A Simple Guide to Creating Strong Green Teams for Corporate Sustainability

How GAP has developed these tips

These tips are based on the lessons we have learned from our programmes, and from academic research: that psychology matters when it comes to climate and biodiversity action. 

Many employees may feel strongly about climate action, but they may find it difficult to change their own habits (known as the “intention-action gap”). Other people may feel less urgency or responsibility to act on climate change when they perceive it as a distant issue, affecting other places, future generations, or people outside their community (known as “psychological distance”). Similarly, people often resist climate solutions they find too disruptive or inconvenient to their lifestyle, even if they recognise the need for change (known as “solution aversion”)

Green teams can help overcome these barriers, by providing clear, achievable goals that make climate action feel manageable and meaningful in a work context. 

By focusing on specific, impactful actions, such as energy-saving practices or waste reduction, green teams can make sustainability goals tangible and approachable for employees, helping to reduce the sense of overwhelm that often comes with climate action.

People are strongly influenced by the behaviour and attitudes of others around them. When sustainable practices are seen as the standard within the company, employees are more likely to adopt and support green initiatives. Effective green teams offer practical, incremental actions that feel achievable and manageable, reducing resistance and encouraging broader participation. Similarly, Green Teams can promote green actions and norms, and help make climate action more visible within the company. 

To mobilise employees effectively, a company Green Team can focus on a few high-impact areas that resonate with employees and are practical. 

Here is our list of potential areas of focus for corporate Green Teams:

1. Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy

• • Energy Efficiency: Identify those areas where energy can be reduced by upgrading to energy-efficient light, optimising heating and cooling systems, or encouraging better use of electricity.

• • Switch Over to Renewable Energy: Recommend shifting to renewable sources of energy such as solar or wind. Make the workers aware of what change might bring.

• • Empowerment to energy saving: Engage employees in energy saving by sensitising them on the need for switching off lights, equipment, and putting computers to sleep during after hours.

2. Waste Management

• • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Campaigns: Help reduce waste by providing clear instructions on recycling, and ensuring compost bins and recycling bins are clearly marked and well placed. Optimise Office Supplies: Reduce paper use and single-use plastics by encouraging digital workflows and utilising supplies that can be refilled.

• • Waste Reduction Competitions: Consider rewards or incentives for employees or departments that consistently recycle properly or come up with ways to reduce waste. Introduce friendly interdepartmental competitions or monthly goals monitoring which team can do the most to reduce waste (like GAP’s digital waste challenge). 

3. Green Transportation and Commuting

• • Provide incentives or a commuter benefits programme for carpooling, cycling, walking or using public transportation.

• • Work-from-home policy: Flexibility to work from home could mean a decrease in the production of transportation emissions.

• • Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: EV charging points provided within the company’s car park, among others.

4. Green Purchasing Practices

• • Source Eco-Friendly Products: Try to find environmentally friendly sources and ethically produced materials for your office supplies and equipment.

• • Local Sourcing: Give preferential treatment to local suppliers, or suppliers who are certified for environmental considerations.

5. Climate Education and Employee Engagement

• • Contact GAP for suggestions on how to organise events, training sessions or seminars for employees on climate and biodiversity issues.

• • Encourage employees with ideas of sustainability at work, even going as far as initiating and leading green initiatives. Friendly Eco Challenges may also be staged to generate enthusiasm around certain objectives.

• • Communicate and celebrate small successes in the company’s green initiatives. One powerful tool in this respect is GAP’s unique digital climate challenge. 

6. Protection of Biodiversity and Natural Resources

• • Plant native species, if available, in all exterior spaces. It could be anything extending from a rooftop garden to green walls.

• • Provide opportunities for employees to get involved with habitat restoration activities, including tree-planting events and clean-up events in parks.

7. Sustainable Building Operations

• • Strive for certification to attain building sustainability standards.

• • Promote water-saving behaviour in the organisation; collect rainwater; install Low-flow water systems in your buildings; 

• • Encourage natural ventilation or the use of energy-efficient heating systems.

8. Build A Green Culture

• • Incentives for Green Behaviour : Think of gift cards, extra paid days off, or recognition for those employees that continuously provide leadership and inspiration associated with sustainability. 

• • Green Ambassadors: Choose excited and energetic employees to take on roles as “Green Ambassadors” that will champion sustainable practices within their teams, to inspire others. 

• • Allow employees to monitor progress regarding sustainability efforts within the company as a whole, so they may set benchmarks and understand how their individual efforts will contribute to the big picture.