What is a Freelance Sustainability Consultant?

Getting sustainability right has always been challenging. And it seems like nearly every day, a new piece of legislation, or an updated framework gets released. The challenge just seems to get harder and harder!

But many companies have been realizing lately that by hiring a sustainability consultant, they can actually make the challenge a whole lot easier. 

In short, sustainability consultants are experts who help organizations implement sustainable practices. As the sustainability landscape has become so complex these days, there are many types of sustainability consultants available. With each focusing on a particularly challenging aspect of sustainability. 

Any quality sustainability consultant, no matter their specialization, should deliver key benefits for organizations, such as long-term cost savings, and increased operational efficiency. 

Across all specializations, freelance sustainability consultants have been gaining particular popularity due to their ability to maximize these key benefits. 

Right now you’re probably wondering something like; what exactly is a freelance sustainability consultant? Well, we’ll be glad to tell you. 

What is a Freelance Sustainability Consultant? 

A freelance sustainability consultant is an expert who does everything a regular sustainability consultant does, but while working independently. This means they can assist you with whatever sustainability issues you’re having, but they are not employed full-time by a consulting firm. 

If you choose to hire a freelance sustainability consultant, they will provide their specialized sustainability services to you directly. Usually on a project or contract basis.

Freelance sustainability consultants take on all the same key responsibilities as firm-based sustainability consultants, but with some bonus traits. Extra flexibility, and increased cost-effectiveness are just some of the added advantages they offer. 

But when should you consider hiring a freelance sustainability consultant? In what situations can they deliver the most value?

When You Should Consider Hiring a Freelance Sustainability Consultant 

If you feel you need some extra help with sustainability, and find yourself in any of the following situations, hiring a freelance sustainability consultant might be the perfect solution for you. 

If You Want to Learn 

As freelancers typically have a wealth of knowledge built up from working with so many different clients, hiring them inevitably leads to knowledge transfer and internal capacity building. Whether this is in relation to broad sustainability strategy insights, or a better understanding of specific areas such as Ecovadis, there is always something to learn.

If You Have Budget Constraints 

If you hire a sustainability consultant through a consultancy firm, usually, you will have to pay extra to compensate for the firm’s high overheads and profit margins. As freelancers can offer the same level of expertise without these significant overheads, they represent a more cost-effective option. Without compromising on quality. 

If You Need Help ASAP

Speaking of saving money; time is money! Especially in the world of sustainability. If you need help fast, to prepare for some rapidly approaching legislation for example, a freelancer is probably your best option. As generally, freelancers can be onboarded faster than consultants working for large firms. 

If You Value Flexibility

Freelancers also tend to be better at adapting to changes. As you are dealing directly with them, and only them, if the project scope evolves, they can evolve instantly with it. They are used to adapting their services this way.

If You Need Help With Short-Term Projects 

Because of this flexibility, and because you can on-board them quickly in a cost-effective manner, freelancers are well-suited for short-term projects. If you just need some expertise or guidance for a few months or even weeks on a specific initiative, a freelancer can deliver that without stress, or the need for a long-term commitment.

Of course, freelancers can also offer you all these benefits on a long-term basis too if that’s what you need. Once you find your perfect freelancer, you may never want to let them go! 

What to Look For in a Freelance Sustainability Consultant 

If you do decide to hire a freelance sustainability consultant, naturally you’ll want to choose the best person for the job. To make sure you do, there are several key traits you should look for. 

Experience and Track Record

While relevant certifications, qualifications, and degrees are of course important, practical experience and a strong track record is what you should pay most attention to. If you’re thinking of hiring a freelancer, make sure to carefully review their portfolio. And also ask for, and contact references to assess their work quality and client satisfaction. 

Up-to-Date Knowledge 

Any consultant worth their salt should always be up-to-date with the latest developments in their field. So if you’re considering potential freelance candidates, have a few questions in your back pocket about relevant hot topics. If they can’t answer these questions convincingly, it’s probably best to move on. 

Communication and Collaboration Skills

As well as being technically proficient, you’ll also be wanting a consultant who can work seamlessly with your team. On top of this, they’ll need to be able to clearly explain complex sustainability concepts to all the relevant stakeholders. So, their ability to communicate and collaborate really is just as important as their technical knowledge and expertise. 

Good Cultural Fit

To maximize your chances of success, the ideal freelance sustainability consultant will genuinely believe in your company's ethos. Their values and approach should line up perfectly with yours, making the whole collaboration as frictionless as possible.

With frictionless in mind, did you know Dazzle is just the place to find your perfect freelance sustainability consultant without fuss?

Find Your Perfect Freelance Sustainability Consultant With Dazzle 

Dazzle is a platform that offers access to the world’s best sustainability freelancers on-demand. 

Amongst our talented group of sustainability and ESG experts, we have every type of freelance sustainability consultant you can imagine. So whatever area of sustainability you need help with, we can find you a consultant that fits. 

And with Dazzle consultants, a strong track record is guaranteed, as we carefully pre-screen all of our freelancers. The process is also incredibly flexible, as you can choose to work with our freelancers on a project-based, on-demand, or interim basis.

If you feel you could benefit from working with a freelance sustainability consultant today, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

In just a few hours, we can have several impressive consultant profiles for you to choose from.

(Feel free to check out our complete sustainability consultant guide to find out everything you need to know!)