15 Sustainability Interview Questions and Answers

As the world becomes more and more focused on sustainability, it’s no surprise that sustainability related questions are becoming more common in job interviews.

Whether you’re interviewing for a job in sustainability or not, it’s important to be prepared to answer these types of questions. After all, sustainability is an important issue and employers want to know that their employees are committed to making a difference.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common sustainability related interview questions. With thoughtful and well-crafted answers, you’ll be sure to make a great impression in your next interview.

1. What is sustainability?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of sustainability and how it applies to the industry. You can answer this question by defining what sustainability means, explaining why it’s important and giving examples of how you’ve used it in your work.

Example: “Sustainability is the ability for something to continue existing without harming its environment or resources. In my last role as an environmental engineer, I worked with a team to create a plan that would allow our company to reduce waste while still maintaining profitability. We created a recycling program that reduced our trash output by 30% and saved the company money.”

2. Why do you think sustainability is important?

Employers ask this question to see if you understand the importance of sustainability and how it can benefit their company. They want someone who is passionate about sustainability and has a strong understanding of why it’s important for businesses to implement sustainable practices. In your answer, explain what inspired you to pursue a career in sustainability. Share some examples of how companies have benefited from implementing sustainable practices.

Example: “I think sustainability is incredibly important because it helps us protect our environment while also saving money. I’ve always been passionate about protecting the environment, so when I was looking at colleges, I found that many schools had programs dedicated to sustainability. I decided to enroll in one of these programs, where I learned more about the different ways we can reduce waste and energy consumption. After graduating, I got my first job as an environmental consultant, where I helped businesses create more sustainable policies.”

3. Can you explain the difference between a sustainable and an unsustainable approach to business?

This question can help the interviewer assess your understanding of sustainability and how it relates to business. Use examples from your experience that show you understand what makes a company sustainable or unsustainable, and how this impacts its success.

Example: “A sustainable approach to business is one that focuses on long-term growth and profitability while also considering environmental impact. An unsustainable approach is one that prioritizes short-term gains over long-term viability. In my last role as an operations manager, I worked with a team to develop a new product line for our company. We decided to focus on creating products that were more environmentally friendly than our competitors’ offerings. This helped us grow our sales by 20% in the first year.”

4. What are some examples of companies that have made sustainability a core part of their corporate strategy?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your knowledge of sustainability and how it relates to business. Use examples from your own experience or research companies that have made positive changes in their operations, products or services to show the interviewer you know what good sustainability looks like.

Example: “Some great examples are Patagonia, Interface Flooring Systems and Seventh Generation. Patagonia has been making strides toward more sustainable practices for years now, including using recycled materials in their clothing production and creating an entire line of clothing made from recycled plastic bottles. Interface Flooring Systems is another example of a company that’s committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 50% by 2020 through initiatives such as recycling waste carpet into new flooring and installing solar panels on all of its facilities.”

5. Can you give me some examples of organizations that have worked towards achieving sustainability in recent times?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the sustainability industry and how it has evolved over time. When answering this question, you can provide examples of organizations that have made significant strides in their efforts towards sustainability.

Example: “Some recent organizations that have worked towards achieving sustainability include Google, Apple and Facebook. These companies have been working on reducing their carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources for their data centers. They’ve also implemented recycling programs within their facilities and are making an effort to reduce waste production. Another example would be Tesla Motors, which has created electric cars that don’t produce any emissions.”

6. Do you know anything about ISO 14000 standards? How are they related to sustainability?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an international organization that develops and publishes standards. The ISO 14000 series of standards are related to environmental management, including sustainability. Employers may ask this question to see if you have experience with the ISO 14000 standards or other similar standards. In your answer, try to explain what these standards are and how they relate to sustainability.

Example: “I do know a little bit about the ISO 14000 standards. I worked at my last job as a project manager where we had to adhere to the ISO 9001 standard. This standard was very similar to the ISO 14000 standards in many ways. For example, both sets of standards require companies to create a plan for managing their processes and products. Both also include requirements for monitoring and measuring performance.

In my role as a project manager, I helped implement the ISO 9001 standard into our company’s operations. I think my previous experience working with the ISO 14000 standards would help me succeed in this position.”

7. What are some common methods for measuring sustainability?

This question can help the interviewer understand your knowledge of sustainability measurement and how you apply it to projects. You can answer this question by naming some common methods for measuring sustainability, such as life cycle assessment, environmental management system or triple bottom line accounting.

