Green spaces, strong community values and growing climate awareness are part of everyday life in cities like Brisbane. It’s no surprise then that local businesses are starting to rethink how they bring their teams together. More organisations are using these moments not just to connect their people, but to give back to the planet as well.
Sustainability in Your Team Building
Sustainability already features in many workplaces, whether its recycling systems, ESG policies or emissions goals, but these efforts can sometimes feel top down or disconnected from everyday work life. That’s where purpose led team building comes in.
It’s an opportunity to give sustainability a human face. Done well, green team building activities don’t just support the environment. They lift morale, strengthen working relationships and help embed a culture of responsibility that sticks.
Turning Intention Into Action
For teams looking to move beyond traditional formats, sustainable team building offers fresh energy. It gives people the chance to take meaningful action, connect outside of work tasks and reflect on the kind of impact they want to make, both individually and collectively.
This approach is also a great fit for businesses working on their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals. Activities that raise awareness and create measurable change can directly contribute to ESG performance while building a strong, values led brand.
What Does Sustainable Team Building Look Like?
There are plenty of practical ways to bring sustainability into your team activities, whether you’re in office, hybrid or fully remote. Sustainable gaining traction includes:
Hands on environmental volunteering
From helping out on a local urban farm to planting native trees, these activities get teams outside, learning and doing something tangible. They also offer insight into regenerative farming and local food systems, all while encouraging collaboration.
Zero waste workshops and eco challenges
These can be small group sessions focused on actions like repairing clothing, cooking low impact meals or setting up composting at home. Short term challenges – such as a week without red meat or going plastic free – often spark longer term habit changes.
Sustainability focused team competitions
Inspired by ideas like the “Green Games,” workplaces can run month long challenges where teams score points for taking sustainable actions. From using public transport to switching to a green energy plan, these friendly competitions can energise staff while delivering real environmental benefits.
Virtual and hybrid experiences
Online quizzes, sustainability themed workshops or group pledges can keep remote teams connected. Adding an impact tracker or leaderboard creates a sense of shared purpose, even across locations.
What these activities have in common is a shift from ticking boxes to creating impact. They get people involved in real change, while strengthening team dynamics in the process.
Keep it Relevant and Measurable
To be effective, your sustainability strategy needs to feel authentic. Activities should be tailored to your team’s values, interests and capabilities with outcomes that are easy to track. That doesn’t mean endless data, a simple scorecard or shared list of actions is often enough to measure progress and keep people motivated.
It also helps to link efforts to a bigger picture. Whether it’s reducing carbon emissions, supporting local growers or minimising waste, making the purpose behind your activities visible keeps everyone engaged.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
Every team’s dynamic is different, and so are the sustainability goals each business is working toward. That’s why a customised approach is key. For some teams, physical activities with a social purpose are the best fit. For others, quiet, reflection based actions or individual pledges may resonate more.
What matters is making sure your team building approach feels aligned with who you are as an organisation and what your people care about.
Take the Next Step
If your Brisbane business is looking to align sustainability with team building in a meaningful way, Team Building with Purpose offers programs designed to do just that. We work with organisations to deliver custom events that support charity partners tackling environmental challenges, while bringing teams closer together.
Whether you’re planning a one off session or building a long term culture shift, it’s a great way to reconnect with your team and contribute to something bigger.