Blog 14: How to Engage Your Employees in Your Carbon Reduction Journey

When companies discuss reducing their carbon footprint, the conversation often starts with numbers—emissions data, reduction targets, and energy audits. The truth is that none of it is appealing or relatable to most of your employees. 

And here is the truth: you can invest in all the carbon accounting tools you want, but your sustainability plans will hit a wall if your employees aren't engaged. The real momentum comes when everyone—finance teams, warehouse staff, designers, sales reps—feels part of the journey.

Let's take a closer look at what that looks like in practice.

Bring everyone into the story

A few months ago, we worked with a mid-sized manufacturer based in the UK. They'd just completed their first full carbon footprint assessment. The leadership team (and we) were proud, but when they shared the results internally, the response was flat. No one knew what the numbers meant, and even fewer understood how they related to their work.

We helped them shift gears. They created a short internal video explaining where most of their emissions came from—spoiler: energy use in production and raw materials—and what they hoped to change. They kept it simple, added visuals, and even included outtakes from the team that worked on the data.

Suddenly, it wasn't about Tonnes of CO₂ anymore. It was about our factory, our energy bills, and our suppliers. People started to ask questions, and that's where change began.

Make sustainability feel like it belongs

Sustainability needs to show up in everyday life.

One of our clients in the tech sector took a clever approach. They launched a "Green Guild"—not just a sustainability committee but a group anyone could join to explore how their team could cut carbon. HR, finance, marketing—they all had a seat at the table. The facilities team looked at lighting upgrades. Internal meetings defaulted to virtual over in-person. The procurement team began asking suppliers about their own emissions.

None of these changes happened overnight. But they stuck because the ideas came from within, not from a top-down mandate.

Keep It Practical—and Personal

One of the best ways to make carbon reduction real is to connect it to the tasks people do every day. Most of your workers use a laptop or a display for work. Just reminding them to shut them down daily after work will save a lot of energy across hundreds of devices. It might not sound revolutionary, but most people will do it because it is easily doable. Start adding reminders to Teams channels, leaving post-it notes on screens, and turning it into a little shared ritual.

Sometimes, the magic is in those small nudges. They signal that this matters—and that everyone has a part to play.

Celebrate, Don't Lecture

There's a big difference between accountability and guilt. If your sustainability efforts start sounding like a list of what people shouldn't do, you'll lose them.

Instead, make it a celebration. One food company we work with introduced a monthly "Green Star" award. One of their warehouse staff won for redesigning a packing method that reduced plastic use by half—just by rearranging how products were loaded. His idea saved money and carbon, and he got a standing ovation at the next all-staff meeting.

Recognition goes a long way. So does humour. One team made a competition out of cutting printer paper use, tracking it like a leaderboard.

Sustainability doesn't have to be serious all the time. It just has to be sincere. In a place where I used to work, we would get "stars" for small actions that we identified that reduced our carbon footprint (such as using public transport or sharing cars for commuting). These stars were regularly converted into chocolates for the winner!

Keep the Conversation Going

Engagement isn't a one-off email or a lunch-and-learn session. It's an ongoing dialogue.

That means sharing updates—not just polished success stories but also challenges. It's OK to admit that the electric fleet rollout is behind schedule. Instead of hiding it, host a Q&A explaining the delays and what you are doing about them. Employees will appreciate the honesty and might even offer helpful suggestions.

Remember to show progress. Whether it's a dashboard in the break room or a shoutout in the monthly newsletter, showing that "what we're doing is working" keeps motivation alive.

The Bigger Picture

When employees feel part of the carbon reduction journey, they don't just follow instructions—they bring new ideas, challenge assumptions, and take ownership of change.

Yes, carbon accounting is about data and reporting. But it's also about people believing they can make a difference.

Start by listening. Share your goals. Make it fun, relevant, and, most importantly, theirs.

Because the most powerful carbon reduction tool you have? It's your team.