Make Your Membership Work for the Planet – and Your Business
Are you part of a trade body, Chamber of Commerce, industry group, or local business network?
If so, you’ve got access to one of the most underused assets in sustainability: community.
These groups are designed for connection, learning, and improvement — and that makes them ideal platforms to drive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) progress. Not through grand declarations, but by showing up with curiosity, sharing what’s working, and nudging the agenda forward.
Here’s how to lead from within.
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Ask Better Questions
Every meeting is an opportunity to raise a meaningful question. Not just about emissions or recycling — but about social impact and governance too.
Try asking:
- “How are others managing diversity in recruitment?”
- “Is anyone seeing board-level interest in climate risk?”
- “Has anyone introduced supplier codes of conduct or ethics policies?”
You’ll often be met with a mix of curiosity, relief, and “We’ve been wondering the same thing.”
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Share What’s Working (and What’s Not)
Real change is built on small actions.
Share that you’ve:
- Updated your employee well-being policy
- Introduced regular ethics and safeguarding training
- Shifted to greener logistics
- Started tracking Scope 3 emissions
- Reviewed decision-making processes for sustainability risk
And if something didn’t go to plan? Say that too. Your honesty could help someone else avoid the same issue.
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Connect People with Purpose
Know someone trialling a new social value measurement tool? Or another exploring green financing options?
Connect them. You don’t need to be the expert — you just need to spot links others might miss.
This kind of informal matchmaking can lead to stronger partnerships, local collaborations, or co-funded projects.
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Encourage a Pilot Mindset
Sometimes, all a group needs is permission to try something small.
Could you:
- Set up a shared volunteering day across member businesses?
- Launch a peer group for supply chain transparency?
- Co-host a session on setting ESG KPIs?
Pilot projects build confidence. They create learning and prove what’s possible.
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Use the Microphone
Are you speaking at an event? Writing a newsletter article? Posting in the group forum?
Give ESG a mention.
Talk about how your business started measuring gender balance or invested in more ethical sourcing.
Highlight how another member achieved ISO 14001 or set up a governance working group.
Visibility matters — and helps normalise the discussion.
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Shape the Group’s Agenda
Most groups want to support members with ESG issues but aren’t sure where to start.
Offer to:
- Recommend a speaker on carbon, social value, or ethical leadership
- Run a breakfast session on ESG reporting
- Suggest a member-led sustainability forum
- Share a policy template others can adapt
If you wait for someone else to lead, it might not happen. But if you take the first step, others usually follow.
ESG Progress Starts with People
The reality? You don’t need a Chief Sustainability Officer badge to make a difference.
Progress often starts when someone in the room says, “What if we tried this?” or “I can share what we’ve done.”
Trade bodies, chambers, and business groups offer a brilliant foundation for change — but it’s up to the members to bring it to life.
Want support embedding ESG into your networks or business group activity?
We’d be glad to offer ideas, speakers, or tools. Just drop us a message — we’re here to help.