If working in the cleaning industry feels harder now, you’re not imagining it. Fuel costs fluctuate, supply prices continue to rise, and staffing remains a constant challenge. Whether you run the business or manage operations, it can feel like you’re playing a tough away game every day.
In moments like this, it’s easy to rely on instinct. But in a volatile market, gut decisions can get expensive. Successful companies aren’t guessing; they’re using data to guide decisions. And that’s where sustainability reporting comes in.
Build your business playbook
Think of your business like a team preparing for a championship game. Great coaches rely on data.
The cleaning industry is highly competitive, with tight margins and little room for error. Small details often determine who wins the client.
Emerging mandatory reporting requirements play into these factors by raising expectations for better data, transparency, and reporting. This means identifying inefficient routes, equipment driving up costs, or processes slowing your team down. In sales, it means understanding where you can compete or differentiate by giving customers confidence in your services.
Set up the ESG framework
To make sustainability reporting easier to use, companies organize the information into environmental, social, and governance (ESG) categories to assess risk, reduce costs, and make better decisions.
Environmental: protecting your operations: A utility bill shows what you spent, but not whether outdated equipment is wasting 20% of your costs. ESG reporting data highlights exposure to rising petroleum costs, which affects fuel, cleaning products, and materials. It also identifies risks—such as extreme weather—before they disrupt service and pinpoints how these risks can create opportunities for new products and services.
Social: retaining your workforce: Your people are your business. Payroll records show wages, but not whether fuel costs, long commutes, or working conditions are pushing employees to leave. Tracking the right information helps you identify these employee hardships early—before they affect performance and customer satisfaction.
Governance: staying ahead of change: Governance examines how you run your business and prepare for change. Customers are increasingly requesting sustainability data as they’re under pressure to reduce their environmental footprint. Reporting is becoming mandatory in many states and cities—driving down expectations throughout the supply chain.
Get ready to win
When pressure builds, it’s easy to make reactive decisions. Instead, pause long enough to understand what the data is telling you.
For another winning play, access reporting tools by joining ISSA’s Sustainability Committee. Visit issa.com/sustainability.
