesses are implementing strategies that place their environmental impact on equal footing with financial considerations.

Here are some of the green considerations that every business owner or manager will want to bear in mind.

Sustainable Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry can be considered ground zero when it comes to sustainability practices since many of the business activities that result in environmental pollution occur within it.

At the same time, the sector (along with the mining sector) can have the biggest impact on reducing the carbon footprint of the entire economy.

With a large uptick in demand for light industrial space in Cape Town over the past few years, we’ve seen an impressive switch to green and sustainable processes across the peninsula.
Solar energy generation is an especially obvious example, with entire factory roofs covered in solar panels becoming a common sight in key industrial areas, including Epping and Maitland.

A manufacturing sector with a stable annual growth rate and energy-efficient production practices could not only reduce overall pollution levels but also contribute to a stronger provincial economy. This could set a cycle of economic growth and reinvestment in place to support the city’s existing initiative to be the country’s premier place to live and work.

Sustainable Logistics

Tangible products will always have to reckon with the environmental impact of the processes used to receive and store inventory and ensure timely deliveries. This reality was a major focus of the recent SAPICS conference hosted in Cape Town in June, where supply chain managers from around the world committed their businesses to improving efficiencies for the sake of the planet.

The sustainability aspects of logistics can be broadly divided along the lines of warehousing and delivery, making it easier for business owners to assess how well they’re doing on both fronts.

In terms of receiving and storing inventory, a warehouse powered by solar panels or other sources of green energy can not only render the facility close to carbon neutral, but it can also produce surplus energy, which could be sold back to the city of Cape Town’s municipal grid, thereby improving the entire city’s energy security.
Delivery vehicles are a major source of emissions, and facilities management can go a long way to reduce this. As hybrid vehicles become available, it’s worth investing in them as a clear demonstration of your company’s commitment to green practices. Not only are they better for the environment, but the monthly company fuel bill will also be lower. This can contribute to positive cash flow and overall liquidity in the business.
Choosing suppliers who comply with green standards in terms of their storage and logistics can also help create a green value chain, having an excellent effect on the overall economy.

In Conclusion

Sustainability is crucial for businesses in 2024, impacting everything from brand identity to operations. Companies must adopt environmentally friendly practices in manufacturing, logistics, HR, and building management to attract top talent and boost their reputation.

Green strategies include sustainable energy use, reducing carbon footprints, using eco-friendly vehicles, and fostering a purpose-driven workplace culture within an environmentally green office. Businesses that prioritise green facilities with energy-efficient features and natural lighting will have a serious edge when attracting young talent.

Sustainability not only helps the planet but also enhances long-term business viability and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Find Your Ideal Cape Town Office Space with Us

The Commercial Space team has decades of collective experience in the Cape Town commercial property industry, one of the country’s foremost sustainable urban spaces.

We’d love to learn more about your sustainable office space needs so that your business can join hundreds of others we have matched with the ideal office space in the Mother City.