People Power: Bringing Sustainability to Life at Work

Embedding sustainability into an organisation requires more than strategies, reports, or long-term targets. As highlighted during the digitalRG webinar “People Power: Bringing Sustainability to Life at Work,” meaningful progress depends on engaging employees and empowering them to take part in sustainability efforts.

The session brought together perspectives from the lottery sector, with contributions from Mélissa Jacquérioz at the European Lotteries, Mathias Kolstad from Norsk Tipping, and Riccardo Troiani from Brightstar Lottery. Together, they explored how organisations can move from sustainability commitments to everyday actions by involving their people.

Sustainability starts with people

A key theme throughout the discussion was that sustainability initiatives are far more effective when employees understand how their work contributes to broader environmental and social goals.

Many organisations have established ambitious sustainability strategies, but translating those commitments into daily practices requires internal engagement. Employees need opportunities to learn about sustainability, contribute ideas, and see how their actions make a difference.

Building this shared understanding helps transform sustainability from a top-down directive into a collective effort, where teams feel responsible for driving progress.

Engaging employees in climate action

At Norsk Tipping, employee engagement played a central role in shaping the organisation’s climate transition planning.

As explained by Mathias Kolstad, the company organised collaborative initiatives designed to involve staff directly in identifying solutions. One example was the “Footprint Lab”, an internal workshop where employees from different departments worked together to explore practical ways of reducing emissions.

By creating a space for discussion and idea generation, these sessions helped employees better understand the organisation’s environmental footprint while also encouraging ownership of potential solutions.

This collaborative approach not only produced new ideas but also strengthened awareness of climate-related challenges across the organisation.

Recognising sustainability leadership

Employee engagement can also be strengthened through recognition programmes that highlight positive contributions.

At Brightstar Lottery, sustainability initiatives are supported by internal programmes designed to celebrate employees who actively promote responsible practices.

According to Riccardo Troiani, the organisation’s “Sustainability Stars” initiative recognises employees who demonstrate leadership in sustainability within their teams or communities.

These ambassadors help raise awareness, share knowledge, and encourage colleagues to adopt more sustainable behaviours. By recognising individual efforts, the programme helps reinforce the idea that sustainability is everyone’s responsibility.

Education and internal communication matter

Another recurring theme during the webinar was the importance of ongoing education and communication.

Employees need access to clear information about sustainability priorities, as well as opportunities to engage in discussions and learning activities. Internal webinars, workshops, and collaborative initiatives can help build this understanding while also creating momentum around sustainability efforts.

When employees feel informed and involved, they are more likely to contribute ideas and integrate sustainability considerations into their everyday decisions.

Collaboration across the lottery sector

The webinar also highlighted how collaboration between organisations can support progress across the sector.

Through initiatives led by European Lotteries, members are increasingly sharing experiences and practical examples related to sustainability and environmental initiatives.

As noted by Mélissa Jacquérioz, these collaborative efforts help organisations learn from one another, accelerate the adoption of good practices, and strengthen collective progress towards sustainability goals.

Turning strategy into action

A central takeaway from the discussion is that sustainability strategies only become meaningful when they are translated into actions at every level of the organisation.

Engaging employees, encouraging collaboration, and recognising leadership can help bridge the gap between strategy and practice. By empowering people to participate in sustainability initiatives, organisations can build a stronger culture of responsibility and innovation.

For lotteries and organisations across the sector, the message from the webinar was clear: sustainability is not just a corporate objective; it is a shared effort driven by the people who bring it to life every day.

Access the Full Recording and Presentations

The full recording and presentations from this webinar are available exclusively to European Lotteries Association members who have signed up for the EL Environmental Initiative.

For more information or to request access, please contact hello@digitalrg.com.