Example: “There are many different ways to measure sustainability. One method is life cycle assessment, which involves analyzing a product’s entire life cycle from production to disposal. Another method is triple bottom line accounting, which measures financial performance alongside social and environmental impact. I have used both of these methods in my previous position at Green Energy Company.”

8. What’s your opinion on the greenwashing controversy?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of sustainability and how it relates to the business world. Greenwashing refers to companies that claim to be environmentally friendly when they’re not, so you should use this opportunity to show that you know what greenwashing is and why it’s important to avoid it.

Example: “Greenwashing is an issue because it misleads consumers into thinking a company is more sustainable than it actually is. I think it’s important for businesses to be transparent about their environmental practices so customers can make informed decisions about where they spend their money. If a company claims to be eco-friendly but isn’t, then they’re wasting resources and hurting the environment.”

9. What kinds of environmental regulations does sustainability entail?

This question can help the interviewer assess your knowledge of sustainability regulations and how you apply them to projects. Use examples from your experience to highlight your ability to meet regulatory requirements while also maintaining a company’s bottom line.

Example: “Sustainability regulations are constantly changing, so it’s important for companies to stay up-to-date on new legislation. In my last role, I helped develop an internal system that would allow us to track all environmental regulations in our state. This allowed us to be proactive when changes were made to existing laws or new ones were introduced. It also helped us identify areas where we could improve our processes to ensure compliance.”

10. What is a triple bottom line report?

This question tests your knowledge of sustainability reporting. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you can use this information in a professional setting. In your answer, explain what triple bottom line reports are and how they’re used. If possible, provide an example of one you’ve completed before.

Example: “A triple bottom line report is a way for companies to measure their success using three different metrics. These include financial performance, social responsibility and environmental impact. I have worked with several organizations that have implemented these types of reports. They find them useful because it helps them understand how their decisions affect all aspects of their business.”

11. What is social responsibility?

Employers may ask this question to see if you understand the importance of sustainability and how it relates to their company. They want to know that you can apply your knowledge of sustainability to help them achieve social responsibility goals. In your answer, explain what social responsibility is and why it’s important for businesses to have a sustainable mindset.

Example: “Social responsibility is an organization’s commitment to being environmentally friendly and socially conscious. It means they are making decisions based on ethical values rather than just profit margins. I think it’s important for companies to practice social responsibility because it helps them build trust with customers and communities. When people feel like a business cares about more than just money, they’re more likely to support that business.”

12. What constitutes a socially responsible organization?

Employers may ask this question to see if you understand the basic principles of sustainability. They want to know that you can apply your knowledge and skills to help their organization become more sustainable. In your answer, explain what a socially responsible organization is and how it benefits its community.

Example: “A socially responsible organization is one that makes ethical decisions in all areas of business. It prioritizes environmental protection and conservation, as well as human rights and social justice. A socially responsible organization also cares for its employees by providing them with fair wages and safe working conditions. Finally, a socially responsible organization gives back to the community by supporting local businesses and charities.”

13. Do you honestly think delivering profits is at odds with being socially responsible?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of sustainability and how it relates to business. It also helps the interviewer understand whether you can balance profit with social responsibility in your role as an HR professional.

Example: “I think that delivering profits is not at odds with being socially responsible, but I do believe that companies need to be more transparent about their practices. For example, if a company has a policy against hiring people who are pregnant or have children under the age of five, they should state this clearly in their employee handbook so there’s no confusion when someone applies for a job. If they don’t make this information clear, then they’re not practicing transparency.”

14. What is a sustainable development goal?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of sustainability goals. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list the different types of sustainable development goals and what they are trying to achieve.

Example: “There are eight UN Sustainable Development Goals that were created in 2015. These goals include ending poverty, ensuring clean water access, providing food security and more. Each goal has specific targets that countries need to meet by 2030. For example, one target for SDG 2 is to end hunger, which means reducing the percentage of undernourished people from 12% to 5%. Meeting these targets will help ensure we have a healthy planet for future generations.”

15. Can you give me an example of how a company can use technology to achieve sustainability goals?

This question can help the interviewer understand your knowledge of sustainability and how you apply it to a company’s goals. Use examples from your experience or explain what you would do if you were in charge of implementing technology for a company’s sustainability initiatives.

Example: “In my last position, I helped create an online database that tracked all of our recycling efforts. This allowed us to see which areas we could improve on and gave us more information about how much waste we produced. The database also made it easier for employees to recycle by providing bins throughout the office.”