Fresh Perspectives: Why Millennials Deserve A Spot At The Helm Of Your Business Sustainability

Julie Starr • February 19, 2021



When it comes to change in the workplace, it’s not unusual for employers to turn to their longest standing and most trusted employees. After all, no one understands the inner workings of your company better. Unfortunately, as legitimate as this thinking may be, keeping business change in such a close, and sometimes stagnant circle, can also see you falling behind, especially on the sustainability front.

In many ways this makes sense – why would people want to actively overhaul processes that have served their work environments for years? No one likes change, after all. But, in this day in age, change is inevitable, or at least it should be where your sustainability focus is concerned. 

Luckily, times are changing, with forward-thinking managers putting more and more millennial leaders through development coaching that puts them at the institutional forefront. This is beneficial for bringing modern and fresh outlooks to every corner of business, but where sustainability is concerned, managers are especially noticing the benefits of following a millennial lead, including –

Increased awareness of environmental issues

There’s no way you can build a sustainable future for your business until you understand the issues at play. Unfortunately, while it isn’t always the case, many individuals from older generations are out of touch, or may only have a blanket awareness of what’s going on. By comparison, millennials have grown up in a world where global warming is a buzzword. Most young professionals studied environmental impact in school, as well as being far more likely to have attended notable environmental protests of recent years, such as the largely millennial-led efforts of Extinction Rebellion. This puts them in a unique position to know not only what’s what, but also what your company needs to do about it. 

Passion to fuel improvements

Alongside this increased awareness comes an environmental passion that seems to fuel the values of countless millennials. In fact, this generation cares so much about environmental impact at work that 10% would take a pay cut for a sustainable work environment , while 70% have previously left a job due to a lack of environmental focus. This signifies some pretty strong beliefs, and that level of passion is guaranteed to take your company’s environmental efforts much further than if they were implemented by someone who didn’t much care either way. 

The capability to spread the message

Obviously sustainable business is about more than spreading the message, but making sure that people know what you’re doing both increases your chances of impressing, and also setting a better precedent for other companies in your sphere. And, no one knows how to shout about environmental issues more than millennials. After all, with social media at their fingertips, this is the generation that brought the issue to the forefront in the first place. And, you can bet they can utilize those same social skills to spread the word and see your sustainability focus having more than just environmental impact.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to let your millennial workforce guide you for once.

 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.