Sustainable asset management solutions
Global climate change is causing a reshaping of business practices. Most organisations want to do good and make real change but, some focus on oversight and other commitments. Regardless of the driving force, balancing sustainability (green) and profitability (gold) is crucial.
Any organisation’s performance depends on its ability to meet Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives. Investors use these objectives to evaluate potential investments for risk, while companies use it to demonstrate to staff and clients that they are concerned about the environment and society.
How do asset management practices drive sustainability?
The concept of sustainability plays an important role in Enterprise Asset Management (EAM). Organisations can create more value over the long run if they consider environmental, social, and economic issues. Sustainability performance is one of the most influential concepts for managing modern organisations. Adopting a sustainability-oriented holistic view of asset management is essential for successful business operations.
Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword-it must be central to your operations strategy. For years, many organisations have dipped their toes into sustainability, engaging in initiatives like clean air programs, recycling, and supporting environmental causes. However, these efforts often lack measurable impact. Today, with evolving regulatory demands, increasing social expectations, and advancements in technology, sustainability is now essential for driving tangible value across your entire organisation.
Understanding Sustainable Asset Management: Definition, Strategies & Benefits
Embedding sustainability in an organisation is complex without a well-structured approach. Maintenance departments, in particular, need to incorporate sustainability goals into their asset management strategies. These strategies should be data-driven, not only improving operational efficiency but also optimising asset performance.
Sustainable maintenance operations go beyond keeping equipment running, they ensure long‑term profitability, reduce downtime, and extend asset lifecycles. By preventing costly incidents and losses, a sustainable approach maximises the return on physical assets while supporting safety and compliance. Unlike reactive maintenance, sustainable practices empower employees and contractors to focus on high‑value tasks, improving efficiency, reducing waste, and strengthening overall operational performance.
With the modern workforce constantly evolving, retaining skilled workers is an increasing challenge. Building a sustainable operation is key to attracting long-term talent, reducing knowledge gaps, lowering onboarding costs, and mitigating the risk of competitors poaching your top employees.
The circular economy approach with FTDC
Repair, reuse/redeploy, return/takeback, sale, donation, recycling and remanufacturing of assets and equipment reduce waste and conserve resources lowering carbon emissions and contributing to a circular economy. Our partner FTD Circular (FTDC) along with our Hardcat Lebosi® digital platform provides a user-friendly solution to asset management data visibility and value extraction when it comes to fit-out spaces and materials. This positions places and spaces as valuable asset banks, rather than as receptacles of finishes, fixtures/fittings, furniture, plant and equipment destined for landfill.
Powering the Circular Economy: How Smart Asset Management Drives Sustainability
FTDC landfill diversion
FTDC’s process, digital tools and directory enable and automate product stewardship, leasing and de-fit/demolition landfill minimisation. Asset lifecycles are extended according to the circular economy hierarchy – repair, re-use/redeployment, return/takeback, sale, donation, recycling and remanufacture.
A circular economy in asset management aims to extend your asset’s lifecycles. It seeks to minimise waste and maximise resources. It moves from the old “take, make, dispose” economy to a more sustainable one. Adopting circular economy principles in asset lifecycle management means rethinking design, use, and management. You can’t manage what you can’t measure. We provide the mobile hardware, digital tools (with the right data fields) and support you need to accurately capture all of your assets. Across materials, furniture, fixtures, equipment and plant we’ll set you up correctly from the start to yield the financial, environmental, social, legal and insurance reporting outcomes you need at the end. FTD Circular
The circular economy approach process starts with a site audit to review the fixtures, furnishings and materials that need to be placed on the Hardcat asset register. The Hardcat team provides the mobile hardware, digital tools and support needed to accurately capture the asset identities, quantities and other data. From here client organisations and suppliers are able to track and manage their asset maintenance, lifecycles, warranties, depreciation and deployment. This allows for asset lifecycles to be extended.
At de-fit time, the asset management platform and directory match assets with landfill diversion opportunities such as re-use, sale, donation, and recycling. After completing the diversion, the platform generates detailed reports to measure your impact and fulfill your waste and carbon reporting commitments with verified data. You can also use this data to inform government policy and initiatives.
Preventive maintenance contributes to sustainable asset management
Preventive maintenance provides not only an optimal return on your investment but may contribute to sustainability and cost savings by addressing maintenance early and avoiding more expensive and energy-intensive repairs later on.
Optimised Resource Utilisation
By identifying underutilised equipment, businesses can eliminate unnecessary purchases and reduce resource consumption, thereby lowering their environmental footprint.
Energy Conservation
Monitor energy consumption patterns of assets and equipment. With this data, organisations can identify opportunities. For energy efficiency improvements, such as implementing energy-saving settings, optimising usage schedules, or upgrading to more energy-efficient assets. By reducing energy consumption, businesses can decrease their greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to combating climate change.
Asset Longevity
Extending the lifespan of assets and equipment with regular preventive maintenance ensures optimal performance. It minimises the need for premature replacements or repairs. By keeping assets in good condition, organisations reduce waste generation and the environmental impact associated with manufacturing and disposing of new equipment.
Waste Reduction and Recycling
Responsibly managing end-of-life assets and promoting recycling initiatives, businesses can reduce waste generation and divert materials from landfills. EAM helps organisations identify opportunities for refurbishment or repurposing of assets.
Maximise asset sustainability
Hardcat’s software solutions play a pivotal role in driving sustainable asset management solutions initiatives and environmental responsibility within organisations. We provide the digital tools (software and mobile hardware) to support in the planning and execution of effective disposal processes. Our partners support tenants, leasing agents, and designers. Applying circularity principles through-out commercial tenancy fit-out. From design, construction, lifecycle maintenance, and de-fit phases. Contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious business.
