With the environment under considerable pressure from human activity, businesses are naturally searching for ways to become more sustainable. Unfortunately, many companies start sustainable initiatives, only to end up floundering. The problem is there are many strategies and tasks needed to become more sustainable as well as keep the company profitable. However, a business may lack the employees who have the necessary knowledge and expertise to drive sustainability efforts.
Developing and implementing sustainability initiatives is a significant effort for large and small entities. However, because the work is challenging for individual companies, an entire new field and industry has developed called corporate social responsibility (CSR).
CSR manages all aspects of sustainability, such as renewable energy, waste management, green building, and much more. CSR has also led to a new wave of consultants who work with organisations to manage their green projects.
In their efforts to go green, many organisations have begun turning to sustainability consultants. But what are sustainability consultants, and what are their duties?
What is a Sustainability Consultant?
A sustainability consultancy is a company that has a background in business combined with knowledge of the environment and of course, sustainability. Their work covers a broad range of tasks and strategies used to help organisations reduce their environmental footprints.
Sustainability consultants use their expertise and knowledge to advise and guide businesses to become socially and environmentally responsible. In addition, their expertise touches on how the company operates in a more sustainable way.
You may hear sustainability consultants also referred to as green consultants, eco consultants, or environmental management consultants. Sustainability consultants may specialise in specific industries, areas, or the types of companies they assist. Consultants are hired for short- or long-term projects and work with organisations to move forward with their sustainability goals.
Sustainability Consultants & Services
Sustainability consultants offer a broad range of services to assist companies with their green efforts, including:
- Conducting company assessments on energy, water, carbon, waste, hazardous materials, environmental impacts, and more.
- Creating an overall strategy for sustainability plans.
- Providing plans on waste reduction in business operations & manufacturing.
- Offering guidance on green building design, construction, and improvements to a facility.
- Providing guidance on sustainable purchasing practises.
- Overseeing training and education on sustainability topics.
- Offering guidance on the installation and implementation tools to monitor and create reports on crucial data.
- Providing plans on environmental management and compliance.
- Offering guidance on communication and marketing strategies with PR & media campaigns and sustainability reporting.
- Providing plans to improve involvement of the community and volunteer programs
- Helping a company’s culture change to make the business more self-sustaining
- Conducting energy audits
- Collecting and analysing data, identifying needs.
- Finding ways to use renewable energy sources.
- Simplifying of supply chains.
- Ensuring a company’s workplace is healthy, as well as the surrounding environment.
Sustainability consulting duties vary from project to project and from industry to industry. Each organisation requires its own strategy and plans to become greener. Eco consultants bring their knowledge and expertise to each project and company they assist. What’s more, the consultants also understand how to implement these strategies and maximise profits at the same time.
Where Can You Find Sustainability Consultants?
Sustainability consultants come from a broad range of backgrounds and industries. You can find consultants who are project managers, engineers, inspectors, scientists, architects, and more. They offer their expertise and knowledge on sustainable business operations and practises. These experts also make their services available to communities looking to become more sustainable.
While they come from a wide range of backgrounds, sustainability consultants all have a common goal: environmental responsibility. Their aim is to reduce our impact on the Earth’s environment through water and energy efficiency, reduction of pollution and waste, and improvement of a community’s environment and health.
Sustainability consultants usually have these skills:
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Analytical thinking
- Technical and computer skills
How to Hire a Sustainability Consultant?
Sustainability consultancies may be self-employed or by part of a consulting company, like Planet Mark. Hiring a self-employed consultant usually means hiring them as an independent contractor. On the other hand, hiring a sustainability expert from a consulting company is possible. Another option is to hire an individual as an employee with your company.
The decision depends on your organisation’s industry and business type, working hours, tax implications, and more. Many companies choose to hire sustainability consultants for specific projects, making budgeting their services more manageable.
If you’d like to hire a sustainability consultancy, here are some questions to ask before hiring:
Questions about their background:
1. What was your background before becoming a consultant?
2. Have you published books, reports, case studies, or articles on sustainability?
3. What associations and organisations are you (or your company) affiliated with?
4. How do you stay up with current news, laws, regulations, and trends within the sustainability industry?
5. How long has your company been in business?
6. What type of industries/clients do you work with?
7. Explain about your most recent client and project; what type of service(s) did you provide for them? What were the results of the project?
Questions about Their Services
8. What type of services do you/your company offer?
9. What is your company’s specialty in the sustainability field?
10. What is your process for working with clients?
11. Once the project is completed, what type of documentation or deliverable do you provide?
Questions about Their Administration Fees
12. What is your response time to emails and phone calls?
13. How do you charge for services?
14. What are the billing terms?
15. Do your fees include travel time & other charges, or are these billed separately?
In addition to the questions above, here are some additional considerations when hiring a sustainability consultant:
- If the consultant needs to travel & conduct site visits, ensure they have their own transport or that you provide this. It may be necessary to cover transportation costs, so make sure to ask how these expenses are covered and include them in your budget if necessary.
- The sustainability consultant also requires excellent communication and problem-solving skills. They may need to speak with stakeholders, your employees, clients, and the public.
- A consultant must also have excellent project management skills to manage your budget and deal with safety & health issues.
- They must also have excellent maths and literacy skills in order to conduct research and write reports.
- Sustainability consultants should also have qualifications, certifications, and work experience. Most consultants do have degrees. They may also have a Sustainable Business Certificate or Environmental Planning Certificate from a recognised educational facility. They may also be enrolled in a certified program in sustainability management.
Concluding Thoughts
Searching for the right sustainability consultant can be challenging. The key is to look for consultants who have a background in your industry and business type. Also, remember to check their certifications and project experience.
Choose the consultant or consulting company that is the best fit for your sustainability challenges and goals.
