Silver Surfing, Green JUMPing And Sustainability In FM

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29 November 2018 | Updated 30 November 2018

A new report examines the role of facilities management in sustainability and social value. Meanwhile JUMP, the University of Reading’s sustainability engagement programme has been launched and Sodexo has been awarded silver in the sixth annual Sustainable Facilities Management Index.

Active Workplace Solutions has launched ‘Sustainability in facilities management: A Holistic View’, a report exploring sustainability within the built environment. The report analyses how the FM sector can have an impact on wider environmental, social and economic goals and build a holistic strategic picture of sustainability.

 

UKGBC

According to the UK Green Building Council, the built environment contributes approximately 40 per cent of the UK’s total carbon footprint. Almost half of this comes from the energy that buildings use and the country’s infrastructure. As a key component of the built environment and the services that help maintain and run the infrastructure, the FM industry has a critical role to play in meeting these important environmental challenges.

FM has the power, and responsibility, to contribute towards social, economic and political betterment but to do so the industry needs to be more explicit in the value it offers. The report delves into the idea that professionals from across the built environment sector have to work together to build an environment that will foster openness and honesty.

 

Active’s white paper illuminates how organisations need to approach sustainable activity and points to three key pillars of focus that organisations need to address:

• Developing a sustainable strategy and ensuring that strategy is not only implemented but also clarified to the wider workforce, practical changes have the opportunity to make a real difference.

• Changing behaviours - buy-in does not just happen at the top, facilities managers must also garner buy-in for sustainability initiatives for the rest of the organisations workforce. A cultural shift needs to occur, whereby the entire organisation is behind the initiatives and new ways of working.

• Social value – as a service-based industry, FM touches huge numbers of people, organisations and communities. The industry and organisations themselves need to therefore consider how they can secure wider social, economic and environmental benefits.

John Voller, director of FM services at Active said: “Our latest report proves that FMs and their organisations face some significant challenges now and in the future. This is why a wide-ranging and proactive approach should be taken to ensure that the FM can make a positive impact on sustainability efforts within the built environment sector.”

To download the report - Click Here

 

University Of Reading Launches Sustainability Engagement Programme For All Employees

JUMP, the University of Reading’s sustainability engagement programme has been launched.

Successfully piloted earlier this year, JUMP drives positive action by encouraging employees to take part in sustainability activities; reducing energy and water use, travelling sustainably, minimising waste and responsible purchasing.

The three month pilot earlier this year targeted four teams and achieved results including 2,470 positive actions taken and a £200 team prize donated to the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

 

Green Festival

The programme launched to all employees during the University’s Green Festival, which raises awareness around environmental challenges and highlights the University’s position on sustainability. JUMP compliments the University’s environmental policy, focusing on the collective impact of individual action and embedding a culture of sustainability across campus.

When employees sign up to JUMP, they select a department team and compete alongside other teams to earn Green Points and win individual and team prizes. They can take part in a range of activities under the themes of Engagement and New Ideas, Energy and Water Reduction, Sustainable Travel, Reduce Reuse Recycle and Food and Drink.

The use of gamification and incentives are key to JUMP’s success, helping the programme to achieve mass engagement and drive long term behaviour change.

Luke Cantellow, Energy Officer at the University of Reading, said: “We find targeting the behaviour of our employees an effective way to reduce the University’s environmental impact. The focus on positive action and team work makes JUMP a fun and encouraging programme to be part of. The pilot was really successful in getting our staff on board with sustainability, and we are expecting a much greater impact with it opening to all staff.”

JUMP is operated by engagement specialist Green Rewards, who run programmes for over 17 organisations including RBS, Barclays, Scottish Courts and 10 universities.

 

Silver Surfer

Sodexo has been awarded silver in the sixth annual Sustainable Facilities Management Index (SFMI), the UK’s only sustainability benchmark in the FM sector.

The SFMI, set up by the Acclaro Advisory in 2013, provides a summary each year of how the FM sector has progressed against a baseline of sustainability activities, keeping organisations developing and up-to-date in a constantly changing industry. The SFMI can be used by businesses to assess how their outsourced FM rates in implementing sustainability through their contracts and corporate management.

Sodexo’s silver classification was awarded in recognition of the significant steps being made in the implementation of sustainability at an operational and strategic level.

Sean Haley, Sodexo UK & Ireland Regional Chair said, “Sustainable business practice is a fundamental part of our daily business practice.  We recognise that the issues which affect our clients, customers, employees, suppliers, the environment and other stakeholders also have an impact on the success of our business.

“By partnering with the SFMI we can inspire other FM businesses to take important steps to support a better tomorrow.”

Picture: Sustainability Team, University of Reading.

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 29 November 2018

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