FM firms targeting supply chains to clean-up emissions

25 April 2013

Facilities management companies ISS, MITIE and OCS are targeting their respective supply chains to collect and analyse energy and carbon emissions data. The companies have teamed-up with sustainability open data reporting site Ecodesk to target suppliers and to help promote efficiency and transparency in the supply chain

Collectively the three FM companies have over 30,000 suppliers. All three companies join what is an on-going initiative by Ecodesk to measure, map and analyse business sustainability data in an open and free-to-access environment. By targeting suppliers to understand their energy use and carbon emissions, these companies can develop a more complete picture of their own environmental impact but also identify possible areas of improvement and cost savings in the supply chain.

Each company is using the Ecodesk platform to openly publish its sustainability data but also to link with suppliers giving them unique access to supply chain energy, carbon, water and waste analytics.

Robert Clarke, CEO Ecodesk commented, “FM businesses have understood very quickly the benefits associated with measuring and reporting supply chain emissions and energy use. It is testament to their respective businesses that they are innovating in this area. As a result the FM industry is sending out extremely positive signals to other industries about the power of understanding sustainability data to affect both business ethics and the bottom line. What gets measured gets managed.”

Steve Workman, Corporate Responsibility Director, at leading facilities management company ISS UK said: “Reducing energy use within our business is driven by both cultural and economic factors. We have recognised ourselves the benefits of having strong environmental management, an ethos which is strongly supported by our customers. The long term goal is to save energy but this can only really be done by measuring and reporting data on an on-going basis, not just our data but our supply chain’s data too.

“We are transparent in our reporting, publishing our live data to Ecodesk so anyone can see our progress. It is this level of openness, measuring and reporting that is key to tackling excessive energy use where it can be identified and we are encouraging our suppliers to do the same. The costs savings will be significant.”

Lynda Simmons, Head of Sustainability at MITIE said: “During 2013 we are taking a more progressive approach to collaboration with Ecodesk in which our suppliers will be linked to our e-procurement portal to record their emissions management, as well as access tools and information to enhance their sustainability agenda and facilitate a more robust Scope 3 reporting model for MITIE’s extensive supply chain.”

Adrian Shuker, Sustainability Director at OCS Group UK commented: “As a responsible company, we realise the benefits of understanding the potential impact of the value chain. We also know that companies up and down this chain will have to use resources more efficiently in order to remain competitive in their industries. As a result, we believe there are opportunities here to reduce costs and effectively become more efficient and more sustainable.

“However, we can only do this by understanding energy, carbon emissions and water use, which we believe is at the heart of supply chain transparency. Together with our suppliers we are creating a more collaborative, open and accountable culture in which we can all thrive and prosper. Our work with Ecodesk is fundamental to this as it provides an open, easy to use platform for everyone in the chain, through which we can develop a true picture of OCS’s sustainability credentials.”

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