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.

 

Hawthorn champion, Shaun Burgoyne wants to foster greater entrepreneurialism within Indigenous communities.

While he’s heartened to see the national discussion on Closing The Gap intensify, Burgoyne believes the important role private enterprise plays is often crowded out in favour of more emotive issues.

“We won’t close the gap if we don’t address the intergenerational economic inequality being experienced by Indigenous Australians,” Burgoyne says.

As a result, Burgoyne has launched commercial cleaning & maintenance company ACS Indigenous, an initiative specifically focussed on creating long term career and procurement opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

Burgoyne is chair of the AFL Players’ Association Indigenous Advisory Board and has recently been appointed to sit on the AFL’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council.

He says he plans to use the leadership skills he’s developed in sport to help create greater pathways for Indigenous employment.

“I’ve seen the huge difference career opportunities have made for myself and my family,” he says.

“I’m passionate about running a successful business enterprise that directly benefits Indigenous communities.”

Burgoyne points to the Closing The Gap Report, which shows failed targets to halve the gap in employment outcomes – with only around 49 per cent of indigenous employed, compared to 75 per cent of non-Indigenous Australians.

“I’d like to see the narrative and debate surrounding Closing The Gap shift a little, to focus on the benefits of entrepreneurship, to provide tangible outcomes for our communities across Australia,” he says.

“It’s well known – and the Closing The Gap report states it – that greater employment participation opens the door to self-determination and flows on to improve health, social and emotional wellbeing, and living standards.”

They are sentiments echoed by entrepreneur and philanthropist, Andrew Forrest who in a recent Boyer lecture spoke of a two-track reality facing Indigenous entrepreneurs, resulting from systematic racism, intergenerational disadvantage and economic exclusion.

“More needs to be done to break down these barriers, and we can start now,” says Burgoyne.

Victorian-based cleaning company, ACS Property Services is partnering with Burgoyne to grow the initiative.

“We’ve worked together to develop an Indigenous Participation Plan that is structured according to the pillars of Reconciliation,” says ACS Property Services’ Managing Director Lewis Igini.

“We aim to help increase the Indigenous employment level to three per cent by 2021 and support entrepreneurism within communities,” he says.

Learn more about ACS Indigenous: acspropertyservices.com.au/acs-indigenous

Ken Drake – ACS Property Services

As we look towards safely returning to workplaces, many organisations will need to rethink how they approach cleaning.

Before COVID-19 the majority of companies saw cleaning as a service best to be minimised, both in cost and resources.

COVID-19 has changed everything and cleaning is now being recognised as a critical service for organisations, employees and society as a whole.

It’s imperative that organisations engage quality, reputable and accountable cleaning services to help them through the challenging times ahead.

Seeking advice is important. Moving forward, there is a lot of uncertainty amongst the community about the requirements to get people back into the office.

I worked in the police force for 22 years, before studying business, and moving into the cleaning industry.

Both professions require insight, a disciplined approach, rigorous attention to detail and at the end of the day, a desire to keep the community safe.

Providing a clean, safe and sanitary environment is not only imperative for your staff, clients and community, but if not done right could result in large fines and even criminal prosecution.

The new COVID economy will be confusing, so it’s crucial organisations engage experts, who can give credentialled independent advice – beware of self centred advice from sales people looking for quick profits.

At ACS our main aim is to improve the quality of cleaning services and standards within an organisation, so that it complies with all legal requirements and benefits the business and the community.

That’s why ACS is trusted by major-brand clients across Australia, which all realise that cleaning is a fundamental lynchpin in their overall business success.

Learn more here about our COVID-19 specialist cleaning services.

Lewis Igini – ACS Property Services

The cleaning industry has been thrust on to the frontline in Australia’s fight against COVID-19.

Preventative cleaning and infectious control services are critical to preventing community infections and will prove increasingly crucial as businesses begin re-opening and the nation works to repair its battered economy.

It’s a task we as an industry are ready to meet – accountability, experience and innovation are key to ensuring we safeguard Australian organisations from crippling health and safety threats.

While we as a national industry have always seen cleaning as a critical business service, the wider public is now realising the same.

For employers, cleaning and infectious control services have moved from a basic procurement decision to a critical frontline service in safeguarding staff and business continuity.

And while the cleaning industry as a whole strives for excellence, just like in any field, the level of quality can vary significantly.

Cut price services, which lack experience, expertise and accountability, will no longer cut it for businesses seeking to operate in a COVID-safe economy.

Experienced, expert cleaners on the ground are pivotal – cleaning is a highly skilled trade, not a casual employment position.

Businesses will also need access to expert industry management advice – cleaning industry leaders, who can provide real time recommendations on services and strategies amid the rapidly evolving COVID-economy.

More broadly, Australia’s battle against COVID-19 is a joint effort between government, businesses and the general public.

We’ve seen what happens when Ill-equipped and inexperienced organisations are appointed to critical posts within this fight – leading to disastrous consequences for the hiring organisation and the community at large.

In regards to cleaning and infectious control services, smart organisations are now reassessing their suppliers within this new landscape.

Cleaning was once seen by many as ‘set and forget,’ with procuring the lowest price considered a job well done.

The myth that cleaning companies are separated by price only has now been abruptly dismantled.

Rapidly changing COVID-19 conditions mean companies must constantly monitor and reassess cleaning operations to protect their staff, the community and their business operations.

The Australian cleaning sector is regarded as a world leader, driven by key industry experts, combining years of on ground expertise, with the latest technological solutions.

As an industry we’re urging the community to work with us as we fight to overcome COVID-19 and help rebuild our nation’s economy.

Accountability, experience and innovation will be key.