As we mark Earth Day 2025, the conversation around sustainability in the workplace has never been more relevant. At Mason Alexander, we’ve been engaging our network to understand how organisations are approaching sustainability – and what today’s candidates really expect from employers.

We recently ran a series of LinkedIn polls to explore how sustainability is being prioritised across strategy, recruitment, and operations. The results offer a snapshot of where companies stand today – and where there’s room to grow.

Where Employers Stand: A Mixed Picture

When asked how sustainability is currently integrated into their organisation’s strategy:

• 31% reported having dedicated sustainability resources
• 23% are in development stages
• 23% are open to the idea but not yet prioritising it
• 23% say it's not a focus at all

This data highlights a fragmented landscape – with only a minority of employers investing meaningfully in sustainability. While some are leading the charge, many are still navigating the early stages of implementation or lack a defined strategy altogether.

The Barriers to Progress

When it comes to adopting sustainable practices, organisations cited several key challenges:

• 36% pointed to budget constraints
• 27% cited lack of leadership focus
• 18% mentioned limited employee engagement
• 18% reported a lack of knowledge or resources

What’s clear is that sustainability, while desirable, is often sidelined by more immediate commercial pressures or unclear ownership. But overcoming these barriers can deliver long-term value across employer brand, employee engagement, and business resilience.

What Job Seekers Expect from Employers

Sustainability isn’t just a business decision — it’s a factor in talent attraction and retention.

When we asked job seekers how important a company’s commitment to sustainability is when considering a new role:

• 21% said it’s very important
• 45% said somewhat important
• 34% said not important at all

That means two-thirds of candidates now factor sustainability into their career decisions to some extent.

When we dug deeper into what sustainability practices matter most to candidates, the priorities were clear:

• 54% value sustainable business practices (ethical sourcing, partnering with sustainable suppliers, carbon neutrality, etc.)
• 33% prioritise a company’s commitment to social impact (such as CSR activities, environmental advocacy)
• Only 13% care most about green office initiatives (like recycling or green energy)

This shows candidates are looking for genuine, strategic commitments — not surface-level gestures.

What Employers Can Do: Practical Next Steps

Whether your organisation is just getting started or looking to take your sustainability strategy further, here are some actionable ideas:

• Make it strategic: Embed sustainability into your business goals, not just your CSR programme.
• Start with leadership: Executive buy-in is key to driving meaningful change across teams.
• Communicate your progress: Even small steps, when communicated well, can resonate with candidates and clients.
• Align sustainability with recruitment: Candidates want to know where you stand. Include sustainability messaging in job ads, onboarding, and employer branding.
• Engage your people: Encourage employee-led green initiatives and open feedback loops to build a culture of sustainability.

Final Note

Sustainability isn’t a box-ticking exercise — it’s increasingly a business imperative. This Earth Day, we encourage employers to look beyond compliance and consider the long-term impact on talent, reputation, and growth.

At Mason Alexander, we partner with organisations that are serious about building future-ready, values-led teams. If you're looking to attract top talent aligned with your sustainability vision, we’re here to help.

Get in touch with our team to explore how your employer brand can evolve in a more sustainable direction.