Sustainability – No Tick Boxing, No Green Washing
Active Workplace Solutions’ Sustainability Commitment
Decarbonisation is high on the agenda, and rightly so. As a long established and well-respected Facilities Management (FM) solutions provider Active has always sought to support local communities, provide equal opportunities and care for the environment but in 2022 recognised the value of formalising their FM strategy in order that their commitment to Net Zero be accountable and demonstrable to both clients and prospects.
Active engaged with a specialist sustainability consultancy, JustOne, to define their ongoing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy and explore their scope 1,2,3 emissions. Essentially, scope 1 are those direct emissions that are owned or controlled by a company, whereas scope 2 and 3 indirect emissions are a consequence of the activities of the company but occur from sources not owned or controlled by it.
Peeling back the layers of ESG and taking a long hard look at what Active does, both how and why, was quite a defining moment, and did set the scene of how they could and should move forward. Most surprising to senior management was the revelation that Scope 3 emissions contributed 93% to their total carbon footprint. It is the hardest scope to measure and tackle because it is not in direct control. However, as challenging as it is, Active recognise that this area has the potential to help their customers meet their net zero targets and have committed to focusing their attention here, one step at a time.
At the base of the project structure was a commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. It provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, for now and into the future. At its heart there are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries.
Active have launched their strategy at the Dolby screening rooms (a client who is also firmly committed to decarbonisation) and the ‘Unlocking Potential’ strategy will focus on people, places, and partnerships. They have committed to finalising their governance and reporting systems and have established processes around collecting data and reporting each focus area to keep them on track.
“Sustainability isn’t a nice to have anymore – its embedded in everything workplace professionals do now in one way shape or form. Having suppliers, like Active, that are aligned with our sustainability goals and can add value to that goal is a priority for me when working with workplace providers.”
Kristen, Workplace Experience Lead, Premium Car Manufacturer
‘Unlocking Potential’ will enable Active to go beyond delivering conventional office spaces - it will foster environments that inspire productivity, well-being, and growth. They will strive to do this across all the workplace solutions that they provide and embed their purpose into their internal processes and a culture of care.
“Active has the knowledge and expertise around sustainability and the use of local materials in our stores to identify us as a local charity. The team from initial consultation to fit out were professional and understood the challenges of the future with sustainability and this fits well with our goals.”
Mat Trick, Retail Operations Manager, City Hospice/ Ty Hosbis
