The document discusses sustainability in facilities management. It begins by defining sustainability as meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. It then discusses why sustainability is important, noting that customers and society expect businesses to be socially responsible. It also presents findings that many facility managers are responsible for environmental management but receive little training. It concludes that achieving sustainability requires buy-in from senior management and staff engagement.

1. “Mind The Gap”:
Has the FM industry
embraced the
Sustainability Agenda?
Mark Whittaker,
Integral UK & BIFM North

2. Presentation Outline
1. How do we define sustainability?
2. Why is it important?
3. What is it’s importance within FM?
4. What are the barriers to progress?
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3. 1. Defining Sustainability?
A working practice is seen as „sustainable‟ if it “meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
Resources should be used to benefit businesses now and in
the future, in a way that benefits society.”
Source: Brundtland Commission of the United Nations on 20 March 1987.
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4. Five Key Components?
Waste
Biodiversity
Flexible
Working
Sustainability
Staff
Well
Being
Energy
Health &
Safety
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5. 2. Why sustainability?
“The social customer is looking for
businesses & leaders to be much more
socially responsible.”
“Social responsibility and sustainability are
both inherently a mid- to long – term
proposition, with impacts sometimes
taking years to be seen.”
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6. 2. The Evidence
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7. 3. Importance within FM?
> In 60% of client organisations,
the premises or facilities manager
is responsible for environmental
management in their
organisation.
> 32% of clients have an
environmental remit; this has
grown from 22% who had an
environmental remit five years
ago.
> For any environmental or
sustainable issue to be fully taken
on board by an organisation,
management buy-in and
strong leadership are vital.
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8. Key Findings


Over 33% believe senior
management do not show
leadership in this area.

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47% receive no formal training
in environmental awareness
83% of organisations don‟t
assesses attitude of staff on
sustainability issues

9. 2013 Sustainability in FM Survey
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10. Key Findings - Sustainability

Significant adoption progress since 2007

Primary responsibility at board level, whole organisation buy-in

Champions are key tool to engage staff

FM can become educator & implementer

Lack of tools, knowledge & training

Financial constraints
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11. Four Key Recommendations
1. Support FMs to educate & implement
2. Provide Communication Tools
3. Publicise no cost/alternative costed improvements
4. Communicate case studies
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12. “Mind the Gap”- The Evidence
Based on a survey of over 600 UK businesses:
•
Company directors are more confident about
the efforts their company is taking on
sustainability issues (79%) than energy
managers (69%) operating on the frontline:
•
One third of energy managers believe their
organisation is not doing enough.
•
40% of businesses believe they are making
good progress on energy management
•
46% of companies do not know their carbon
emission levels
Siemens Green League Report, 2012
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13. Too much too soon?
Graeme Davies writes:
“Energy efficiency and reducing emissions are important, mainly for
practical reasons rather than moral ones. From the beginning of this
month, companies listed on the London Stock Exchange must deliver
mandatory carbon reporting alongside their annual financial reports
detailing the emissions they make. “
“clients will increasingly look to their FM provider to advise and lead
on meeting suitable sustainability standards. “
The downside: Carillion tooled up to serve this market too rapidly
compared to the slow response from homeowners and energy companies
and now has to scale back its operations, at a potential cost of up to
£40m in this financial year.
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14. Beware of “Greenwash”?
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15. Other useful info
Sustainable Facilities Management
can contribute to a company‟s:
1. Bottom Line
2. Commitment to the Environment
3. Health, Safety & Productivity of their
people
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16. Group Discussion
1. How important is Sustainability in your organisation & are
your senior management on board?
2.
What kind of sustainability measures have you adopted?
3. What are the barriers to further adoption?
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17. What are the current barriers?
 Senior Management Buy-in
 Staff Engagement
 Lack of Tools
 Underdeveloped training & knowledge
 Misconception: link between capital
investment & sustainable.
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18. Conclusions
Newton’s Laws of Motion:

Inertia:
“an object either is at rest or moves at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an
external force.”
 Need for Senior Management understanding & buy-in

Momentum:
“The acceleration of a body is directly proportional to, and in the same direction as, the
net force acting on the body.”
 Need to evidence & publicise tangible results & obtain staff
engagement
It is about people not technology
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19. Contact Details
> Mark Whittaker:
E: mark.a.whittaker@integral.co.uk
M: 07764 840 694
T: @Whitbags
B: www.whitbagsinfm.wordpress.com
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