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In today’s rapidly evolving corporate landscape, sustainability has become a fundamental business driver across industries. Global priorities have been shifting toward environmental, social, and governance goals, with the Global Mobility sector finding itself uniquely positioned to lead the transformation toward sustainable change. For global mobility professionals and RMCs specifically, this presents an opportunity to innovate, lead, and reshape their services with an impact they haven’t had before.
The Potential to Steer the Change towards Sustainable Habits
Relocation is one of the major life events when everything changes at once – home, country, culture, and daily habits. This phenomenon, known as habit discontinuity, opens a powerful opportunity window for sustainable behavior shifts. When assignees are relocated, they are more open to adopting new habits and practices, making it a critical moment to introduce sustainability into their daily lives. This is where the Mobility industry shall serve as an enabler of positive change. RMCs and other mobility service providers can tap into this by offering services and support that encourage sustainable choices.
Holistic Approach and New Service Offering Opportunity
To get hold of this opportunity, companies need to integrate sustainability into their relocation policies in a way that aligns with their broader ESG objectives and corporate goals. Also, it is time to move from treating relocation as a one-time event and start viewing it rather through a holistic, long-term lens instead. Relocation is not just about getting an assignee from point A to point B. It is also about ensuring that they thrive in their new location while minimizing the environmental impact.
By introducing sustainability training into the relocation process, organizations can help assignees understand how their daily decisions – such as living and energy usage, transportation choices, and waste management – affect the environment. This goes beyond the initial move and extends into their long-term assignment, where these small, consistent actions can make a significant difference in reducing the overall carbon footprint. More importantly, these newly acquired sustainable habits have a high potential to persist even beyond the repatriation.
To meet these “soon-to-be needed” demands, the global mobility industry must evolve. Sustainability training and policy integration should become core components of the relocation process. And now is the time to start to become the first-mover within the industry. RMCs and supply chain partners who will start offering tailored sustainability training and relocation policy reviews concerning sustainability goals will not only position themselves as innovative leader but also gain a competitive edge in the industry which has been seen as a red ocean with a little space to grow. These efforts will not only help their clients on the way to meet their sustainability goals and provide more “thought-through” support to the assignees. It will also motivate the supply chain to get ready to provide measurable outcomes demonstrating the impact of these efforts. This could include data on carbon emissions saved through sustainable choices, compliance with local environmental regulations, and the overall satisfaction of employees who feel supported in their transition.
Empowering Assignees: Small Actions, Big Impact
While the initial relocation may generate a considerable carbon footprint, it’s often the regular seemingly small choices and actions that make an unexpected difference. Through RMC’s orchestration of its supply chain offerings, the corporate global mobility teams can play a pivotal role by empowering assignees to adopt sustainable habits. This could involve sustainable housing options with recuperation, offering guidance on waste management and recycling initiatives, choosing sustainable transportation options, or connecting them with local eco-friendly service providers. Related education and support should continue throughout the duration of the assignment, with tailored advice and resources evolving as the assignee settles in. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, helping assignees feel more connected to the company’s sustainability goals while making a tangible difference in their day-to-day lives.
The demand for sustainable relocation services will help new services to emerge and provide sustainable alternatives where missing. However, it is just a matter of time before the full relocation package will be offered with the sustainability services only. RMC procurement has to scout for sustainable providers and in some cases prioritize the vetted sustainable suppliers, ensuring that every aspect of the relocation process aligns with the company’s ESG goals.
The Pitfalls of a Lump Sum: A Sustainability Setback
One area ready for disruption is the traditional lump-sum relocation model. While offering flexibility, lump-sum packages often lead to unsustainable outcomes. Without proper oversight, assignees may opt for cost-saving measures that are not aligned with sustainability, and with the intention of saving money, they end up spending too much time on figuring things out. This lack of guidance but also transparency leaves companies unable to track the environmental impact of the relocation process. By challenging the lump-sum model and offering more structured, sustainable relocation packages, global mobility professionals can regain control. This not only supports sustainability but also enhances the employee experience, ensuring that assignees receive the guidance and resources they need to make responsible choices.
Use the Opportunity to Lead and Innovate
For all of us in the industry, this shift towards sustainability is simply an opportunity. By thinking of how to integrate sustainable practices into every stage of the relocation process and by thinking ahead, companies will be able to react on the evolving demands of clients who are increasingly prioritizing ESG. Innovation in this space—whether through sustainability training, greener relocation packages, or a rethinking of traditional models like lump-sum financing—will set you apart from competitors and open up new directions for growth. The companies that embrace sustainability now will not only enhance their brand reputation, and increase revenue, but also build stronger relationships with their clients by helping them achieve their sustainability objectives.
Image credits:
1. Photo by Stefan Kunze on Unsplash
2. Photo by Ramiro Martinez on Unsplash
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