https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141006134646-1099035-cleaning-affects-productivity-are-you-educating-your-prospects/
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/F-02-2017-0018/full/html
https://www.oceanwasteplastics.com
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/sep/08/producers-keep-sustainable-practices-secret
Cleaning up cleaning
Antony Law, Managing Director of Portfolio by Churchill Group, shares the company’s approach to sustainability and how others can learn from their methods.
There is evidence that a clean working environment is beneficial to those working within it, and a 2018 survey found that employees perceived greater workplace satisfaction and productivity in a cleaner workplace.
However, in creating a better built environment, it’s easy to forget the way our actions impact the natural environment. In the past few years,
there has been much greater awareness of this impact, from the damage done by plastic waste to volatile organic compounds polluting the air we breathe. It’s ironic that the cleaning industry needs some cleaning up, but it does.
One way in which greater sustainability can be achieved is through a circular economy. The principle of a circular economy is to design out waste by creating products where anything left at the end of its lifecycle can be re-used or re- purposed, keeping pollution to a minimum and encouraging the health and regeneration of natural systems.
For a circular economy to work, this way of thinking needs to be built into every step of a product’s lifecycle. As such, organisations must be aware of how those in their supply chain are selected and what sustainability criteria they may or may not uphold.
A simple way of doing this is to select great products. Churchill has dramatically reduced its reliance on single- use plastics by introducing a range of recyclable cleaning products. Since taking action, 25,000 plastic containers have been removed from operations. Within the first year, this should exceed the target of 60,000. As a wider range of cleaning products are added to the line year-on-year, this number is set to increase. This is a very important step since up to eight million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year.
At the other end of the supply chain, Churchill aims to encourage clients to develop sustainable methods and advises on best practice. With some organisations reticent to speak up about their green credentials out of fear that customers still assume ‘eco-friendly’ options are more expensive, it is up to those with influence and experience to change the conversation.
Churchill works closely with their clients to do precisely this. Not only can they set an example of sustainable working practice, but as they are experienced with their clients’ means of approaching cleaning, they are able to make improvements on a case-by-case basis.
An example of this is the Churchill-Arup partnership. The values of making a positive impact on the world are shared between the companies which places both companies in
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a strong position to make a difference. Together, Churchill and Arup have implemented a number of initiatives across Arup’s sites, including the use of non-toxic and sustainable cleaning products. Churchill personalises services to all clients and as such are in an ideal position to make a difference. All companies that work with clients and suppliers should be prepared to work together on how to go green.
Companies can take plenty of individual steps to improve their sustainability. However, an industry needs to see itself as an ecosystem, where the actions of one organisation influences the actions of all those around including clients, suppliers, partners and competitors. Working with clients and suppliers to consider where there is room for improvement and adapting to one another accordingly enables the necessary changes.
Churchill recently helped facilitate this approach by hosting a roundtable on sustainability in October, which considered the circular economy and sustainability in the
“Cleaning companies should not just offer a
cleaning service but also use their expertise to
create a service unique to each client.”
supply chain, among other topics. Groups from outside facilities management were a part of that roundtable. Working with and supporting organisations with expertise on sustainability outside the sector is a great way of getting advice from those with a different perspective.
Churchill works with Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) – an environmental charity – and the group Kids Against Plastic. SAS promote plastic-free community and workplace champions who can work with those around them on a personal level to make a change. Kids Against Plastic offers education on plastic pollution and encourages young people to reduce single use plastic usage and join in litter picks. By working together, we can support each other’s goals and take the sustainability conversation to new audiences.
Having sustainability ambassadors is a key way of inspiring individuals. It’s easy to idealise large goals and make them a part of an organisation’s values, but just as a sector is
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