SFMI publishes Scope 3 Framework for FM

The Sustainable Facilities Management Index (SFMI) has released a new framework designed to empower FM providers, corporate in-house FM teams, and building owners in accurately measuring and reducing their carbon footprint.

The framework has been developed in collaboration with the SFMI Scope 3 framework Board committee made up of FM providers, BAM FM, Bouygues E&S, Skanska, and Optima Grupo, along with industry membership bodies RICS IWFM and IEMA. The board collected real life data from the participating businesses to test the framework and ensure its validity.  After a consultation period, the SFMI took feedback from a range of organisations from the FM industry to ensure it is applicable to the ambitions of the sector and the built environment. Designed to offer multiple uses for FM, the framework is also aligned with the GHG Protocol and the RICS Whole-Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment.

The SFMI’s framework was developed to address the consistency and accuracy gaps in FM’s measurement of scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. This will enable the industry to position itself to achieve reductions consistent with achieving net-zero emissions and establish FM as leaders in delivering zero-carbon. FM providers and property managers are encouraged to adopt the SFMI framework, which comprises three key components and is suitable for different audiences:

1. Framework for corporate FM providers Scope 3 Emissions: A methodology to measure relevant emissions sources from a corporate level. Including a wider range of scope 3 emissions so that FM’s can target customer emissions.
2. Framework to measure emissions of FM activities: A tool to enable the measurement of contract-level emissions to allow FM to identify and take responsibility for where reductions can made in scope 1,2 & 3 on-site with clients.
3. Alignment with RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment: Application of the framework to align with the B8 component of the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment (WLCA).

This comprehensive framework provides a standardised approach to carbon emissions measurement related to FM activities and is supported by robust data. It is applicable to FM service providers measuring their corporate emissions and measuring contract level emissions with customers, corporate in-house FM teams identifying their impact on business as well as building owners and their service providers measuring elements of whole life carbon of a building.

Chris Havers, Director at Acclaro Advisory, and the SFMI said: “This framework represents a maturity curve for FM, offering a roadmap for increased scope and granularity of emissions reporting as data quality and understanding develop. It empowers FM providers to be accurate in measuring emissions within the services they deliver and positions them as genuine providers of sustainable solutions, guiding their customers to zero carbon.”

To download the new framework and supporting summary document click here.