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sustainability
Sustainable workplaces in practice
ISS helps organisations reduce carbon, eliminate waste and deliver measurable social value across their estates. Combining sustainability expertise with practical operational delivery, we turn ambition into action through programmes grounded in the realities of the built environment — from low carbon workplaces and zero waste strategies to socially responsible workplaces that create lasting value.
sustainability
Sustainability as a service
Organisations face growing pressure to improve the environmental and social performance of their workplaces. ISS delivers specialist sustainability services that help organisations plan, implement and manage sustainability programmes across their estates.
Working in partnership with Anthesis, a global sustainability consultancy, ISS combines sustainability expertise with practical operational knowledge of the built environment — turning sustainability ambition into real delivery.
Because the workplace is where organisations consume the majority of their operational energy and resources, improving workplace performance is often the most effective way to accelerate sustainability progress.
Low carbon workplaces
Reducing carbon emissions from buildings is one of the most significant sustainability challenges organisations face.
ISS supports low carbon workplaces through services including:
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Energy optimisation and energy management
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Carbon reduction strategies
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Building performance improvement
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Energy data insight and reporting
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Support for net-zero transition plans
Zero waste workplaces
Reducing waste and improving resource efficiency are essential to sustainable operations.
ISS helps organisations develop waste strategies including:
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Waste reduction strategies
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Recycling and circular economy programmes
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Resource optimisation initiatives
- Sustainable procurement practices
Socially responsible workplaces
Sustainability also includes the social value organisations create within the communities where they operate.
ISS supports socially responsible workplaces through initiatives including:
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Social mobility programmes
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Inclusive employment initiatives
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Local supply chain development
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Community engagement
sustainability
Sustainability grounded in operational reality
Our teams work inside the environments we help improve, giving ISS a unique operational perspective on how buildings perform and where sustainability improvements can deliver the greatest impact.
Because ISS teams already manage and maintain many of the environments we help improve, sustainability programmes can be implemented directly within day-to-day building operations — accelerating progress across the estate.
Our sustainability partner: Anthesis
ISS delivers sustainability services in partnership with Anthesis, a global sustainability consultancy with expertise in carbon reduction, circular economy and responsible business transformation.
Together, ISS and Anthesis combine strategic sustainability expertise with practical operational delivery across the built environment, helping organisations move from sustainability ambition to measurable progress.
Sustainability
Why ISS for Sustainability services
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Sustainability expertise delivered in partnership with Anthesis
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Deep operational knowledge of complex estates
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Practical implementation capability across the built environment
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Integrated delivery through the IFS model
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Data‑driven sustainability programmes
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Support for long‑term net‑zero and resource efficiency ambitions
Sustainability: case study
Optimising energy usage for a UK manufacturing client
The challenge: the customer required an integrated energy management and reporting solution to optimise energy usage, improve compliance, and reduce emissions while ensuring adherence to global standards and other regulatory requirements.
Tailored solution: ISS delivered a cost-effective, scalable Building Optimisation Programme, utilising the following strategies:
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Data management, analytics & insight: developed a reporting system to provide real-time consumption insight
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Energy optimisation & cost savings: developed a reporting system to provide real-time consumption insight
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Future improvement: continuous tracking, validation and collaboration with site teams unlocking additional energy saving initiatives
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3.7 GWh energy savings
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£675k cost saving
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715 tCO₂e carbon avoided
SUSTAINABILITY
Championing sustainable workplaces
Our Director of Sustainability on how our industry-first partnership with Anthesis is helping us design and deliver tailored, high-impact solutions built specifically for the built environment.
Sustainability: case study
Uniform recycling and reuse programme
Client: A major UK high street bank
Location: Across UK
The challenge: a major UK high street bank, which is a key integrated facilities services customer for ISS, set ambitious environmental targets which include, waste, resources and circular economy. This target includes an 85% recycling rate. As one step of many, ISS and the client developed a uniform recycling and reuse services programme.
The partnership: the client partnered with ISS, who deliver integrated facilities services across all client sites. Together, we collaborated with Restore Datashred and The Salvation Army to find a waste hierarchy-compliant solution which would standardise waste disposal, minimise environmental impact, and enable reuse where possible:
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56 tonnes of uniforms diverted from incineration to reuse/recycling
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100% of client sites have access to on-site uniform recycling
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85% recycling rate - on track to meet agreed target rate
Sustainability: Projects case study
Sustainability Projects: Solar power for a global finance firm
Client: Global Financial Services Provider
Location: Midlands, England
Value: £95k
Programme: 10 days
Summary: Faced with rising energy costs, the client tasked ISS Projects with delivering a renewable energy solution.
Result: Solar panels were installed in a low impact location, cutting energy costs by 14.4% and generating annual savings of 104,000 kWh. Delivered with minimal operational disruption, the project supports long-term energy resilience and cost-efficiency.
