Sustainability and EX: What’s the Link?

Katie Austin

Minutes
5th June 2025
Employee Experience
Sustainability
EX Strategy
June 5th marks World Environment Day, which means your feed is probably full of bold pledges, green campaigns, and climate stats. And if you’re working in employee experience, it might feel like this belongs in someone else’s inbox — maybe your CSR or facilities team.

But here’s the thing: sustainability is increasingly becoming part of the employee experience. Not because EX teams are leading climate strategies, but because employees are asking bigger questions about what their organisation stands for.

Why it’s showing up in the Employee Experience

We know that people are more likely to feel engaged when their personal values align with those of their employer. And for many, those values now include things like environmental responsibility, social justice, and ethical business practices.

Research from Deloitte and others shows that younger workers, in particular, are making career decisions based on whether organisations take these issues seriously. But it’s not just about attracting talent — it’s also about trust. When employees see action on the things they care about, it builds credibility and connection.

That’s where you come in.

Where EX and sustainability overlap

As an EX practitioner, you’re already influencing many of the things that shape people’s everyday experience at work — and that includes how sustainability shows up in real, human ways. For example:

  • Hybrid working – helping reduce environmental impact while supporting wellbeing
  • Onboarding packs – digital-first, low-waste, or locally sourced
  • Internal comms – talking honestly about progress and challenges, not just policies
  • Volunteering opportunities – giving people ways to act on their values
  • Recognition and rewards – embedding sustainability into your culture


These aren’t new initiatives — they’re existing EX touchpoints with a sustainability lens.

Why this matters for EX teams

If the employee experience is about helping people feel connected, motivated, and proud to work where they do, then purpose really matters. And for many people, sustainability is part of that purpose.

You don’t need to reframe your whole EX strategy. But you can start asking:
👉 Are we reflecting our people’s values in the way we design experiences?
👉 Are we making sustainable behaviours easy and visible?
👉 Are we bringing purpose to life through moments that matter?

Learn from others in the community

We’re seeing more members inside The EX Space explore this space — from sustainable welcome gifts, to green champions, to digital wellbeing as part of hybrid design.

If you’re doing something similar (or want to be), our webinar archive, resource hub, and monthly EX Clinics are full of inspiration and support.

Explore. Share. Shape the experience.
You don’t need to have all the answers. But by tuning in to what people care about — and reflecting that in the experiences you design — you’re already on the right track.