Wasteful workplaces?

Following Earth Day recently on April 22, new research has found that despite 46% of professionals stating that their companies surveyed have clear, business-wide sustainability goals, efforts still seem to be falling short.

Despite the Irish government’s Climate Action Plan including targets to half greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach net zero no later than 2050 – this year, the Republic fell 6 spots in the Climate Change Performance Index, behind both Belgium and France.

Almost half of Irish professionals feel that sustainability and climate considerations have moved up their agenda in this year – whilst only 26% of Irish employers feel the same.

HOW SUSTAINABLE IS YOUR WORKPLACE?

Only 21% of respondents to a Robert Walters poll believe their workplace is sustainable – whilst the majority of over two-fifths state their workplace is somewhat sustainable and a further 37% don’t think their workplace is at all sustainable.

Indeed, 50% of professionals think their employer should do more to help tackle climate change through making their workplaces more sustainable – a quarter feel some efforts have been made, but there is still a long way to go.

In light of this year’s Earth Day theme ‘Plastic vs. Planet’ – the Robert Walters poll also asked professionals who they thought the responsibility to control plastic usage at work lay with – 30% stated senior company leaders, 23% opted for office managers – however, almost two-fifths said that the responsibility lay with employees themselves.