Sustainability Starts with Operations: Lessons We've Learned Supporting Multi-Site Businesses

When sustainability is discussed, the focus is often on carbon targets, environmental reporting, and long-term commitments. While those conversations are important, many organisations face a more immediate challenge: how do you make sustainability work across multiple sites without creating additional complexity?

In our experience, sustainability becomes much harder when operations are fragmented. Multiple suppliers, inconsistent standards, different working practices, and limited visibility across locations can make it difficult to deliver meaningful progress, regardless of how ambitious an organisation's ESG objectives may be.

At Workplace, we've found that some of the most effective sustainability improvements don't start with new initiatives. They start by creating consistency.

The Hidden Sustainability Challenge of Multi-Site Estates

For organisations operating across multiple locations, maintaining consistent standards can be difficult. Different suppliers may use different products, ordering processes, reporting methods, and service standards.

This doesn't just create management challenges. It can also make it harder to achieve sustainability goals.

Without consistency, organisations often struggle to understand what products are being used, how consumables are being managed, whether environmental standards are being applied uniformly, and where opportunities for improvement exist.

This was one of the drivers behind our work with Wizu Workspaces, one of the UK's highest-rated providers of premium serviced office space.

When Growth Creates Complexity

Our partnership with Wizu began with a single location in Bristol in July 2024 before expanding to Derby and then, in April 2025, a further 11-site mobilisation across the North of England. Today, Workplace supports all 18 Wizu sites through a fully managed cleaning and support services solution.

As Wizu expanded, they recognised an operational challenge that many growing organisations face. Managing multiple contractors across multiple locations can increase complexity, reduce visibility, and make it harder to maintain consistency.

The business wanted to move towards a single supplier model that would simplify management, improve oversight, and support its wider ESG objectives.

The challenge wasn't simply about cleaning buildings. It was about creating a consistent approach across an entire portfolio while maintaining service standards for members, visitors, and staff during a major transition.

Sustainability Through Standardisation

One of the less glamorous but often most effective sustainability strategies is standardisation.

By consolidating services under a single provider, Wizu was able to introduce a more consistent approach across its estate. Workplace implemented environmentally responsible cleaning products, controlled dosing systems designed to minimise unnecessary product usage, and recyclable consumables throughout the portfolio. These measures helped align service delivery with Wizu's ESG ambitions while maintaining the premium environment expected across its workspaces.

Importantly, this was achieved as part of normal operational delivery rather than through a standalone sustainability programme. Sustainability became embedded within the service model itself. The transition was completed without disruption to day-to-day operations, giving Wizu a single point of accountability across cleaning, washroom services, pest control, consumables management, window cleaning, and periodic deep cleaning. The result was a more streamlined operation with greater consistency across all 18 locations.

As Georgia Hart, Head of Operations at Wizu Workspaces, explained:

"Workplace have been instrumental in supporting a key operational change we've implemented across the business, moving to a single supplier model for all cleaning contracts across our centres. This has been a significant step in improving efficiency and supporting our wider ESG goals."

Sustainability Isn't Just Environmental

One area often overlooked in sustainability conversations is the importance of people.

Buildings don't clean themselves. Standards aren't maintained by systems alone. Consistent service depends on engaged teams, effective communication, and strong working relationships.

This is something we've seen repeatedly across our client base, including professional services clients such as Kingsley Napley. In environments where trust, discretion, and professionalism are critical, consistency is often delivered through stable teams, proactive management, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

For us, sustainability also means creating working practices that support people, encourage long-term relationships, and help clients reduce the disruption associated with high staff turnover and constantly changing service providers.

A More Practical View of Sustainability

Too often, sustainability is presented as a separate objective sitting alongside operational performance.

The reality is usually much simpler.

Efficient processes reduce waste. Better supplier management improves oversight. Consistent products and procedures make environmental standards easier to maintain. Stable teams create better service outcomes. Strong partnerships support continuous improvement.

These aren't headline-grabbing initiatives, but they are often the changes that create the most lasting impact.

The lesson we've learned from supporting clients like Wizu is that sustainability doesn't always start with a carbon target.

Sometimes it starts with solving operational challenges first.

And when organisations create more efficient, consistent, and well-managed operations, the environmental and social benefits often follow naturally.