World FM Day aims to recognise the critical work that facilities management professionals contribute to private and public sector businesses across the globe. World FM Day was first initiated by Global FM in 2008.

The World FM Day theme this year is ‘leading a sustainable future’. Over the last two years, FM providers have had to navigate their own way through the pandemic as well as guiding clients in making health and safety, technical transformation and environmental decisions. Pre-pandemic, environmental factors were high up on many boardroom agendas, but now, as we emerge from the COVID19 crisis, it is perhaps the most pressing matter FMs are facing.

According to the UK Green Building Council, the built environment contributes to about 40 per cent of the UK’s total carbon footprint and almost half of this comes from building energy use and infrastructure that have no direct impact on operational function. The UK has taken a significant step in being the first major economy to pass laws to reach net zero by 2050. Almost one third of the UK’s largest businesses have made the same commitment. If these ambitious goals are going to be met, it is critical that organisations plan carefully, target inefficiencies and make real, long-term sustained changes. The FM industry is in the driving seat.

Sustainability of course goes far beyond just emission reductions and the goal of net zero. It covers other environmental pollution and resource use, as well as promoting health, social and economic conditions, with a view to creating a world that is able to support us without taking away from future generations.

Facilities Management excels in curating and caring for the finer details of any business. The sector is in a powerful position to lead the built environment to a more sustainable future. FM can realise huge changes from reducing plastic and chemical usage in cleaning, moving to electric vehicle fleets, and effective maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve site efficiency. The scope of integrating technology to monitor footfall which can then influence energy output or services on demand, such as cleaning, for example, could realise fundamental savings. Both energy and financial.

As FM spearheads a more sustainable future for the built environment, let’s stand tall together and make it a future we’re all proud of.