Dos and Don'ts: Talking to Stakeholders About Sustainability

13 Mar, 2023

Talking to Stakeholders About Sustainability

No matter the size of your organization, you want stakeholder buy-in! After all, stakeholders can impact the work you get done. But how do you achieve that in this day and age, especially with so many different opinions on the table?

Luckily, at Close the Loop, we understand the ins and outs of stakeholder alignment.

Here are a few recommendations to articulate your passion for company sustainability to your stakeholders and get them confidently in your corner! 

Achieving Stakeholder Alignment on Sustainability Goals

DO. Bring up the economic impacts of company sustainability policies and how they can move the needle on your company’s KPIs. Tell a compelling story within the context of national and local sustainable movements.

“64% of U.S. consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products.” – NielsenIQ

More and more companies are setting ambitious sustainability goals, including Salesforce, HP, Procter & Gamble, Nespresso, Visa, and PepsiC, all of whom have signed The Climate Pledge, with a goal to become net-zero carbon by 2040. Do you really want to be left behind? 

DON’T dismiss or ignore stakeholders who haven’t bought in yet. The last thing you want is to alienate them from the conversation. Instead, invite them in, listen to their points of view, and work together to find common ground. 

DO use reliable and compelling statistics to make your point. A strong presentation with images, graphs, and charts helps stakeholders understand your story. Use metrics to showcase your goals, wins, shortfalls, and opportunities. 

DON’T wait to bring stakeholders in. By getting their insights early on, you have a better shot at addressing their misgivings and getting on the same page. 

DO use transparency when getting your point across. It can be tempting to adjust data to suit your point of view, but it’s not worth it. Bring honest numbers to the table, even if they’re not ideal. Discuss what’s working, what needs improvement, and how to move forward together. 

DON’T discount sustainability just because you’re a smaller company or you think it’s too difficult. Businesses of all sizes can achieve a neutral or even a positive environmental impact. It may just take a different approach that matches the size and resources of the organization. 

DO talk about the how. Your stakeholders might understand the why, but they need to know how you’ll make these changes. Not sure how you’re going to do it all? Hire a reliable third-party environmental consulting agency to help design, execute, and maintain manageable steps toward measurable, sustainable change. 

Let’s Take Steps Toward Sustainable Change Together

One of the best ways to achieve stakeholder alignment is by bringing in a third party that knows what they’re doing and does it exceptionally well. At Close the Loop, our environmental consulting helps all kinds of industries work towards their goals. 

Our main pillars of expertise:

• Effective Corporate Take Back Programs
• Streamlined Recovery Processes
• Recycling and Reusability, including design solutions for hard-to-recycle materials

Not only do we help with those areas, but we can assist in communicating your goals and results to the people who matter — your stakeholders and your consumers. 

The Time for Change is Now 

Make a difference to your organization’s bottom line and the health of the planet.  Set up a time to meet with the Close the Loop team! 

Schedule a consultation by clicking here or emailing info@closetheloopusa.com. 

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Related Reading:

What is Greenwashing and Why You Should Avoid It
5 Things You Want From a Sustainability Partner 
How Corporate Take Back Programs Make a Difference