Working with what you like and also helping to create a better world, aligning economic development and environmental preservation. This is generally the dream of students or professionals who choose the environmental area to work.
The range of courses that can have this scope of action is enormous: environmental engineering, environmental management, biology, chemical engineering, environmental technician and others.
When I entered biology college, at 17 years old, my dream was to work with the conservation of large animals or protected areas. But throughout my degree, I realized that my greatest aptitude was the corporate market and thus, working in companies so that the environmental impact was reduced and legal compliance was followed.
Why do we see few environmental professionals in companies?
While we train many professionals in technical and higher education courses focused on the environmental area, we do not see an equivalence of employees and companies with active environmental or sustainability areas. When touching on environmental issues, managers generally have the vision of complying with legal obligations and expenses to comply with environmental licensing or waste disposal and effluent treatment, but nothing beyond legal obligations.
However, investing in the environment is a competitive differentiator and provides financial returns for companies. According to research carried out in Brazil, more than 70% of Brazilians are able to buy more from companies with green products and services. And this is where the environmental professional comes in to understand the demand and translate it into results.
The new economy based on environmental services, new generations that value and seek greater socio-environmental responsibility from companies and transparency with investors and stakeholders are more than enough reasons to look at the environment within companies.
What is the profile of the environmental professional?
Within companies, the area of activity of environmental professionals is very broad, but the main tasks and activities carried out are:
- Environmental licensing;
- Environmental audit;
- Environmental expertise;
- Reforestation;
- Sustainability;
- Solid waste management;
- Wastewater treatment;
- Environmental education;
- Treatment of contaminated areas.
Relating practice with theory is the greatest challenge for professionals. The main characteristics of the activities and professions are:
- Interpersonal relationships: the environmental area interacts with various sectors within companies, often outside of them. Work and information are shared between areas and public bodies.
- Holistic view: the ability to understand the entire production process or all scenarios and different services is very important, as there is interaction from the beginning to the end of the production cycle, knowing how to identify the most critical points is a relevant characteristic for the professional.
- Technical capacity and responsibility: much of the knowledge is based on laws, decrees and other legislation. The interpretation and understanding of this technical regulation are daily activities in various functions.
The biggest result expected from the environmental professional is the reduction of environmental impacts arising from the products or services offered. In a recurring scenario of environmental disasters, scarcity of natural resources and demands from consumers, a professional capable of dealing with environmental impacts and promoting sustainability is increasingly important for the future of humanity.
Maicon Preuss
