Put your team together

The sustainability of the company is a complex endeavour that will involve all departments. Even if you are a small company with a limited budget, your corporate sustainability team can be made up of employees who are passionate about the topic. Goals should be set by the management team, sending a clear message that you care about acting responsibly. You achieve greater success when your team is enthusiastic about it and you establish a corporate culture in which you encourage commitment in this area!

At TGS Bulgaria, we have two very creative employees that give the whole team suggestions in our monthly meetings. They volunteered to support this task based on their passion to reduce environmental, social and corporate governance issues. Our Managing director Daniel Baritec is determined to set the tone towards a sustainable office and work environment at all levels of the company.

Evaluate your business

Now that you have a team, you need to determine the impact of your business locally and globally. To ensure that your sustainability program is focused on the areas that fit your business, conduct a relative impact assessment. Start by asking yourself and your team the following questions.

• What is your status in terms of ecology, social responsibility and sustainable business practices?
• Are there concrete measures that you are already implementing? For example, do you offer your employees training on equal opportunities and diversity?
• What more could you be doing to promote sustainability moving forward?

This approach will help you develop a clear picture of where you need to focus your efforts,what you need to achieve, and how to achieve it.

Create a sustainable strategy

With the information from your evaluation, you can now develop a strategy for scheduling and allocating your resources appropriately.

At TGS Bulgaria, we began in 2018 by separating the collection of paper and cardboard, by 2021 we introduced a separate waste collection, as a result we reported a 50% decrease inprinted materials. By 2022, the company will increase the use of paper from recycled materials by 25% and equally decrease the use of printed materials by 25%. We have also invested in free training for our entire team every year to ensure personal and professional growth of our employees. TGS Bulgaria is on the right path to promoting a sustainable future.

Remember, every little step is important and does not require a huge budget. Here are some ideas to get you started on sustainable thinking today:

• Save electricity at the office: use green electricity and switch to energy-saving LED lamps for lighting office workplaces.
• Reduce plastic usage and recycle appropriate materials.
• Establish climate-friendly mobility: provide company bicycles instead of cars or help finance a job ticket for public transport, or invest in an electric car.
• Promote fitness and health: offer a free fruit a day to your team members or book a weekly team yoga class. Healthy foods and sports are a great way to appreciate your team and build culture.
• External commitment: A good example is to introduce a sustainability day where you do something for the environment together, for example plant trees in your local park.

A sustainability strategy takes into account ecological aspects, the well-being of employees, strengthens company culture and prevents fluctuations. Corporate sustainability is not only good for the planet, but is also an important tool to communicate your company’s values – a mutually-beneficial situation! Start your sustainability strategy today for a better tomorrow. Read more about TGS Bulgaria’s Commitment to Sustainability here.