by Brianna Crandall — October 26, 2016 — For FMs wondering how the profession is tackling sustainability issues, the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) recently published the findings from the 10th annual BIFM Sustainability Survey: Where Are We 10 Years On, said to be the longest running survey of its kind in the U.K.
Key findings include the shifting environment of facilities management (FM), an evolving language of sustainability, and emerging themes of technology and social factors.
Key findings of the Sustainability Survey include the shifting environment of FM, an evolving language of sustainability, and emerging themes of technology and social factors.
Peter Brogan, research and information manager at BIFM, explained:
With the increasing demand for sustainable business, one of the BIFM Sustainability Survey’s key aims was to analyze how the FM profession is currently adapting and tackling sustainability by orchestrating workshops and surveys for FM professionals. The three key areas on Empowerment, Procurement and Skills were identified in this year’s report, and we will be working alongside BIFM’s Sustainability Special Interest Group (SIG) to take a leading role on delivering against the series of actions that need to be taken to continue to embed sustainability into day-to-day practices.
As the 10th edition of the Sustainability Survey, this year’s report looked closely at how sustainability in FM has evolved over the last 10 years and is projected to develop over the next decade, and more importantly, what this will mean for the FM profession in the future.
Brogan continued:
One of the most immediate and compelling changes over the last 10 years has been the language used to define and communicate what sustainability now means, as well as the increasing use of technology, which has played a vital role over the last decade. The BIFM Where Are We 10 Years On research report has illustrated further how the FM profession has a pivotal role to play in leading and embedding sustainable practices across the whole business agenda.
Other emerging themes
Other emerging themes identified within this year’s findings were well-being and productivity as potential influences affecting the future of traditional sustainability practices within FM.
Technology, namely the use of building information modeling (BIM), and key social factors such as pay, diversity and social value, are also emerging themes. The report also identified the rapidly changing environment as one of the difficulties in predicting the future of sustainability. This includes the workplace and widening scope of what FM now involves in modern society.
Sunil Shah, chair of the Sustainability SIG, commented:
The 10th anniversary report is a reflection of the work undertaken over the past decade to capture the impact of sustainability within the FM sector. Huge strides have taken place over the last ten years as FM has matured and its role in helping to lead the environmental improvements within organizations has become understood. It also reflects the challenges ahead as we grapple with the social impacts affecting the staff we employ, suppliers contracted and the communities we engage with. Mainstreaming these areas into FM activities and with senior management will become the biggest driver over the coming years to manage reputational risks.
Day-to-day recommendations
This year’s report concludes with recommendations detailing what FM professionals and organizations could be doing on a day-to-day basis to bring sustainability to the forefront of FM and business discussions. This includes:
- Reviewing the current definitions of sustainability;
- Performing a detailed risk review of sustainability;
- Providing guidance and case studies to support FMs;
- Ensuring training maximizes sustainable potential;
- Developing sustainability awareness programs; and
- Establishing an evidence-based approach to sustainability that includes non-financial benefits.
BIFM Sustainability Survey 2016: Where Are We 10 Years On, sponsored by WCRS, is available to download from the BIFM Web site.
