Sustainability Consultants are in Demand in 2023: Here’s Why

Hiring a sustainability consultant in 2023 is something to strongly consider. Even if you’re not ready to move forward right now, a few conversations with experts can go a long way in helping you take action when the time comes.

At this point, you may be wondering why sustainability consultants are in such high demand. While the answer varies by industry, here are five reasons a growing number of companies are heading down this path.

1. Access to Experts

When you hire a sustainability consultant, you’re taking a step in the right direction in regards to accessing the best experts in this space. You’re no longer relying on internal resources. You can lean on someone who knows the ins and outs and is willing to share their guidance and knowledge with you.

Tip: you don’t have to hire a sustainability consultant as a full-time employee. Instead, as the title suggests, bring them on board on a consulting basis. This will save you money, while still providing access to everything you need.

2. A Positive Impact on Your Bottom Line

Through the assistance of a sustainability consultant, your company can learn how to increase efficiency. You can also lean on this relationship for guidance on the best ways to utilize sustainable resources.

You may not see a positive impact on your bottom line right away, but over time things will shift in your favor. It won’t be long before you realize that you’re doing good for the environment, as well as your bottom line. That’s the best of both worlds.

3. It’s Important to Employees

Let’s face it: sustainability is more important to your workforce than ever before. In fact, many people make an employment decision based on a company’s approach to sustainability. It’s not out of the question for top-tier talent to pass on an offer because their sustainability beliefs don’t align with yours.

A sustainability consultant can advise you on how to attract top talent via your sustainability efforts. And once you prove that this is important to the company across the board, it also helps with retention.

4. It Can Help Attract a Larger Consumer Base

You have the best product or service. You can have all the right people on your team. But if you don’t have a large consumer base, you’ll never reach your full potential as a company.

Sustainability can help attract a larger consumer base. More consumers than ever want to buy from companies that are taking steps toward protecting the environment.

Be sure to share all your sustainability efforts with your consumer base. This includes your current customers as well as those that you want to work with in the future. Don’t be shy about touting everything you’re doing (and have done) on this front.

5. Sustainability is Here to Stay

There’s no other way to put it: sustainability efforts are here to stay. This isn’t a fad that’ll wear off in the years to come. Companies of all sizes and in all industries are serious about making headway in this area. If you neglect to implement sustainability measures today, it’ll catch up with you in the future.

Questions to Ask

With all this in mind, you may be closer than ever to hiring a sustainability consultant or sustainability consultancy. Here’s a list of questions you can ask as you compare your options.

• What is your approach to consulting?
• What is your rate and what type of service can you provide in exchange for payment?
• How long does your typical consulting relationship last?
• What are your first impressions of the company? Can you help us?
• Have you worked with companies in our industry before?

The more of these questions you ask, the more answers you’ll receive. And with that, it’ll become more clear as to which consultant or consultancy is right for your business.

Final Thoughts

If you’re giving any thought to hiring a sustainability consultancy, don’t wait any longer to reach out to a handful of experts. The discussions that you have will open your eyes to what an expert can do for your organization.

Do you have any experience hiring and working with a sustainability consultancy? Why did you make this important decision?