Role of HR in the new world of sustainability

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to assess the strategic role that the human resource department (HRD) can play in the development and implementation of an organization's sustainability program. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews the environmental and social challenges that give rise to sustainability efforts, and outlines areas of potential benefit to an organization of the efforts. Findings The article posits that such programs require change in organizational culture, which in turn demands new leadership competencies, behaviors and mindsets. It instances the action reflection learning (ARL) learning methodology and its project‐based programs as proven means for developing those competencies through collaborative teamwork and specific learning goals. Originality/value The paper proposes that HRD is uniquely positioned to support the organization's sustainability goals of profit, people and planet, while retaining its competitive advantage.