Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been a big fan of cartoons. I still spend too much time watching them as an adult, but now I can blame it on my children. Speaking as a self-proclaimed cartoon expert I can say that, whether it’s Bugs Bunny or Tom & Jerry, every cartoon has featured the same scene at least once: a small snowball starts rolling down a hill and grows in size and speed with each revolution. Anything in the snowball’s path gets picked up and carried along, eventually ending up at the bottom of the hill.
While cartoons in no way reflect reality, the idea of starting small and gaining momentum holds a lot of merit when it comes to sustainability. In order to ensure success and build support for subsequent initiatives, organizations need to start with the most basic of practices and gradually move on to larger programs as awareness and enthusiasm build. The first few activities set the tone: employees realize that behaving sustainably isn’t onerous, and when you communicate the results achieved through the first few changes, more people are on board for the next iteration.
A good example of this approach is the Washburn Center for Children in Minneapolis, with whom Paydirt did some work in early 2009. Washburn started with smaller changes to their office operations, such as installing motion sensors in a few common areas and increasing the number and visibility of their recycling bins. Rather than grumble about the changes, employees have sent emails to management praising the organization’s sustainability efforts.
The small snowball is starting down the hill: as it picks up speed, Washburn will be able to leverage these first few changes and move on to bigger projects. Layers may be added to the core over time, in the form of green cleaning, power management for desktop computers, or creation of a true “green team.” Ultimately, Washburn may pursue a new, green facility, which will allow for lower operating costs and provide a healthy environment for the children. Such a facility will showcase Washburn’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
These initial changes set the tone for Washburn’s overall program, which recognizes that sustainability is central to its mission: providing a safe, supportive, and healthy environment for children. Every organization can do the same. After starting small, you’ll be amazed how quickly momentum will build!
