Climate change has become a topical issue in boardrooms

Lewis Igini – ACS Property Services

Climate change remains an urgent issue on global companies’ and investors’ agendas, even amid the upheaval caused by COVID-19.

That’s according to the latest progress report from Climate Action 100+; an investor-led initiative, to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change.

Nine of the 15 largest global economies have now set net-zero targets and many of the world’s largest corporate emitters are setting ambitious targets to decarbonise by mid-century, according to Climate Action 100+ 2020 Progress Report.

On a local front, the Australian Federal Government’s National Waste Policy outlines a clear future direction and framework for businesses, governments, communities and individuals until 2030.

These include:

• Avoid waste
• Improve resource recovery
• Increase use of recycled material and build demand and markets for recycled products
• Better manage material flows to benefit human health, the environment and the economy
• Improve information to support innovation, guide investment and enable informed consumer decisions.

Sourcing environmentally sustainable products and services, including cleaning service providers within the circular economy, is now an imperative for Australian organisations across all sectors.

As a result, the Australian cleaning industry is undergoing a paradigm shift, as the national and global consensus to address climate change intensifies.

Unfortunately segments within the cleaning industry have traditionally been slow to adopt new environmentally sustainable practices, but that’s now changing.

As an early adopter, ACS Property Services is pleased to see other areas of the cleaning industry begin to follow suit.

The Paris Agreement – which aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels – needs to be part of all boardroom decisions regarding procurement and sustainability.

Securing environmental best practice cleaning services is becoming an imperative for businesses and their stakeholders alike.

At ACS, we ensure the entire lifecycle of products and services deliver best environmental practice to all our clients, and in turn their staff, customers and local community.

We partner with Australian company Agar Cleaning Chemicals for our raw material chemical base, which delivers high performance green cleaning products that reduce environmental impact without compromising results.

Agar has been independently certified through Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA), ensuring the highest industry standards.

Where possible we seek to avoid the use of chemicals altogether.

We use the innovative product, Tersano, which turns tap water into a safe, highly effective sanitizer.

It’s stronger than bleach and kills up to 99.9% of germs – including viruses similar to the one that causes COVID-19.

While environmental issues are vital, it’s crucial cleaning and hygiene results aren’t compromised in the process.

That’s especially true, since the COVID-19 pandemic, which has highlighted the importance of cleaning and hygiene services to staff well being and business continuity.

As an early adopter, ACS has spent years innovating and refining our technology and services to deliver superior cleaning results, whilst achieving optimal environmental and sustainability standards.

However, it’s not just our frontline cleaning services that deliver value for businesses and the environment.

At ACS we offer change management services to assist organisations improve streamlining their waste.

This involves centralising and streamlining waste management systems, as well as bringing about behavioural and cultural change among staff, which sees them adopt more environmentally sustainable habits.

Typically this results in a minimum 30 per cent reduction in waste within 12 months for organisations.

As a business leader, I’m committed to fast-tracking the adoption of innovative, environmentally sustainable cleaning practices across Australian industry.

But moreso, it’s my role as father and indeed global citizen, that provides an even greater motivation to drive this pivotal change.

While most of us can’t control decisions made at a global level, we can bring about change through our boardroom decisions.

For me that means offering our clients new and innovative cleaning solutions that reduce waste, generate efficiencies and leave the environment in a better shape.

Cleaning service providers work across almost all Australian business sectors, so it’s vital we play our part in helping achieve the Paris Agreement targets, and in doing so help secure a safe and sustainable world for future generations.