Claude cowork simply feels like you have a coworker a new team member and worth every cent you might spend on, but to even be able to use it, you must set it up and here is your step by step guide. Not a generic one, but made for sustainability managers.
Step 1: Install and open Cowork
1️⃣ Go to claude.com/download. Download the desktop app, without it is not possible to access cowork.
2️⃣ Sign in with your Pro account ($20/month. Or $17/month if you pay annually). [this is 100% not a paid promotion, but Claude is worth every cent]
3️⃣ Inside of the desktop app you will find a toggle on top, you must click on cowork. You want to know the difference, read here.
Congrats you are now in.
Step 2 — Build Your Context Folder
Now you are in but it is time for the real setup that every sustainability manager must spend at least 60 minutes on.
Why is this important? To be able to benefit from one of the most powerful features in Claude Cowork.
1️⃣ Create a folder and call it “Claude Cowork”
2️⃣ Create your md. file inside of your “Claude Cowork” folder
Claude will have access to this folder, it reads this file first and uses them as permanent context for your work.
Instead of repeating the same background information every time you prompt or ask for something to be done, you can store that information in simple Markdown (.md) files.
Think of it like onboarding slide deck to onboard a new employee.
When someone joins a company, they need to understand the environment they operate in — the industry, the company structure, the regulations, and the type of work they will be doing.
Without this onboarding, they would constantly need to ask basic questions before they can contribute effectively.
The context folder works the same way.
It gives Claude the initial briefing it needs to understand your professional environment.
For sustainability professionals this is especially useful because many prompts require the same context:
industry background
regulatory environment
supply chain structure
company scale
By storing this once, you avoid repeating it in every prompt.
You should avoid overloading it with instructions.
You should avoid also sensitive information.
What to Include in Your Context File
For sustainability managers, a good context file usually includes four main sections.
Your Role
Describe what you do at a high level.
Include typical responsibilities such as:
ESG reporting
environmental compliance
carbon accounting
supplier sustainability assessments
sustainability strategy
You don’t need a full CV. Just enough to explain the nature of your work.
Industry Context
Industry matters a lot in sustainability.
Different industries have very different sustainability challenges.
Examples:
pharmaceuticals → wastewater, chemicals, AMR
manufacturing → energy use and emissions
retail → supply chain and Scope 3
technology → electricity and data centers
Providing this context helps Claude produce much more relevant analysis.
Company Context
Without revealing confidential information, describe the type of organization you work in.
Examples of useful context:
company size (SME vs multinational)
global or regional operations
supply chain complexity
typical stakeholders you work with
This allows Claude to tailor recommendations to realistic corporate environments.
Geographic and Regulatory Context
Sustainability regulations vary significantly across regions.
Mention the regulatory environment you operate in.
Examples:
EU sustainability regulations (CSRD / ESRS)
GHG Protocol
SBTi
national environmental regulations
This helps Claude prioritize the frameworks and references that matter for your work.
Example Context File
To create your context file, simply open any text editor 🗒️ and create a new file.
You can call it something like: sustainability-context.md or about-me.md
Save this file inside your context folder “Clodue Cowork”
Below is a simple example of what the content might look like.
# Professional Context
## Role
I work as a Sustainability Manager responsible for environmental performance and ESG compliance.
Typical responsibilities include:
- ESG reporting and disclosures
- environmental compliance
- supplier sustainability assessments
- carbon accounting
- sustainability strategy development
## Industry
I work in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
Important sustainability topics in this industry include:
- wastewater management
- antibiotic manufacturing emissions
- chemical handling
- environmental compliance across production sites
## Company Context
The company is a multinational pharmaceutical manufacturer with production facilities in Europe.
Operations include:
- multiple manufacturing plants
- complex supply chains for APIs and finished products
- coordination with procurement and manufacturing teams
## Geographic and Regulatory Context
Most operations are in Europe and subject to EU sustainability regulations.
Relevant frameworks include:
- CSRD / ESRS
- GHG Protocol
- SBTi
- EU environmental regulations
## Preferred Output Style
When assisting with sustainability work:
- provide structured answers
- use tables when comparing frameworks
- focus on practical implementation
- avoid generic sustainability explanations
Why This Matters
Once Claude understands your professional environment, it can behave much more like a sustainability analyst or advisor, rather than a generic AI assistant.
This becomes especially powerful when you start using Claude for tasks like:
analyzing ESG reports
reviewing supplier data
interpreting sustainability regulations
designing sustainability workflows
Step 3: Start your first Cowork conversation
1️⃣ In Cowork, click Add Folder and select your “Claude Cowork” folder.
2️⃣ If you are a ChatGPT user, you better be aware of the fact that selecting the right model is very important here to avoid work being delayed for hours as you reach usage limit.
→ Make sure to select Opus 4.6 + Extended thinking only for high stacks tasks that require smarter thinking otherwise use other models.
3️⃣ Type: “I want [task x] done and means [success criteria]. In this format [Word, Excel, PowerPoint]. Go through my folder first, and use AskUserQuestion tool so you gather enough content before executing.”
AskUserQuestion tool
AskUserQuestionis an internal tool used in Cowork workflows that allows Claude to generate a structured form where the user answers questions before execution.
4️⃣ A form appears. Select your answers. Let it deliver your task.
If you are sick of general AI guides and want workflows and real use cases built specifically for sustainability professionals check out my YouTube channel where I dive deep into how sustainability professionals can actually use AI for sustainability work
In my latest video I have explained how you can simply convert your know-how to a functioning App, which will be your intellectual property, your asset, something you own. Check it out: