ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Facility services group Wisag, based in Germany, has published the results of its 13th Sustainability Radar, in which it sheds some light on the regulatory maze for the facility management industry when it comes to ESG requirements.

Wisag says: "ESG requirements for companies are having a noticeable impact on their business activities and the everyday work of their employees. In order to meet the requirements, human and financial resources are required. This is a complex situation to which the EU has now reacted by weakening the planned sustainability regulation.

"The Sustainability Radar shows why the change of course was necessary and which solutions can provide orientation and support in the regulatory jungle in the future."

The conclusion: ESG regulations can be an obstacle in day-to-day business. For 74 per cent of the 326 property experts who participated, sustainability regulation is noticeable or very strongly noticeable in everyday life. Part of the solution is advice from facility service providers - 74 per cent of those who responded somewhat or fully agree that FM service providers will be in greater demand as consultants in the future.

In addition to advice from facility service providers, digital technologies are important beacons of hope. For 83 per cent of participants, they are increasingly playing a role in managing ESG requirements. Digital tools make the sustainable design of buildings more efficient - even if their use still poses challenges in the short term. After all, companies need skilled workers who can control intelligent buildings. Digital technologies must be integrated into existing systems and require high investment.

The study also shows what is clearly most important in the cooperation between client and facility manager in order to meet the complex sustainability requirements: regular interdisciplinary coordination rounds. Overall, the results make it clear that partnership and digital support seem more important than bonuses and longer contract terms.

In the meantime, the EU has rowed back on some planned sustainability regulation: the reporting obligations (CSRD) provided for in the Omnibus Package have been postponed and the planned European Supply Chain Act (CSDDD) has been weakened.

Jens Schmidt, head of sustainability at WISAG commented: "This short breathing space should be used to promote sustainability independently and in a more targeted manner and to promote innovation. After all, the pressure to take responsibility towards the environment and future generations remains high.

"And companies that are now consistently working on their sustainable orientation and concrete measures are investing in their future and competitiveness."

To read the full report, click here.