What is sustainability, anyway? It’s a word you’ve probably heard in many different contexts, but you may not have thought about everything it includes.

Now that you know a little more about sustainability, you might wonder what a sustainability analyst actually does.

To do everything a sustainability analyst is responsible for, it’s essential to use the right tools for the job.

As you’ve learned already, data is the foundation of the job of sustainability analysts. Spreadsheets and charts can help you identify trends and areas of improvement, which will help you communicate effectively with your team and organizational leadership.

Depending on which sector you work in, product lifecycles may be more or less critical to your role as an analyst. However, it’s valuable to understand how product lifecycles work and how to evaluate them for potential improvements.

Many organizations interested in sustainability know that pursuing sustainability initiatives can be a great way to get positive attention from the community. As part of your job as a sustainability analyst, you will likely be asked to help develop materials that showcase the work you and your organization are doing.

Sustainability analysts work for all kinds of organizations, including cities, states, corporations, and small businesses. There are many differences between public and private organizations, and their approaches to sustainability are also different.

Just like any job, the role of a sustainability analyst comes with its own set of challenges. You’ll need to speak confidently about your role and what sustainability means to the organization to build effective relationships with your coworkers and management.