Darran G Yates, MBICSc, Executive Council Member of the Federation of Window Cleaners (FWC), reports.
The cleaning industry is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation. More and more contract cleaning providers across the UK are embracing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles. But what does this mean, and how can sustainability be built into a hands-on, practical service like the cleaning industry?
Let’s explore how ESG fits within the cleaning sector and demystify some often misunderstood but important climate terms, including carbon neutrality, net zero, and Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
What is ESG?
ESG stands for:
- Environmental: Reducing environmental impact (e.g., cutting emissions, using eco-friendly products).
- Social: Supporting staff wellbeing, diversity, and fair working conditions.
- Governance: Running a business transparently and ethically.
In cleaning, this might mean switching to chemical-free products, using electric vehicles for transport, and ensuring cleaners are paid fairly and treated with respect.
What is carbon neutrality?
Carbon neutrality means balancing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) you emit with the amount you offset. For example, a cleaning company might use petrol vans (which emit CO₂) but then offset that carbon by investing in tree-planting or renewable energy projects. In short, metaphorically: ‘committing a crime and then doing the time!’
The idea is to ‘cancel out’ the emissions you create, but you’re still creating them.
What is net zero?
Net zero is more ambitious. Instead of just offsetting emissions, a net zero approach focuses on cutting emissions as much as possible first, and only offsetting the small amount left over.
In short metaphorically: ‘Do not commit the crime at all’.
- Carbon neutral = offset emissions.
- Net zero = reduce emissions vastly, offset only if needed.
What are Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions?
For a UK contract cleaning provider, carbon emissions are grouped into three categories:
- Scope 1: direct emissions:
- Emissions from company vehicles (e.g., vans used to get to sites).
- Fuel burned in company-owned equipment (e.g., diesel generators).
- Scope 2: indirect emissions from energy:
- Electricity used in offices or warehouses.
- Even shared office lighting and heating can count.
- Scope 3: other indirect emissions
- This is the biggest and most complex category.
- Includes emissions from:
- Generally, ALL your sub-contractors, people you pay money to for a product or service.
- Staff commuting (if not using company vehicles).
For many cleaning companies, Scope 3 makes up most emissions, but is also the hardest to track.
What are contract cleaning companies doing?
Across the UK, more cleaning providers are:
- Switching to biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products.
- Training staff on sustainable practices.
- Replacing diesel vans with electric vehicles.
- Monitoring emissions and reporting their progress.
Why does it matter?
Clients are starting to expect more from their service providers. Local authorities, large office buildings, and public sector contracts are all increasingly demanding ESG commitments and proof of sustainable operations.
In this new era, being ‘just a contract cleaner' isn’t enough. The cleaning sector is stepping up and becoming part of the solution in the UK’s journey to a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future.
In fact, going green is good for business.
At In-depth Managed Services, of which I am the ESG, I&R Director, over the last 12 months we have seen a trend relating to tenders where the percentage of scoring for the environment has grown from 5 per cent to a 20-25 per cent focus on ESG, including sustainability, ethics and similar areas.
When it comes to tendering, we can potentially see the end of companies focusing on ‘buying business’ and instead see them prioritising as of high importance, ESG, sustainability, ethics, social value and mobilisation, recruitment and health and safety.
So, in essence, if you score well in these areas, you won’t necessarily have to be the cheapest bid to win the business, and you could have a better margin. Like I said, ESG is good for business.
If you are in the cleaning sector and you are not on board with this now, trust me, you need to keep pace with this evolving market.
ESG specialists are rapidly becoming a vital asset to the sales strategy of all businesses going forward. This is not just a fad, it’s here for the long haul.
To help guide you on these principles, you should refer to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2015 (SDGs) as a starting point (ref THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development )
https://britishcleaningcouncil.org/
https://f-w-c.co.uk/
About the contributor
Darran G Yates
Executive Council Member
Federation of Window Cleaners