With over 12.7m tonnes of plastic entering the ocean every year, killing over one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals, it is estimated that by 2050 plastic will outweigh fish in our seas. Humans produce nearly 300m tonnes of plastic every year, half of which is for single use. This is simply unsustainable.
Changes are in motion and, thanks to the popularity of the BBC’s Blue Planet and similar television series’, society is more aware of the urgency needed in environmental sustainability. The topic is moving higher up the business agenda, too, as it rightly should. Now, the IFMA UK chapter is urging the facility management industry to follow suit.
“FM has a huge role to play in breaking this cycle of plastic use and must take the lead in ensuring that innovative solutions are created to enable businesses to eliminate their reliance and use of single-use plastic,” said Paul Bagust, RICS global property standards director and IFMA UK director. “We are calling on the industry to further demonstrate the strategic value it has for many years claimed it provides. This may be the opportunity for our profession to showcase its role to business and governments around the world.”
“This is a call to arms,” said Antony Law, fellow IFMA UK director and MD London at Churchill. “IFMA UK is championing a movement to end FM’s dependence on plastic. To encourage environmentally-conscious behaviour across the industry, we’ll be running an event with Greenpeace and Kids Against Plastic. This is the first in an event series – and in the future we will be shining a light on the organisations that are doing their bit to safeguard the planet.”
IFMA UK’s philanthropic event on the evening of the Tuesday 16th April will feature debates and guest speakers outside of the built environment, including Will McCallum, head of oceans at Greenpeace and author of How to Give Up Plastic: A Guide to Changing the World, One Plastic Bottle at a Time, and Amy and Ella Meek, aged 15 and 13, the founders of Kids Against Plastic!
IFMA UK members and RICS professionals are guaranteed a place at this exclusive event. Non-members are welcome to apply for a place. To register your interest, please visit - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-last-straw-ifma-uk-joins-forces-with-greenpeace-and-kids-against-plastic-tickets-56920935049. Further details and a password to access the event site will be sent to those who secure a place. Entry will be on a donation basis and all funds will go to Kids Against Plastic!
