Carbon footprint, one of the most talked about topics in business nowadays. is the measurement of the total greenhouse gas emissions generated directly or indirectly by a property, an organisation or an individual.

The UAE had been ranked among the countries with the highest emissions per capita, especially after studies noted a 25 per cent increase in overall carbon output between 2006 and 2008 as well as a 20 percent increase in per capita emissions.

Another study compiled by the World Bank revealed that carbon emissions in the Mena region had doubled in 30 years, mainly driven by inefficient use of resources.

Globally, carbon emissions are likewise rising, witnessing a 5.9 per cent increase in 2010 alone.

Sustainable and environmental issues are certainly a legitimate concern, which have prompted governments and environmental advocates to actively encourage companies and other members of the society to reduce their carbon footprint.

A growing number of companies are taking heed, joining the sustainability bandwagon through various initiatives from here and there like: energy-saving measurements, waste collection campaigns, recycling projects, and more.

In light of the sudden burst of “environmental” activities at the corporate level, I think the question that environmental institutional stakeholders should ask is: do these small-time projects suffice?

To find an adequate answer, it may help if we look at the people who actually make the big decisions regarding these sustainability initiatives that are being randomly implemented.

In a typical meeting to discuss a company’s carbon footprint roadmap, we may find people from marketing, perhaps a representative from senior management, legal, and even corporate social responsibility. The usual suspects.

However, the real unsung heroes of corporate sustainability — the facilities managers — are sometimes missing.

I guess that should pretty well help give us an idea of the effectiveness of the sustainability measures being implemented by many companies.

I strongly believe facilities management has to be at the core of any sustainability initiative. FM specialists are best equipped when it comes to providing services that positively impact across a broad range of areas, from cost-effectiveness, productivity, efficiency, and carbon footprint to name a few.

Moreover, facilities managers deal with sustainability issues on a daily basis, making them thoroughly competent in handling issues related to carbon footprint.

Recently, Imdaad partnered Dubai Municipality to launch the ‘My City, My Environment’ initiative, which aims to encourage households to recycle and segregate their wastes.

Imdaad distributed two 240-litre waste bins to each villa in the Mizhar 1 area and collects general waste daily and recyclables three times a week as part of the campaign.

In tackling the carbon footprint problem, it is important to take a broader look at the way a company operates to identify specific areas where emissions can be further reduced if not eliminated.

For the uninitiated, it is a complicated process in which companies end up implementing trivial projects that rarely hit the core objective.

Facilities managers, meanwhile, deal with issues such as water quality, integrated waste management, air emissions, indoor air quality, and water recycling every day.

They are the most competent to determine the carbon footprint of an organization and, accordingly, provide solutions to minimise emissions.

The facilities management industry certainly plays a key role in helping organisations and individuals reduce carbon footprint and ultimately helping to promote the sustainable development of the society.

So the next time your company holds a special discussion about internal issues related to sustainability and carbon footprint, it will surely make a whole lot of difference to invite and follow the advice of a competent facilities management expert.

By Jamal Abdulla Lootah

The writer is the CEO of the facilities management company Imdaad.