IWFM and Equans: unlocking WFM’s sustainability potential

News

On Earth Day 2024, IWFM partnered with technical services provider Equans to unleash the power of workplace and facilities management (WFM) in enabling organisations to reach net zero. Recognition of the mission came from the WFM community and publications including Facilities Management Journal, I-FM, Health & Safety Matters and This Week in FM.  

Yesterday IWFM’s Head of Policy & Research Sofie Hooper joined Amelle Mestari, Procurement & CSR Director of Equans and Sunil Shah, Secretary of the IWFM Sustainability SIG and Director of Acclaro Advisory & SFMI, at The Workplace Event 2024 to discuss the topic ‘Realising the role of FM and net zero.’ 

The discussion focused on the IWFM Sustainability Survey Report 2023, which argued for organisations to trust WFMs more and ROI less, highlighting the role of FMs in delivering against net zero ambitions and several approaches for overcoming the intent-action gap. 

Over the course of the discussion, the audience learned more about the challenges, opportunities and ambitions for the WFM profession and sector in achieving sustainability goals and realising their full change agent potential. The panel shared their different perspectives and explored the agency, opportunities and the ‘how to’ of overcoming barriers, against a backdrop of a fast-changing world. 

During the discussion, Shah noted, “Environmental, social and governance (ESG) as a language is known about; we talk about net zero, about social value, and everyone understands that - however, we also talk about them in slightly different ways. For example, we don't have a common definition in the built environment for what we mean by net zero. Organisations talk about the subject of net zero in very different ways. Also, data is huge today. Lots of data is available, but we still have problems with landlord and tenant relationships – we still can't necessarily get hold of the information we need.” 

Additionally, Mestari stated that, “We need to extend our scope of influence. With our clients, we've developed carbon plans where we are demonstrating that by changing equipment we will enable them to reduce their footprint. We need also to make sure we've got the strategic value alignment. I think quite often it’s cost that is important - but we need to change that and align our sustainability objectives accordingly. It’s also about making sure that you are transparent and able to share data at the board level, to ensure they are aware of our targets where we are and how we can reduce.” 

IWFM and Equans’ two-year partnership will encompass the Sustainability Survey Reports 2024 and 2025, sustainability guidance and educational webinars and awareness campaigns. In that time, the community will gain in-depth and actionable research to ensure that organisations and the sector make a success of sustainability. Keep up to date with Facilitate to access a full report on the panel discussion and discover more on the partnership here.