Sustainability has moved from being a corporate talking point to something that’s genuinely shaping how businesses hire, and how people choose where to work.
Whether it’s swapping diesel vans for electric ones, cutting down on food waste in kitchens, or offering remote roles to reduce commuting, environmental responsibility is reshaping the workplace. And that means recruitment is changing too.
As we mark World Environment Day, we’re looking at how sustainability is influencing recruitment, how job roles are evolving, and how you can make sustainability part of your hiring and employer brand.
Sustainability as a talent priority
Priorities in hiring are regularly changing, and in 2025, more candidates, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are actively seeking employers that align with their values. For a majority of candidates, sustainability, and environmental and social impact is being placed high on their list when choosing where to work.
As well as having a greener mindset, this priority shift also reflects a demand for authenticity, which can be used to better understand a company. For example, superficial ‘greenwashing’ is often easy to spot if there is nothing to back it up, and this can show the company as disingenuous, deterring potential candidates.
88% of employees say sustainability is important to their job satisfaction.
(Workplace Wellbeing Pro)
Green jobs and evolving roles
The demand for green jobs is growing. Positions such as wind turbine engineers, sustainability officers, carbon analysts, and renewable energy consultants are becoming increasingly common. These specialist roles are directly focused on reducing environmental impact, complying with new regulations, and innovating towards cleaner solutions.
Sustainability, however, goes beyond specialised jobs, with many traditional roles now evolving to incorporate green responsibilities and skills:
- Delivery drivers and remote salespeople are transitioning to electric vehicles, requiring knowledge of EV maintenance and efficient route planning.
- Warehouse and industrial businesses are moving towards more energy-efficient systems, resulting in additional training for existing teams, and a skills requirement for new hires.
- Office based roles are integrating sustainability KPIs, from reducing paper use to supporting remote work policies that lower carbon footprints.
3 ways you can make sustainability part of your employer brand
Walk the Talk: include sustainability sections on your company website and in job advertisements. Talk about any internal initiatives and how you’re adapting to a more sustainable world, and be transparent; even if you’re still working on your green image, being honest builds trust and will attract candidates wanting to support that goal.
Stay ahead of the green skills curve: how is your industry being shaped by sustainability? Doing some research and keeping up to date with the demand for green jobs and any changes to policies or technologies will help you prepare for future recruitment needs and the skills and experience you will want to look for in new hires.
Align your message: if sustainability is part of your brand, it needs to be visible throughout the entire candidate journey, not just on your careers page. This means making sure your environmental values are reflected across all candidate touchpoints, from job descriptions to social media content to onboarding.
Whether you’re hiring a Sustainability Officer, switching to green technology, or simply working towards greener day-to-day practices, it’s clear that sustainability is a key part of many industries and in recruitment.
Use this World Environment Day to review how your hiring process supports a greener future, and
get in touch today; let us support your business and help build your employer brand with the right team.
