How to sell ‘green’ internally

How one communicator gradually moves employees—and himself—from ignorance to environmental enlightenment

Let us guess: Your company is going green and you’re trying to figure out how to get employees involved in a way that’s … well, sustainable.

Show of hands: Anybody not in that boat?

A lively and fruitful conversation on that topic took place on MyRagan recently, but no one contributed in more helpful detail than John Ochwat, electronic communications manager for a 1,000-employee civil engineering firm called David Evans and Associates.

We talked to Ochwat and found that his sustainability communication program isn’t astounding; it may not even be outstanding. But it’s steady and, more importantly, it’s doable by any communicator in any company with a sincere sustainability program. Also, Ochwat hopes, it avoids the feeling of some sustainability programs: “Go green now: Another dictate from Corporate.”