One subject appears to be uniting us more quickly than any other: sustainability. It may be a result of generating less non-recyclable waste, conserving money on disposable goods, or adopting aggressive carbon-neutral plans. The ultimate objective is sustainability, no matter what the company or size, regardless of the strategy.
Businesses and governments alike are turning to sustainability consultants to assist them in their operations and regulations. This role has never had a greater demand.
What exactly is a sustainability consultant, and what are their real responsibilities? And how do you get started as one?
What Does a Sustainability Consultant Do?
Sustainability consultants frequently work on a wide range of projects. These are just some of the tasks that sustainability experts may be asked to perform:
- Urban regeneration
- Mining and drilling operations
- Infrastructure planning
- Industrial facilities operations
- Residential and commercial developments
- Schools and education facilities
A sustainability consultant works with a firm to develop sustainability policies and procedures. They assess current operations and their influence to assist the organization in not only surviving but also thriving while leaving the smallest environmental impact feasible.
It’s an inexact science, much like any other consultancy work. There is no defined process for attaining this. Each project necessitates a unique approach to provide a tailored solution.
Common tasks and responsibilities include:
Strategy Development
It refers to a long-term commitment to an entity’s goals, objectives, and operations. It is a difficult challenge that many businesses do not have the internal resources required to properly manage. Sustainability consultants work with organizations to develop practical solutions that meet their needs while also meeting legal obligations. From day-to-day operational changes to guiding the company’s vision and strategy in new directions, these plans might cover everything from minor modifications to major transformations.
Reporting Environmental Data
When it comes to commercial, residential, or infrastructure projects, many governments demand environmental surveys. Work cannot begin until these reports are completed. Furthermore, the outcomes of these investigations might also suggest that a project is not environmentally sustainable and should be revisited. sustainability consultants are in charge of ensuring that these assessments are done as well as producing the reports. They also must communicate the findings to customers and advise them accordingly.
Energy Efficiency and Facilities Management
Sustainability experts assist in the identification of places within a company where energy usage may be optimized. They’ll look into and recommend technologies that provide cost-efficiency, efficiency, and environmental benefits. This might be as simple as switching all of the lightbulbs to more energy-efficient versions. On-site solar power generation and storage may be a good fit in some situations. Water-efficient taps or smart water metering can also help to minimize overall environmental impact.
Employee Education
It’s not enough to just create plans and procedures and hand them off to company owners. Educating workers on not only the modifications that have been implemented but also why they were made, is an important step. People are more inclined to accept new rules, particularly those focused on sustainability when they have a deeper understanding of the environmental consequences of these rules.
Leading a Cross-functional Committee
Sustainability consultants don’t operate in a bubble. They must make sure that other departments are included in the strategy development procedure so that no one is left out or worse yet, disadvantaged.
Waste Management and Recycling
Managing the amount of waste produced is one of the most important sustainability goals for businesses and nations alike. Sustainability professionals help organizations research methods to create less waste while also determining what waste may be recycled to reduce overall environmental impact
Supporting External Marketing and Sales
Organisations require their consumers or clients to embrace and adopt changes for the sake of long-term sustainability. Marketing and sales are in charge of informing the public about why changes have occurred, how they will be affected, and why it is so crucial that these modifications are kept going forward.
Sustainability consultants work with these groups to ensure accurate, compelling messaging is getting across. They supply marketing teams with the information they need to craft effective communications that get customers interested and work towards a sustainable future.
How to Become a Sustainability Consultant
There is no need for a formal qualification to become a sustainability consultant, but those with experience or qualifications in various fields will have greater job prospects. If you want to work as a sustainability consultant for businesses, an MBA is beneficial. It demonstrates that you have some knowledge of the demands and criteria of company owners and executives.
Experience or a qualification in consultancy is also seen as critical. This can often be done as a module during an MBA or other business-focused degree. It yet again demonstrates your understanding and appreciation for the position of consultant, as well as the difficulties of working with organizations to implement large changes.
To exhibit an overall familiarity with sustainability as it pertains to both broad-scale public and private usage, it may be beneficial to already work for an eco-centric organization or charity.
Environmental qualifications are not uncommon in today’s job market, and they may help you get ahead of the competition.
Working in a technical role on environmental management and sustainability projects is generally the first step toward professional advancement. From there, one may advance from performing environmental assessments to overseeing projects from start to finish as a senior officer.
If you’re looking for an environmental consultant, why not check out SRE today.
