Poll Asks What Are the Key Drivers of Sustainability
A poll on LinkedIn, which received close to 1,000 impressions in one week, asked LinkedIn members the following question:
Which of the following do you believe is the most important driver of sustainability for businesses today?
Those taking the poll had four options to select from:
- Risk Mitigation
- Increased Profits
- Waste Reduction
- Creating a Healthier Workplace
To clarify, sustainablity “drivers” refer to the factors that motivate businesses to adopt sustainable business practices, according to Steve Ashkin, the leading advocate for sustainability in the professional cleaning industry.
He adds that it is often a revelation for those taking the ISSA Introduction to Sustainability course to discover “that altruistic reasons, such as ‘doing the right thing,’ are far less influential than practical considerations, such as the financial benefits of sustainability.”
As to the results of the poll, they are the following:
- 29% believed risk mitigation was the most important driver of sustainability.
- 16% deemed financial benefits as the most crucial driver.
- 19% voted for increased profits as the key driver.
- 35% chose creating a healthier workplace as the critical driver of sustainability.
There are no right or wrong answers. All these options are benefits of sustainable business practices, adds Ashkin.
However, he is concerned that many people believe sustainability and “green” are the same.
“They are not and understanding this difference is crucial,” says Ashkin. “In our industry, green refers to environmentally preferable cleaning products, services, and methods.
On the other hand, sustainability focuses on how businesses operate, how they treat their employees, diversity, steps they take to protect the environment, reduce fuel and energy consumption, and reduce waste just to name a few.”
Ashkin strongly encourages members of the jansan industry to take the ISSA Introduction to Sustainability course to better understand sustainability.
Available online to members and non-members, it’s the only course available specifically tailored for the jansan industry that covers sustainability, what it’s all about, its many benefits, and why it is necessary.
About Ashkin Group and The Ashkin Group
Stephen Ashkin is recognized as the “Father of Green Cleaning” and a leading voice for sustainability within the professional cleaning industry. He founded The Ashkin Group more than 25 years ago. Today, it is a globally recognized consulting firm dedicated to promoting environmentally friendly cleaning practices and sustainability.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Robert Kravitz
AlturaSolutions Communications
Telephone: 312-880-8176
E-mail: [email protected]
