2 Define your scope

Next, you need to define the scope and mandate of your green team. What are the main areas or functions that your green team will focus on? How will your green team align with your organization's vision, mission, values, and strategy? How will your green team communicate and collaborate with other teams, departments, or units? How will your green team report on their progress and achievements? You need to establish a clear and shared understanding of the purpose, roles, responsibilities, and expectations of your green team, and document them in a charter or terms of reference.

3 Recruit your members

Once you have defined your scope and mandate, you need to recruit your green team members. You want to have a diverse and representative group of people who are passionate, knowledgeable, and skilled in environmental issues and solutions. You also want to have a mix of senior and junior staff, as well as people from different functions, locations, and backgrounds. You can use various methods to recruit your green team members, such as inviting volunteers, nominations, applications, or interviews. You should also consider the size and structure of your green team, and whether you need subteams or working groups for specific tasks or projects.

4 Train your members

After you have recruited your green team members, you need to train them on the basics of environmental management and sustainability, as well as the specific goals and targets of your organization. You can use online or offline resources, such as courses, webinars, workshops, books, or articles, to educate your green team members on the environmental issues and solutions relevant to your industry and sector. You can also invite experts, mentors, or consultants to provide guidance, advice, or feedback to your green team members. You should also train your green team members on the skills and tools they need to perform their roles effectively, such as project management, data analysis, communication, or facilitation.

5 Plan your actions

Now that you have trained your green team members, you need to plan your actions and projects to achieve your environmental goals and targets. You can use a simple framework, such as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound), to define your objectives, activities, indicators, resources, and timelines. You can also use a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis to evaluate your internal and external factors that may affect your actions and projects. You should also consult and involve your stakeholders, such as management, staff, customers, suppliers, or regulators, to ensure their support and participation.

6 Evaluate your results

Finally, you need to evaluate your results and outcomes of your actions and projects, and celebrate your successes and learn from your failures. You can use various methods to measure and monitor your environmental performance and impact, such as surveys, audits, reports, or dashboards. You can also use qualitative and quantitative data to assess your achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. You should also communicate and share your results and outcomes with your stakeholders, and acknowledge and reward your green team members and collaborators for their contributions and efforts.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?