Engagement
GOAL: Staff achieve a 90% score on sustainability survey by 2030
Goal Update
2022: 61% score on sustainability survey
Goal: Staff achieve a 90% score on sustainability survey
Staff Engagement
One of the primary outcomes of this planning process is to create an organization-wide culture of sustainability. Seattle Aquarium has made significant sustainability progress due to the ongoing commitment of a number of individuals who have spearheaded initiatives. To continue making significant and meaningful progress, it is important for every staff member to play a role. In early 2022, Seattle Aquarium staff and key partners completed the Sustainability Engagement Survey. Summarized below are the key statistics.
- 75% of staff and partners participated in the survey
- 98% agreed that it is important for the Seattle Aquarium to take active steps to be more regenerative
- 87% agree that regeneration aligns with the Seattle Aquarium’s mission
- 61% 2022 score. Based on the following composite scores:
- 57%: Awareness of the Aquarium’s efforts to be more sustainable
- 64%: Knowledge about ways to be more sustainable at work
- 66%: Self-reported key sustainable behaviors
- 47%: Perceptions of how often others engage in key sustainable behaviors
- 70%: Familiarity with the concepts of sustainability
Respondents rated their awareness of the Seattle Aquarium’s efforts (57) and their peers’ sustainability behavior (47) much lower, which highlights opportunities for improvement. In particular, given the Seattle Aquarium’s many sustainability efforts to date, communicating these successes is low-hanging fruit.
Priority Strategies
Partner with underserved communities to develop sustainability programming and initiative
The Seattle Aquarium can leverage existing relationships with community partners to create programming and sustainability initiatives.
Create internal and external communications plans, informed by several strategies below 
Communication is essential to an engaged staff and public. Communications should be transparent about goals, budget, priorities and actions being taken.
Implement transparent budgeting around sustainability
Funding demonstrates the Seattle Aquarium’s commitment to being a sustainable organization. Being transparent about how sustainability influences the budget will be tantamount to success.
Set departmental goals and identify strategies
Team or departmental goals help to connect staff to the Aquarium’s goals by creating relatable and achievable milestones. Some staff will be better connected to different goal areas. Encouraging staff to commit to areas in which they can make the greatest impact will generate an engaged staff.
Create an internal staff-to-staff recognition and reward system 
The Seattle Aquarium should create a system where staff can recognize and reward others who are making a difference. Rewards can be small (e.g., a gift card to the café) but meaningful to those who receive them.
Identify a governance structure
Carrying forward this plan from planning to implementation requires, among other factors, staff capacity. Creating an engaged and healthy structure will enable this plan to succeed.
Identify a point person for sustainability
The Seattle Aquarium needs to decide who will be responsible for implementing the Plan. This person doesn’t need to do everything but they need to be responsible for process and outcomes.
Improve staff and contractor orientation around sustainability
Educating staff and contractors about the Seattle Aquarium’s sustainability goals during orientation will ensure that these goals are institutionalized and their importance understood by new staff.
Tell our sustainability story
An exhibit that tells the story of the Seattle Aquarium’s waste successes and connects these successes to the Aquarium’s mission will build public awareness of ways to act more sustainably.
Improve connections to sustainability on current signage
The Seattle Aquarium can elevate sustainability by making direct connections to conservation efforts, biology and sustainability. Doing so will help engage the public around the importance of these efforts.
