Earlier this month, Diversey President and CEO Ed Lonergan presented the company’s Sustainability Innovation Award at the World Federation of Building Service Contractors (WFBSC) World Congress in Auckland, New Zealand. The theme of the Congress was “Protecting the Planet, Developing People, Maximizing Profit.” More than 240 attendees from 17 countries wrapped up a week of meetings focused on elevating the influence and impact of building service contractors on sustainable business enterprise.
Diversey sponsored a gathering of building service contractors from around the world at the 18th World Congress of the World Federation of Building Service Contractors (WFBSC) in early February. These contractors ensure the commercial building space in the world is clean, safe and hygienic for people do their jobs and they represent an estimated $130 billion industry.
Traditional Maori Welcome at the start of WFBSC 2011
New Ways to Clean, Disinfect, and Sanitize…more Sustainably
The role of these contractors in ensuring that the world’s office buildings, retail stores, schools and hospitals are kept clean and free of disease outbreaks is critical to all of us. The reality is that, to do this successfully, the industry generates waste that impacts the environment, uses energy and fuel and consumes water. Finding new ways to clean, disinfect and sanitize more sustainably was one of the central themes of the World Congress because not only are building service contractors working to make their processes more sustainable, they are in a unique position to influence how their customers use these resources.
It is estimated there is more than 1.5 trillion square feet of commercial and residential space in the world. By 2020, that number is expected to increase by 26% to 1.9 trillion square feet. When you consider that this global building stock is responsible for 49% of the world’s energy consumption and 47% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it’s easy to understand the impact of sustainable facility management.
Recognizing Leadership in Sustainable Facility Management
This is the rationale and purpose of Diversey’s Sustainability Innovation Award. Given at each WFBSC World Congress, the award recognizes building service contractors and professionals who are using green cleaning practices and sustainable innovation. This year’s award recognized UGL Services North America – Unicco Operations for its commitment to green cleaning and for instilling a strong sustainability culture among its employees and customers through its UGL Services – GreenClean® program.
First introduced in 2004, the Green Clean program provides a complete set of sustainability-focused standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guide frontline employees in sustainable cleaning techniques as well as approved green-certified chemicals and equipment. UGL Services North America was the first building service contractor to introduce these SOPs for its cleaners and has since expanded the green cleaning program to encompass virtually every aspect of sustainability for commercial, government and education customers.
Barry Jackson from UGL Services giving a short acceptance speech on the Diversey Sustainability Innovation Award
In presenting the award to UGL Services, Diversey President and CEO Ed Lonergan noted that, “UGL Services has shown a deep and longstanding commitment to sustainable facility management. The UGL team is demonstrating the integration of sustainable business practices into everyday operations, improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact while enhancing overall health and human hygiene.”
Green cleaning is now the primary service package that is offered by UGL Services to all customers, without incremental cost. Its GreenClean program is delivering measurable results.
A Commitment to Action from WFBSC Delegates
The entire WFBSC World Congress also embraced this call to action around sustainability. Delegates issued a Communiqué outlining commitments and calls-to-action for our industry and businesses.
The Communiqué spells out some clear principles that the WFBSC delegates have agreed to:
“Sustainability is more than environmentalism – it is the integration of people, planet and profit. Any economic activity that does not have positive impact on all three of these factors is not sustainable.”
The building service contractors who signed the Communiqué agreed to undertake the following actions, among others:
1. Increase the use of automatic dosing systems for cleaning machines and train workers in their proper use;
2. Use cleaning products designed for sustainability as well as safety;
3. Publish an annual report on sustainability actions; and
4. Quantify the financial benefits of the sustainability actions.
Sustainability Can Replace a Race to the Bottom
Delegates at the Congress also recognized the important role they can play in promoting sustainable business practices among their customers. This means that contractors need to focus on providing a satisfactory ROI that is based on value and service – and not price alone. Reversing this “race to the bottom” can help contractors demonstrate significant savings to their customers from employing sustainable practices.
We can make the world a better place because we are here.