ISS UK & Ireland are delighted to present their Corporate Responsibility report for 2019. The report highlights key achievements including major reductions in single-use plastic consumables such as cutlery and trays being used across its delivery of food services, and achieving the milestone of raising £100,000 for OneWater to support water and sanitation projects in southern Africa.
The report also shines a light on other achievements under the ThinkForward@ISS pillars of sustainable service performance, enhancing customers’ purpose and people empowerment.
Matthew Brabin, CEO ISS UK & Ireland stated, “It has been a very busy year for ThinkForward@ISS and our great people have played a key part in that. Our CR Leaders have been busy raising funds and volunteering for The Stroke Association and a variety of other charities, as well as supporting our key wellbeing and inclusion campaigns. I got much more involved personally in ThinkForward@ISS this year by completing the Ride100 bike ride for Stroke Association and sharing my personal thoughts about stroke with the business on World Stroke Day.”
ISS undertook a major review of the food consumables such as cutlery, cups, boxes and trays it utilises across its delivery of food services. It rationalised its number of suppliers, reduced volumes ordered and where possible switched from plastic to plant fibre alternatives across the entire range.
Based on its ordering in 2019, these changes will mean the following at ISS customer sites in 2020:
• 320,000 plastic carrier bags will be replaced with paper bags
• Over 17.6 million units of plastic cutlery will be replaced with wooden cutlery
• Over 580,000 plastic straws will be replaced with paper alternatives
• Over 1 million polystyrene clam shells, burger boxes and plates will be replaced with plant fibre alternatives
• 177,000 plastic sandwich wedges will be replaced with compostable alternatives
In 2019, ISS was delighted to pass the milestone of raising over £100,000 for One Water through sales of bottled water and other drinks at customer sites.
Duncan Goose, Founder of One Drinks stated “With ISS’ help, we’ve been able to reach communities living below the poverty line and bring them a sustainable clean water supply. We’re extremely grateful for ISS’ support and look forward to continuing the partnership and reaching more people in need.”
ISS has been partnered with this organisation since 2016 and has funded a number of projects improving clean water and sanitation infrastructure in both rural and urban locations across Malawi, Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda.
ISS’s internal network of CR Leaders continues to be highly active and a source of inspiration across the business. They have committed to volunteering for both Stroke Association and their customer’s charities; acting as role models for ISS’ wellbeing campaigns; and organising fantastic events to mark Pride and other key notable dates. They continue to record all their great work in the ground-breaking ThinkForward@ISS app.