Page 42 - Spaces Magazine Volume 1

· 42 · Vol 0ne ® The goal of ESG reporting is to help businesses understand their environmental impact, set improvement targets, and measure progress accurately. Just as buildings measure energy and water consumption, they should also measure waste production. Occupiers expect precise data on their waste production, similar to their expectations for energy submetering. Estimations based on square footage, and assumed waste weight, no longer suffice. Introducing WasteTracker Accurate waste measurement should occur in the waste room before disposal. Each time waste is brought into the room, it should be weighed and registered under the specific occupier responsible for its production. WasteTracker digitises this process, offering a simple to use terminal to register waste. It also provides live data and complex analytics to support the path to zero waste. With built-in benchmarks and a best practices library, both building owners and occupiers can gain a comprehensive understanding of their data and embark on the zero waste path, effectively. Zero waste path – step by step Achieving zero waste doesn’t mean producing no waste at all; it means creating a circular economy where minimal waste ends up in landfills, the most detrimental outcome for the planet. Here’s how to get there: 1. Measure – understand the volume and sources of waste. 2. Strategise on 5R (refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot). 3. Benchmark progress – continuously improve. Smart Spaces Paving the path to zero waste for commercial real estate By Renata Hartle WasteTracker London alone produces over 8 million tonnes of waste annually. To put that into perspective, that’s about the weight of Buckingham Palace multiplied by 20! The City of London spends around £15 million each year to manage this vast amount of waste but manages to recycle just under 30% of it. Over the past 40 years, the volume of waste has steadily doubled. This trend isn’t unique to London; nearly every European capital faces a similar crisis, drowning in waste. The World Bank predicts that by 2050, there could be more plastic in the oceans than fish, a stark reminder of the urgency required in addressing waste management. How can you manage what you do not measure? Waste treatment and disposal fall under Scope 3 of the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework. While sorting and recycling have been the focus in recent years, the priority should be reducing waste generation from the outset. Businesses have numerous opportunities to reverse the 40-year trend of increasing waste. The 5R strategy shows that the most significant impact comes from refusing waste-generating products and services. For example, eliminate bottled water by providing filtered water or carbonation machines, introduce paperless policies, or remove individual trash bins from desks. “Who cares wins” The ESG term was officially coined in the landmark “Who Cares Wins” report, initiated by the United Nations in 2004. This report emphasised the importance of integrating environmental, social, and governance factors into capital markets. Nearly two decades later, we are still learning and evolving in our approaches. Embarking on a zero waste journey is a significant step in this ongoing process. Make zero waste a part of your ESG journey, and together, we can pave the path to a sustainable future.