‘People factors’ cited as main environmental obstacles

‘People factors’ remain the main obstacle to achieving workplace environmental objectives, according to a survey by the BIFM (British Institute of Facilities Management) and Low Carbon Workplace Ltd.

Common hurdles to carbon emissions reduction were found to include budget constraints and sustaining staff motivation. Despite evidence of a willingness among employees to support environmental goals, respondents reported that 71% of organisations do not state these objectives in staff job descriptions.

The research also found that only 14% of facilities management professionals feel their companies should be more ambitious in setting environmental standards in the workplace as part of their strategy to reduce carbon emissions.

Almost 80% of survey respondents believe the scope of their organisations’ workplace environmental objectives should be achievable, yet only 64% are confident in their organisation’s ability to achieve those goals successfully.

The vast majority of businesses surveyed (91%) cited corporate reputation as a benefit of pursuing workplace environmental objectives and 46% nominated it as the sole main driver (double the number that chose financial benefits).

Katharine Deas, Managing Director of Low Carbon Workplace, said:

“Organisations must bridge the gaps to deliver on their green ambitions for the workplace. Engaging all the stakeholders, working together to overcome competing priorities and putting in place a broad-based carbon management programme is fundamental to achieving deep-reaching carbon reductions.”

Ian Fielder, CEO of BIFM, said:

“Organisations are making steady, incremental reductions by setting achievable targets. The challenge is ensuring these targets are ambitious enough, and comprehensive enough, to make the necessary step-change in carbon emissions reduction.”