Sustainability Uncovered Episode 30: Employee engagement, Fairtrade partnerships and going beyond corporate philanthropy
Apr 25, 2025
Heather Burrell, BSI Group's Head of Sustainability Engagement, discusses the vital role of communication and training in corporate sustainability efforts. Hamzah Sarwar, from Reckitt, shares insights on merging purpose with profit to tackle health and hygiene challenges. Kerrina Thorogood of The Fairtrade Foundation emphasizes the need for strategic, ethical sourcing in the food industry. They explore the power of storytelling, collaboration, and innovative partnerships in creating real impact and transforming sustainable practices, while advocating for meaningful employee engagement.
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Recipe for Effective Employee Engagement
- To engage employees effectively, craft relatable, easy-to-participate programs integrated into daily work.
- Focus on emotional storytelling and open dialogue to motivate behavior change and transparent progress communication.
Engage Leadership and Line Managers
- Start internal engagement by securing senior leadership buy-in to ensure alignment and transformational change.
- Empower line managers with relevant training as key agents to cascade sustainability responsibilities throughout the organization.
Create Safe Spaces for Dialogue
- Foster open dialogue with live sessions that encourage safe conversations and eliminate taboo questions.
- Use interactive formats like 'Sustainability Snacks' to inform employees and enable peer learning around complex topics.