Despite growing pressure to go green, more than half of facilities management teams either don’t follow sustainable practices or aren’t sure if they do. Let that sink in.
We can no longer ignore the impact of FM on sustainability. Our buildings and built environments account for 40% of global CO2 emissions and 35% of global waste (Source: Frost & Sullivan). Adopting sustainable FM practices is a no-brainer.
But, as it turns out, FM is talking the talk, but not walking the walk. Only 36% consider sustainability a priority when selecting suppliers, and only 24% care about it when picking clients.
Are your sustainability efforts designed for success? Assess your approach to sustainability and uncover where you stand among your peers.
Let’s take a closer look at four key obstacles that are holding back sustainability progress in FM.
- Cost overrules sustainability
One of the key challenges in FM is striking a balance between sustainability goals and the relentless pressure to keep costs in check. Let’s not mince words: the financial stakes are astronomical. Injecting sustainable technologies into new builds or retrofitting older structures demands a monumental capital outlay.
Facilities managers are expected to pull off the impossible: integrate renewable energy sources, optimise HVAC systems, reduce waste—all while squeezing every last penny out of tight budgets.
Organisations chase green certifications – a shiny lure for investors. But a lack of funding often stops companies from taking the necessary steps to reduce their carbon footprint and become truly sustainable. Facilities managers are caught between ambitious eco-targets and the harsh reality of tight budgets, derailing their sustainability journey.
- Perfect ROI doesn’t exist
Beyond steep upfront costs, facilities managers need to acknowledge another inconvenient truth: the next wave of decarbonisation won’t offer quick financial wins.
Heat pumps, EV fleets, and major retrofits demand significant initial investment. In some cases, there will be no direct ROI—just higher operational spend.
Pick your poison. Because delaying action isn’t caution—it’s failure on an instalment plan. Waiting for perfect ROI cases will leave organisations exposed. Think regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and stranded assets.
The market is shifting fast. Clients, investors and regulators won’t wait, and they won’t forgive hesitation. Companies failing to adapt will not only miss their objectives but also lose ground to competitors. Achieving net zero is a clear obligation; inaction can no longer be justified.
- Smart buildings demand smarter skills
Low-energy, low-carbon buildings are now the new standard. Increasingly complex, loaded with cutting-edge technologies, they demand a whole new skillset to manage.
Smart building technologies and IoT integration: that’s how new energy-efficient buildings run. Their data pours into sophisticated Building Management Systems (BMS), tracking performance against KPIs, pulling from countless sources to optimise critical assets like HVAC and lighting.
These technologies? Undoubtedly powerful. But extracting real insight and managing them takes serious skill. And while building management tech has rocketed forward, the skills of facility managers and their teams haven’t universally kept pace.
- The trillion-dollar comfort zone
Only 19% see sustainability and collaboration as key FM trends. That’s no surprise. Sustainability isn’t the only trend FM teams conveniently sweep under the rug. In fact, most innovation gets buried. And that is the core problem blocking any real progress in FM.
Facilities management is notoriously conservative. Sticking to “business as usual” feels comfortable. After all, FM teams already juggle enough daily fires—why add more to their plate?
This comfort is a powerful sedative. But hidden beneath the day-to-day routine is a huge opportunity that many are missing. McKinsey predicts the retrofit market will skyrocket from $500 billion today to $3.9 trillion by 2050. We’re not just talking about going green anymore; this is a massive economic chance.
So, how do you grab a piece of that pie? Take a fresh look at your current operations and upsell new services to meet this rising demand. It’s the clearest path to diversification and growth.
Not sure how to start your sustainability journey? Strategy is key to making any transformation happen, and we’re here to help. Our report breaks down the practical steps innovative FM teams are taking today to close the sustainability gap. Ready to get started? Grab your copy now.
