Sustainability reporting is becoming the next evolution of business intelligence. Traditional financial reporting helps organizations understand what already happened. Sustainability metrics help them better understand future risks and opportunities, information that is crucial for business decisions.
Advocate for your cause
Companies that better understand risk may have a competitive advantage. This is where advocacy comes into play. The cleaning industry cannot afford to simply react to new regulations, labor discussions, chemical policies, or procurement standards after decisions have already been made. Our industry must help shape practical policies that recognize operational realities. Effective advocacy not only influences policy; it helps businesses succeed by providing practical resources, training, and guidance.
Advocacy must also focus on elevating the industry’s professionalism and protecting its workforce. Greater investment in training, safety, career development, fair wages, and appropriate benefits can improve retention while
strengthening service quality across the industry.
In addition, the industry should advocate for responsible procurement practices. Far too often, cleaning contracts are awarded almost entirely on price, creating pressure that can contribute to unrealistic workloads, insufficient training, worker misclassification, poor safety practices, and high turnover. Instead, building owners and facility managers should evaluate providers based on overall value and operational performance.
Speak out for the industry
The cleaning industry must find its voice. For too long, cleaning professionals have worked quietly behind the scenes. If our industry does not participate in conversations on sustainability, workforce development, procurement, and public health, others will make those decisions for us.
The industry must continue speaking out against worker misclassification and other unfair labor practices that create artificial cost advantages. Companies that properly classify employees, invest in training, provide protections, and comply with labor requirements should not be placed at a competitive disadvantage against those that cut corners at their workers’ expense.
At the same time, the industry should support practical approaches to sustainability reporting that businesses can realistically achieve. Many companies do not have large compliance budgets or dedicated sustainability staff. Advocacy efforts should encourage simplified reporting tools, technical assistance, and industry-specific guidance that helps companies participate without becoming overwhelmed.
Join our committee
Sustainably is not about perfection. It is about developing a mindset where organizations begin asking better questions before making decisions.
ISSA’s Sustainability Committee helps the industry navigate changes in practical, business focused ways. Learn more about joining the committee at issa.com/sustainability.
