FM facing a ‘sustainability crunch’

A NEW report by the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) has found an increase in barriers to implementing sustainable practise in facilities management.

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The survey, carried out on 309 facilities managers, found the industry’s focus on protecting corporate reputation, legislation and a tick box mentality is ‘undermining’ the ‘true benefit’ that a holistic approach to sustainability can deliver.

 

However, the report found that ‘whilst respondents noted that the drivers were increasing in importance… there has been a similar increase in the factors preventing organisations effectively managing their sustainability policies.’

 

Confidence in sustainability efforts has fallen, with only 40% of respondents reporting their businesses are ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ in executing sustainability programmes, down from 60% in 2014.

 

The survey also revealed an increase in barriers – 80% of respondents reported physical constraints; 71% financial constraints and 69% cited a lack of organisational engagement.

 

The report concluded that the FM community will lose its ability to lead and impact the sustainability agenda unless it can respond to this ‘crunch’. If it doesn’t, it is in danger of being marginalised as others step in to fill the need.

 

To address the issue, the report concluded that FM managers need to focus on three areas:

  1. Leadership
  2. Making the business case for sustainability
  3. Collaboration