The number 1 missing link to achieving your company's sustainability goals in 2022

Holy wow it’s 2022!

Welcome to the new year you amazing sustainability leaders! What a time to be alive and a part of the sustainability movement. 

Throughout the prolonged pandemic we have witnessed and experienced an extraordinary response from individuals, companies, communities and governments. As we have been fighting the fire, sticking in our bubbles and making contingency plans, for many, the pandemic effectively put ‘normal life’ and any long term plans on pause.  

As we make our steps into 2022 I’ve noticed that the question on everyone’s minds is “well now what?”.  What does life in 2022 look like?

This year in sustainability (as we begin the countdown of year 3 of the decade of action) I find myself wondering the same question - what’s next on the path of sustainability?  We’ve had some reprieve throughout the pandemic, but what’s our next focus for  sustainability and are we ready to start down this path seriously, despite all the covid uncertainty? 

Here at Third Era Sustainability I have a good feeling about what’s in store this year and I can feel the winds of change on the horizon.  

📄 Legislation is in the pipeline. 

💸 Funding is becoming available. 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 People and companies are ready. 

Sustainability trends in 2022

This year I expect to see increased conversation and media about sustainability. More pressure from clients to deliver sustainable outcomes. A massive growth in roles being created for sustainability professionals and a surge in businesses forging their paths to be the best for people and the planet. (Did someone say exciting??!! 🎉 🎉 🎉).  

Some of the major business trends emerging globally (and particularly after COP26 in Glasgow) are an increased growth in net zero pledges, roadmaps to carbon neutrality and sustainability data disclosure. 

Is it enough?

Although these commitments, sentiments and leadership positions are an important part of the equation, I often wonder, is this enough to really shift the dial this decade?  Is this all that is needed to move from thinking and talking about sustainability to taking meaningful and real world action?  

The truth of it is, I'm not really sure it is enough.  At the end of the day (despite the strategy, pledges and numbers) we all know that climate change is on the horizon. We are told about water quality, inequality and increasing waste. Science, data and strategy has been telling us about these issues for years. However, despite knowing the problems and issues in the world this has not led to a proportionate increase in action towards solving those challenges as individuals and as companies. 

Why do we continue to do the things we know are bad for us and the planet? Driving to the shop just around the corner in our cars? Using single use plastic? Eating meat every day of the week?   

Well what’s missing?

So if the data, numbers and strategy isn’t enough, what is the missing link to achieving our sustainability goals in 2022? 

Although it might seem a bit left field and not something commonly talked about - the answer lies in mindset. 

Mindset is the way we approach a problem, it's our underlying beliefs and it’s our view on life, people and the universe. Mindset shapes everything! If I ask you “do you want to start a business with me”, no doubt you’ll have some initial thoughts that spring to mind. Some people might say, “heck yes” without considering the business, others might think,  I’m way to young, or old, or inexperienced. Others might think, what value could I add, some people jump straight into the details or the big picture. Whatever your response, it’s all down to your mindset. 

What most people don’t think about is that these subconscious beliefs determine our daily actions we take and therefore dictate the results we generate.

In sustainability (as with everything),  most people have a set of underlying beliefs and mindset about sustainability. E.g. Sustainability is just for hippies, there’s nothing we can do about it anyway, I’m too small to make a change, sustainability costs too much. Unfortunately, these beliefs shape our actions (or inactions) and ultimately the results we are seeing in the sustainability movement. These beliefs have been imprinted on us since birth, based on experiences, through interactions with friends, family and our careers.

But if we are really committed to shifting the dial on sustainability within our lives and businesses, we’ve each got to become acquainted with our personal and business beliefs and mindsets about why we do what we do. What beliefs and mindsets do we all hold about sustainability that stop us from truly leaning in and committing to change?

By collectively identifying and articulating these beliefs and rewriting them. We can choose new beliefs and commitments that empower and serve us, change our behaviours and habits within our business, our communities and ultimately take action for the planet. 

So the big question - HOW DO WE ADOPT A MINDSET FOR SUSTAINABILITY? 

Well lucky for you, cultivating a mindset for sustainability is my bread and butter! It’s something we work on within our Sustainable Business Accelerator and our workshops.

For a sneak peek and a starter for 10, here are 4 easy questions you can ask to start to unpick and flip your mindset from BAU to a Mindset for Sustainability.

1. Write out ONE business as usual belief that you PERSONALLY have about sustainability and/or ONE business as usual belief that YOUR COMPANY is holding about sustainability.

E.g. My impact is too small to make a difference.

I don’t have enough time/resources to make sustainable changes in my life.

It’s too complex or confusing to figure out and I don’t know how.

I am too young, old, uneducated to make a sustainable difference 

Sustainability is “unprofessional or hippy”, it’s only for greenies. 

2. Where did you/your company learn this belief? When did it start? A moment, experience, something someone said….

3. What has the negative impact of the belief been? How has it kept you stuck? (E.g. stagnation in sustainability, guilt about your impact, confusion, arguments with friends or family, other) and what would be possible without this limiting belief about sustainability?  

4. Now, let’s ditch that and rewrite each belief with what you would need in order to move forward with your sustainability goals.
E.g. 

I can always learn and up skill about sustainability (and anything)

My actions are a part of a bigger system and movement to save the planet - every bit helps.

Sustainability is for everyone. It requires commercial acumen and drive to deliver. 

I hope this exercise provides you with a useful starting point for developing your mindset for sustainability! And If you’re interested in helping your team understand and unpack their own mindsets for sustainability - so that you can start shifting the dial and taking action in 2022, get in touch today about a workshop with your team or jumping into our April cohort of the Sustainable Business Accelerator.