Progress, Not Perfection (But Seriously, Progress)

We’ve talked a lot in this series—about contract furniture specs, certifications, procurement (and even some chemistry for deep, quality furniture nerdiness). But let’s be real for a second: Even the best sustainability plan doesn’t stand a chance without your people behind it.

That’s where change management comes in.

Because this isn’t just a furniture predicament. It’s a human one too. We’re asking people to shift habits, workflows, and sometimes entire ways of thinking. That’s no small ask. And while strategy is essential, it’s people who decide if your strategy—and the planet— thrive or die in the project binder.

Here’s my take: The RFP is your Oscar-winning script, the product is your all-star cast — and change management is the director who brings the whole story to life on screen.

And without it? You’ve got an award-winning design concept — stuck in the pitch deck, never brought to real life.

Start at the Top: The Leadership Mindset

Let’s start with leadership—because whether we like it or not, people look up.

When executives prioritize sustainability, it ripples. Not just through policies and reports, but through everyday behavior. And it’s not just about doing the right thing—it’s about recognizing the real value. When leaders show up curious, connected, and ready to model what sustainability looks like in action, others follow. It sends the message: This matters—for our people and our bottom line.

That said, leadership isn’t always top-down. Sometimes, it starts from the ground up—one team, one champion, one conversation at a time. It’s a great reminder that everyone has a role to play. You don’t need a title to lead.

And while we’re at it, a quick nod to Natashia Dunham at Sobeys, who’s been a powerful voice in showing how sustainability can align with both operational goals and people-first values. In her words, “You don’t have to change everything overnight—but you do have to start.” Because when sustainability becomes a business mindset—not just a mission—it starts paying off in more ways than one.

People Power: Sparking Employee-Driven Change

Top-down leadership matters. But bottom-up energy? That’s where the magic happens.

Employees want to contribute. They just need a clear way in. Whether it’s a formal sustainability committee, a “green ideas” Slack channel, or a Friday lunch-and-learn (pick me!), giving people a space to connect and make a difference? Turns out, it actually makes a difference. Funny how that works.

In fact, employees working at eco-friendly companies are shown to be 16% more productive. That’s not just a win for sustainability—it’s a win for your bottom line.

Change management consultant Amy Becker surprised us with a new fun fact: “Sustainability is an anomaly—it’s one of the few types of change that more often starts from the bottom up.” That makes your employees one of your most powerful tools for progress.

Invite folks to try just one thing to move toward circularity. Celebrate the effort. Share progress. You’ll be amazed at how quickly those small actions start to build both community and momentum.

And don’t forget your internal BFFs (Best Furniture Friends): comms, HR, and marketing teams. They’re pros at storytelling—so loop them in and make those sustainability wins feel seen and shared.

Make It Operational: Integration Is Everything

Want your sustainability strategy to actually hit the screen? You’ve got to move it from concept to production.

That means embedding it into real processes—not just green goals in a slide deck. We’re talking procurement systems, HR policies, facilities operations, vendor reviews—the behind-the-scenes work that makes the story real. Because when sustainability is part of the daily workflow, it’s not just good for the planet—it’s good business. Eco-friendly can be seriously eco-nomical.

Just ask Kathleen Romano, Senior Project Manager at Sony Pictures Entertainment. After joining kimiko green roundtables, she helped drive changes that made reuse a key priority throughout their office projects. Now, reuse isn’t an afterthought. It’s built in from the start, making an impact across departments.

Sometimes it’s as simple as making sustainable choices the default, or adding your environmental values to new employee onboarding. Small changes scale—especially when they roll with the credits.

Track It Like You Mean It

(Sharing is caring—for the planet!)

We all know the saying: you can’t manage what you don’t measure.

But here’s a pro tip—don’t wait until everything’s perfect to start tracking. Set a few realistic goals, check in on your progress, and adjust as you go. What is Just One Thing you can start to track/measure/quantify? If you aren’t sure where to start, phone a BFF.

And just as important? Share what you’re learning. Talk about what’s working and what’s not. Transparency builds trust and helps others learn with you. And spoiler: when people feel like they’re part of the progress, they pull up a chair. That’s the spirit behind the kimiko green movement—learning out loud, lifting each other up, and building better habits together.

Signal Boost the Good Stuff

This Just One Thing is simple but powerful: Talk about your progress.

Seriously. Whether it’s a Teams shoutout, an internal newsletter, or a LinkedIn post—shine a light on what your team is doing. Not just because it feels good (though it does), but because it connects the dots between effort and impact. And…it’s contagious!

Take Toyota Motors North America, for example. After hearing the phrase “above ground landfill” during a kimiko green roundtable, their team was inspired to take a closer look at their own storage practices. The result? They cleared out an entire warehouse of unused furniture, most of which no longer met their internal standards—diverting 98% of it from the landfill through resale, donation, or recycling. The cherry on top: they’re now saving $50K a year.

Sharing your wins builds momentum. It boosts morale and proves your values aren’t just words on a slide. That matters—a lot. 70% of Gen Z cares deeply about sustainability, and 60% would skip over employers who don’t walk the talk. That’s not just a feel-good stat; it’s your reputation and talent pipeline on the line, and a takeaway from Series 3 of the kimiko green roundtables.

When people see progress, they want in. When they see it celebrated, they stick around. That’s how good intentions turn into real results.

Wrapping It Up

So here we are—the final column in our Just One Thing series.

We’ve explored how to build a more sustainable organization one action at a time—from the way you spec and select products, to how you embed sustainability into your culture, to how you lead and talk. If there’s one takeaway? It’s this:

Strategy and action don’t work solo—you need both brains and boots on the ground to drive change that delivers ECOnomics and ECObenefits. Bonus points if you’re wearing fun shoes.

Thanks for following along, trying the things, and showing up—even when it’s messy or uncertain or slower than you’d like. Sustainability isn’t a finish line—it’s a habit. And you’re building it one decision, one conversation, one action at a time.

We’ll be cheering you on—and we’ve even built a fun-size Just One Thing playbook to help keep the momentum going. Download it here, and let us know how you’re putting it to use!

Just One Thing is a five-part series written by Dianne Murata, OG Furniture Nerd at Kimiko Designs and accidental environmentalist leading kimiko green, a collaborative forum for industry professionals. This series will walk you through five key pillars of sustainable furniture planning. From digging into material transparency and vetting manufacturers to embedding sustainability into FF&E specifications, RFPs, and long-term habits — together, we’ll cut through the fluff and get straight to actionable change.