Imagine a workplace buzzing with excitement as employees eagerly participate in sustainability initiatives, motivated by a sense of accomplishment and a shared vision of a better world. This is not just a dream—it’s a reality that many companies are achieving through strategic, incremental steps toward sustainability. These small, impactful actions, often referred to as “quick wins,” can spark the momentum needed to transform your organization’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals into lasting achievements. But where do you start, and how do you ensure these wins lead to substantial development?

A quick win in the context of sustainability is a relatively simple, cost-effective action that delivers immediate positive results. These actions are usually easy to implement and have a clear, visible impact, making them perfect for kickstarting your sustainability journey.

Quick wins are more than just low-hanging fruit; they are strategic victories that build confidence, demonstrate progress, and lay the groundwork for larger, more ambitious sustainability efforts. These wins are crucial for maintaining enthusiasm and engagement among employees, showing that sustainable development goals (SDGs) are within reach.

Background:
Unilever, a multinational company with products in over 190 countries, has long been a leader in sustainability. In 2010, Unilever launched its ambitious Sustainable Living Plan, which aimed to decouple the company’s growth from its environmental footprint while increasing its positive social impact. This plan included a wide range of initiatives, many of which began with quick wins.

Quick Wins in Action:

1. Reducing Packaging Waste:
   One of Unilever’s first quick wins was reducing the amount of plastic used in its product packaging. For example, the company made minor changes to its shampoo bottles, reducing the thickness of the plastic without compromising product quality. This small adjustment led to a significant reduction in plastic usage across millions of units, decreasing the company’s environmental footprint and cutting costs.

2. Energy Efficiency in Factories:
   Another quick win was improving energy efficiency in Unilever’s factories. The company implemented energy-saving initiatives like installing LED lighting, optimizing heating and cooling systems, and upgrading to more energy-efficient machinery. These changes were relatively low-cost and easy to implement but led to substantial reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Sustainable Sourcing of Raw Materials:
   Unilever also focused on quick wins in sustainable sourcing. They prioritized sourcing key raw materials, such as palm oil, tea, and soy, from certified sustainable sources. By quickly transitioning to sustainable suppliers, Unilever was able to reduce its environmental impact and support sustainable agriculture practices, which was a crucial aspect of its broader sustainability strategy.

Outcome:
These quick wins allowed Unilever to demonstrate early success in its Sustainable Living Plan, building momentum and credibility both internally and externally. The immediate results from these initiatives helped to secure broader organizational buy-in, paving the way for more significant and complex sustainability projects.

Long-Term Impact:
As a result of these and other sustainability efforts, by 2020, Unilever had made significant progress toward its goals. The company reported that it had reduced the greenhouse gas impact of its products by 32% since 2010, cut the waste associated with the disposal of its products by 32%, and ensured that 100% of its palm oil was sustainably sourced.

Lessons Learned:

• Focus on Impactful Areas: By targeting areas with high potential for impact, such as packaging and energy use, quick wins can significantly contribute to broader sustainability goals.

• Leverage Scale: Even small changes can lead to substantial environmental benefits when implemented across a large, global company like Unilever.

• Set the Stage for Larger Goals: Quick wins can create the momentum needed to tackle more ambitious sustainability targets, such as moving toward a circular economy or achieving carbon neutrality.

This example from Unilever illustrates how quick wins, like reducing packaging waste and improving energy efficiency, can be instrumental in driving a company’s sustainability agenda, leading to long-term environmental and financial benefits.

Identifying quick wins starts with assessing your current practices and pinpointing areas where small changes can make a big difference. Here’s a list of potential quick wins that could jumpstart your sustainability efforts:

1. Switch to Eco-Friendly Packaging: Start by reducing plastic usage and opting for sustainable packaging materials. This not only cuts down on waste but also signals to customers that your company values environmental stewardship.

2. Introduce a Green Commuting Program: Encourage employees to use public transportation, carpool, bike, or walk to work. This can reduce your organization’s carbon footprint and promote a culture of sustainability.

3. Adopt Energy-Efficient Practices: Simple actions like switching to LED lighting, setting computers to energy-saving mode, and installing motion sensors for lights can lead to significant energy savings.

4. Reduce Single-Use Plastics: Replace single-use plastic items in the office with reusable or compostable alternatives. This small step can drastically reduce the amount of waste your company generates.

5. Launch a Sustainability Awareness Campaign: Educate employees about the importance of sustainability and how they can contribute. This could involve workshops, informational posters, or even a sustainability challenge with rewards for participation.

6. Implement a Paperless Policy: Transition to digital documents and reduce the use of paper in the office. Not only does this save trees, but it also cuts down on printing costs.

By focusing on these quick wins, you can create visible, impactful changes that will inspire your team and build momentum toward more comprehensive sustainability goals.

Q: How do quick wins fit into our long-term sustainability strategy?
A: Quick wins are the building blocks of your long-term strategy. They provide immediate results that can demonstrate the feasibility of larger initiatives, helping to secure buy-in from stakeholders and employees. These small successes also create a culture of sustainability, making it easier to tackle more significant challenges in the future.

Q: Will focusing on quick wins distract from our larger sustainability goals?
A: Not at all! In fact, quick wins complement larger goals by generating early successes that can be leveraged to support and justify more extensive projects. Think of them as stepping stones on the path to achieving your broader sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Q: How can I ensure that these quick wins are sustainable in the long term?
A: The key is to integrate these wins into your company’s broader ESG strategy. By aligning quick wins with your long-term goals, you ensure they are not just one-off actions but part of a continuous journey toward sustainability.

In today’s rapidly evolving ESG landscape, companies are under increasing pressure to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and social governance. Quick wins offer a way to showcase your company’s dedication to these principles, providing tangible evidence of your progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

These actions also help in reporting and meeting the requirements of frameworks like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). By consistently achieving and documenting these wins, you can strengthen your ESG reporting, making it more robust and credible.

While quick wins are essential for building momentum, they should be part of a broader, strategic approach to sustainability. Consider how these initial successes can feed into more substantial development efforts, such as transitioning to a circular economy, investing in sustainable energy, or adopting eco-friendly products across your supply chain.
One of the most effective ways to sustain momentum is by engaging your employees in the process. Ask them: What sustainable changes would you like to see in our workplace? By involving your team in the decision-making process, you not only generate new ideas but also foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the company’s sustainability goals.

Building momentum in your sustainability efforts is a journey that requires strategic planning, employee engagement, and consistent effort. At eevie, we specialize in helping companies like yours engage employees in sustainability challenges that drive real, lasting change. If you’re ready to take your sustainability efforts to the next level, connect with eevie today. Let’s work together to achieve your ESG and sustainability goals.