{"id":783,"date":"2021-03-22T08:00:11","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T08:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/devblogs.microsoft.com\/sustainable-software\/?p=783"},"modified":"2021-03-19T15:07:10","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T15:07:10","slug":"how-do-i-start-a-sustainability-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devblogs.microsoft.com\/sustainable-software\/how-do-i-start-a-sustainability-community\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I start a sustainability community in my organization?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Image<\/a><\/p>\n

In my family we have a favorite scene from the movie \u201cFinding Nemo\u201d<\/span>. I<\/span>t is\u00a0<\/span>the one\u00a0<\/span>where a bunch of fish have\u00a0<\/span>executed<\/span>\u00a0an elaborate plan to escape an\u00a0<\/span>aquarium<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and make it to the ocean.\u00a0<\/span>This scene shows them bobbing up and down<\/span>\u00a0in the bay<\/span>, all\u00a0<\/span>enclosed\u00a0<\/span>in their individual plastic bags<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and one of them says \u201cnow what?\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0Sometimes sustainability work in the tech sector can feel a bit like that, you\u00a0<\/span>know the goal, you have a mission<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and yet you are isolated in a plastic bag not sure how to proceed. That is where this blog post\u00a0<\/span>comes<\/span>\u00a0in!\u00a0<\/span>This post will outline some tips and tricks on how to get a sustainability community started in your organization, no matter if it is a company, non-profit organization or\u00a0<\/span>an interest group on some technical subject.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1 – What is already happening?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The first step is simple, have a look around and see what is already happening in your organization. Is there already a conversation ongoing? Maybe you already have sustainability goals?\u00a0<\/span>Is anyone executing on said goals?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>By doing an inventory of what is already happening it is easier to find potential synergy effects and allies.<\/span>\u00a0If there are already people with a sustainability interest or who are pushing these questions in your org, great! Make sure to band together, if possible, or ask each other for feedback<\/span>, I think that is a great way to\u00a0<\/span>improve<\/span>\u00a0one\u2019s ideas.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 2<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Find your\u00a0<\/span>goal<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The next step is to identify your goal. What are you trying to accomplish? Examples of this can be anything from forming a\u00a0v<\/span>irtual<\/span>-team\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>can produce sustainability goals,\u00a0<\/span>to starting a recycling\u00a0<\/span>campaign<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to think that there are three main steps towards\u00a0<\/span>being an organization\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>actively works with sustainability or towards a sustainability goal<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n