The Sustainability Executive and Officer Role

The role of sustainability executives, also known as corporate sustainability officers, has evolved over the last 6-10 years. Initially, many of these roles evolved out of need and whoever had interest in a company usually was dubbed the ‘sustainability expert’ within the company. Now that the sustainability profession has progressed, more experience has been created and there are higher degrees available in sustainability management the role has become more specialized and coveted than before.

A recurring questions is what do these professionals do? Although that can vary from company to company, here are some good resources to refer to about this role and all that it entails;

• Corporate Sustainability Officers, eco-officiency
• The Sustainability Professional: 2010 Competency Survey Report, International Society of Sustainability Professionals
• the Five Myths About Sustainability Executives, Green Biz.com
• Sample Job Description for a Sustainability Officer, Sustainable Cities Institute

Engage a Green Team in Your Organization

In order for sustainability plan and initiatives to take hold, it is important to get staff within your organization to be engaged and involved. There is no better way then to form then green teams inside your organization. Green teams is a small group strategically chosen that can build momentum and excitement about sustainability and be crucial to the culture shift within an organization.

To learn more about forming  a green read my recent article in Colorado Biz magazine. Another good article about green team formation was written last year by GreenBiz.com called Corporate Green Teams.  The EPA also has a short guide on creating green teams.