The Facilities Management environment is in a period of significant transition, brought on not least by the challenges of COVID-19, and certainly exacerbated by ever-evolving technology, urbanisation, and infrastructure development.

But perhaps one of the biggest and most important changes in our sector in recent years is a growing awareness that we need to be better stewards of this planet. After all, the property and construction sectors, alone, are responsible 40 percent of total energy consumption, 40 percent of C02 emissions, and 40 percent of waste generated.

In a recent panel-presentation at the TEFMA Directors Forum, GJK Facility Services Director of Strategic Relationships, Kristiana Greenwood, told delegates that facility managers would need to introduce a “circular economy” approach to environmental stewardship practises. A circular economy, in this context, is based on the principles of designing-out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

To reduce the consumption of resources and the impact on the climate, Kristiana and her fellow panelists (Professor Stephen Parker, Global Lead of Education and Skills at KPMG International; and Professor Stuart McCutcheon, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland) said we needed not only to reduce energy consumption within buildings, but also to transfer this energy demand to renewable energy resources, such as wind or solar energy.

“Facility managers are going to have to reconsider their procurement strategies in the future to facilitate the circular economy model.” Kristiana said.