Measures to green the places where people carry out their work are an integral part of the greening of enterprises - a crucial goal for the natural environment’s well-being and a just transition - and are important to both workers and employers.

The report shows how a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies requires the participation of all stakeholders in their respective capacities. 

Enterprises, attentive to expectations from consumers and clients, skills shortages, and demands from workers, know that environmental innovation is also a key to supporting their competitiveness. Measures to make workplaces greener include sustainable consumption at the workplace, sustainable transport to the workplace, and work organisation such as teleworking.

Another relevant factor is the increase in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, which prioritises the alignment of financial targets with ESG outcomes.

Over 65 countries and territories worldwide have introduced legislative initiatives to promote sustainability through workplaces: rules impacting the workplace through environmental or environment-related legislation have grown exponentially, with diverse and flexible measures to focus on integrating sustainable consumption at the workplace.

In 2021, nine out of ten enterprises surveyed in the Eurobarometer data reported taking action towards a green transition, and two-thirds of the companies reported that resource efficiency action had lowered or had no impact on their production costs.

A qualitative survey carried out in Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, and the Republic of Korea show a great diversity among countries in the ways enterprises have become more central to transforming economies into sustainable ones, even if there is a need for a common understanding of what a just transition means for enterprises.

According to the report, promoting the greening of workplaces, including at the enterprise level, can help deliver sustainability through business models and enhance resource efficiency.

The training of managers, technical interventions, and interventions at the enterprise level are essential factors in facilitating certification formalities and the adoption of green processes.

At a global level, dialogue and cooperation between governments, employers, and workers remain keys to promoting these initiatives to ensure greater cooperation and stronger awareness and participation in matters relating to workplaces.