Sustainability Initiatives Stuck In Side-Project Land? How independent consultants can help

With sustainability often struggling to find its place within the core business model, it’s easy for projects to get sidelined, stagnant and stuck. If this is happening to you, don't worry.  Independent consultants offer a brilliant bridging solution.  
 

Why is sustainability getting stuck?

“I’ve got ten projects I could kick off right now, but I can’t get perm headcount for them and they end up getting de-prioritised because people are doing them alongside BAU.” 
Sustainability Lead, FS

In recent months we’ve had an increasing number of conversations with frustrated sustainability leads in major corporates. The content is broadly the same: sustainability, while often discussed with great enthusiasm, is not integrated into the core business model. Leaders are not given dedicated resource - or the headcount to hire it - and end up relying on piecemeal staff time to get initiatives underway. Projects get delayed, dissolve into the ether, or they simply don’t start. 
 

Sustainability is key to resilience

Companies that adopt renewable energy and circular economy practices are likely to reap the rewards of lower supply chain costs, and are far less vulnerable to supply disruptions. Firms that focus on diverse, inclusive hiring and employee wellbeing, and are committed to making broader contributions to society, are likely to have a substantial  edge when it comes to customer and employee loyalty. And with today’s investors also starting to look hard at sustainability practices, there are significant implications for funding too.

In a recent post on the McKinsey blog, Partner, Shelley Stewart III stressed the importance of sustainable, inclusive growth, advising businesses to take a step back, and ask “how do I build this into my core business model? How can I get creative about the cost structure to make that work?” 
 

The message is clear:  companies that locate sustainable, inclusive growth at the heart of their businesses, are better placed to thrive in a world where climate change, resource scarcity and social inequality are constant (and growing) pressures.  
 

But mindset shifts and structural change don't happen overnight, which is where independent consultants come in. 
 

How independent consultants can help shift sustainability to the core of the business model

Post-pandemic, many of the best consultants on the market are now freelance. As well as seasoned sustainability experts, there are a huge number of talented associates and managers, trained at some of the world’s best companies, available for projects at a moment’s notice.

So instead of letting a key project languish on the desk of an overworked permanent analyst, why not bring in a dedicated freelancer to move it forward.

Instead of waiting for a scattered internal team of already maxed-out researchers to pull together the lowdown on a new market or initiative, fast-track it with an independent expert instead. A week of focused time from a senior consultant with exactly the right niche market knowledge and experience can cut straight to the chase and save you a considerable amount of time. 

Don’t argue the case for independent consultants. Prove it. 

If your firm is tentative when it comes to external talent, don’t worry. Choose a project - something where you won’t require huge budget sign-off - and run it as a pilot. 
 

When it’s delivered as high quality work, in record time and on budget, you’ll have a great case for more ambitious projects and strategies. And if you’re not constantly having to chase colleagues on projects they’re doing for you alongside their BAU, morale and internal relationships will improve too. Most importantly, you’ll have momentum where you had stasis, which is vital if you’re going to raise the profile of sustainability across the business and help shift it to its rightful place at the core of the model. 

Choix connects the buy and sell sides of consulting, providing fair and transparent choice for all. If you want to talk to us about a project, or you’re looking to connect with our network of high quality freelance consultants and experts, please email hello@mychoix.com