Earth Month tends to shine a spotlight on how we’re treating the planet. But it’s also a good moment to ask how we’re treating our people and whether our culture is built to last.  After all, when it comes to sustainability, the principles aren’t that different - Long-term thinking; Daily habits; Doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching. So here’s a thought:

What would happen if we treated workplace culture the same way we look to treat climate action?

We’re not saying your weekly team meeting needs compost bins. But just like the planet, your company culture is an ecosystem. And ecosystems don’t thrive on surface-level fixes or once-a-year awareness campaigns. They need care, consistency and long-term thinking.

The False Economy of Fast Culture

In the same way fast fashion damages the planet while looking fabulous on Instagram, fast culture can feel exciting in the short-term - quick growth, snappy slogans, shiny perks - but underneath, it’s draining your people.

Signs this is happening: 

• Turnover’s high, but no one knows why.
• Exit interviews are polite...and damning.
• Middle managers are firefighting.
• There’s a lot of “we’ll deal with that later.”

If your culture relies on secrecy, burnout, or silencing to keep things going, you’re not building something that can last. You’re building something that might already be rotting under the surface.

This month, we’ve also been talking about NDA culture - how it's often misused to sweep poor behaviour under the rug, protect reputations over people, and keep “tricky” topics off the radar. That’s the opposite of sustainability. ( Read our separate blog on NDA culture here!)

So What Does a Sustainable Culture Look Like?

It’s not about being perfect - it’s about being intentional. A sustainable culture:

• Plans for the long-term and nurtures people who want to stay and grow with you.
• Practices transparency: Trust is built in the open. That means giving feedback, not just collecting it in anonymous forms that disappear into the void.
• Evolves with its people. A sustainable workplace doesn’t treat culture like it’s fixed in stone. It asks, listens, reflects, and adapts.
• Supports wellbeing, properly -  not just lunchtime yoga (though we love a good stretch), but systems that prevent burnout and leaders who model balance.
• Rewards emotional intelligence - because people stay for managers who “get it,” not ones who get results at any cost.

And crucially it prioritises psychological safety. If people are afraid to speak up, call things out, or suggest new ways of doing things then your roots are shallow.

Culture as Climate Action

The planet won’t be fixed just because of a few campaigns, and culture isn’t built in a single away day. It’s the everyday choices, the behaviours that get rewarded (or tolerated), the unspoken rules that govern how people actually feel at work.

So if you're already thinking green this April, extend that thinking inward:

• Are your people burnt out, or growing?
• Is your company good at retaining great talent, or just good at attracting it?
• Are your values truly embedded, or mostly decorative?

Because sustainability isn’t just for the planet. It’s for your people, your culture, and your business model. And the best part? Get it right, and growth comes as a natural byproduct.

Like a healthy forest, your culture can become self-sustaining. But only if you invest in the roots - not just polish the leaves.

Want to check the health of your own cultural ecosystem?

At Fresh Seed we help creative companies audit, evolve, and grow cultures that people actually want to be part of. No greenwashing, no fluff - just honest support with a human touch. Let’s chat about where your culture’s at and where it could go.