Wake-up and Smell the Environmental Coffee

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21 July 2017 | Updated 01 January 1970

British Standard for the ‘circular economy’ launched

BSI, the business standards company, has launched a new standard for the ‘circular economy’, BS 8001: 2017: Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organisations – guide.

The ‘circular economy’ is a concept which challenges organisations to re-think how their resources are managed to create financial, environmental and social benefits. BS 8001 provides guiding principles to consider and implement more sustainable practices. It is the first standard of its kind, both in the UK and globally.

One of the key aims of the circular economy is to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, in keeping with the mantra of the circular economy as being restorative and regenerative by design. BS 8001 outlines what the circular economy is and how an organisation can transition from a linear to a circular and more sustainable, day-to-day operation.

Practical implementation of the six principles of the circular economy – innovation; stewardship; collaboration; value optimisations; transparency; and 'systems thinking' – is the bedrock of the standard. Systems thinking is defined in the standard as an understanding of how organisations, individual decisions and activities interact within the wider systems they are part of.

Importantly, the standard is not intended to be prescriptive or certifiable, it is intended to be used flexibly by adopters irrespective of size, sector, type or location.

Extensive input from UK businesses into the development of the standard has ensured the standard is useable in real-world scenarios.

To support the framework, BS 8001 provides guidance around the specific issues surrounding the transition to a circular model – namely measurements, liability and insurance, logistical concerns, and materials. Guidance is also provided on specific associated business models, including leasing, the sharing economy, and remanufacturing.

BIFM lanches 11th annual Sustainability Survey

The 11th annual Sustainability Survey conducted by the British Institute of Facilities Management is now open.

As the longest running of its kind in the UK, the survey is supported by BIFM’s Sustainability Special Interest Group (SIG), and sponsored by British Gas.

The results provide insight into the way the FM profession is tackling the increasing demand for sustainable business by exploring who is leading on sustainability programme within an organisation and how it is being measured and reported.

The survey comprises a series of questions on the role of sustainability within facilities management and how it is being embedded into day-to-day practices, the changes it creates and the potential opportunities it offers the profession. Areas covered this year include social value, energy and digitalisation.

BIFM’s research and information manager Peter Brogan said: "With more than 10 years’ of data and analysis to draw on, the Sustainability Survey offers the chance to see how approaches to environmental, sustainable and corporate social responsibilities have changed over the years, leading to greater knowledge and understanding of not only how attitudes have evolved but levels of innovation, use of systems and processes and the barriers that exist to development of sustainable best practice."

Greg Davies, from the Sustainability SIG, said: “The notion now that sustainability is purely concerned with environmental issues is as outdated as saying FM is just about cleaning or mechanical and electrical (M&E). While aspects such as waste and energy remain enduring features, community, training, wellbeing, social value, recruitment, productivity, technology and health and safety have also shaped findings and thinking."

The survey is open to all FM professionals in any organisation and those operating in the FM industry including full and single line service providers, suppliers and consultants.

You Can Take The Survey Here

The deadline for responses is Monday 31 July 2017.

The results are due to be published in October 2017.

Sustainable coffee

Recently, Bartlett Mitchell, sold its 500,000th cup of Perkee - a fairtrade coffee from Soppexcca, a Nicaraguan based co-operative. It is available in more than 40 sites, making it the best selling product line across the  Bartlett Mitchell catering business and accounting for more than a quarter of the company’s coffee sales.

Research, which was done in partnership with Bewleys, found that customers were looking to move away from big coffee brands whose reputation had been damaged around tax and sustainability issues. The research also found that customers were keen to support coffee brands which were committed to sharing profits directly back to source.

Funds raised through purchases provide support towards education, diversification and health centres in the local Jinotega  community where the Co-Operative members are based.

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 21 July 2017

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