Partnering for Performance: Sustainable Practices Fueling Bottom-Line Results
Sustainable practices are a shared responsibility that shape our future. At a time when efficiency, wellness and environmental impact are more interconnected than ever, even small shifts in how we manage our spaces can lead to meaningful change.
ESFM and its client partners are creating smarter, more resilient operations, making a lasting impact that is better for people and planet.
Reimaging Waste as a Resource
Impact: In 2024, a life sciences client saved more than $70,000 through a packaging reuse program implemented across multiple sites – a solution rooted in observation, collaboration and innovation.
How it Started: ESFM Resident Regional Director John Mace noticed hundreds of temperature-sensitive packaging materials were being discarded after single use. Rather than accept this routine, he brought together the Office Services and Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) teams to explore a better path forward. They created a streamlined process to identify materials safe for reuse. ESFM’s Office Services Team now collects, processes and sorts these materials which are then utilized for inner-campus and outbound shipments – reducing waste and delivering significant cost savings.
Uncovering Hidden Savings Through Air Leak Detection
Impact: A comprehensive air leak study for a food manufacturing client uncovered nearly $189,000 in annual savings opportunities by identifying inefficiencies that were quietly driving up costs.
What We Did: To get there, ESFM used advanced tools like ultrasonic leak detectors and decibel noise level meters to pinpoint leaks and evaluate system performance. Backed by Department of Energy calculators, the data revealed clear actions that could reduce waste and improve efficiency.
Why it Matters: Compressed air operated devices can cost up to eight times more to operate than electric alternatives. Leaks and suboptimal operation in systems cause significant waste. Even in newer facilities, as much as 25% of compressed air can be lost to leaks — making proactive detection and repair a smart and necessary strategy.
Read More: Bringing Sustainability to Compressed Air
Growing Engagement, One Plant at a Time
Impact: In Mount Vernon, Indiana, ESFM’s site team cultivated approximately 700 plants – including tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and Brussels sprouts – to hand out to client employees as part of an ongoing sustainability partnership. The vegetables are grown inside using urban cultivators and then transferred to an onsite greenhouse as they mature.
Ongoing Partnership: The impact goes beyond the garden. ESFM partners with the client year-round to support their sustainability initiatives, including:
- Holding education sessions about topics like proper waste sorting.
- Managing a waste-to-energy program to turn landfill fodder into a useful resource.
- Using sheep to trim grass in certain natural areas.
Celebration: As part of their annual Earth Day celebration, the team invites local departments, like Parks & Recreation, to share about wildlife and hands out the homegrown vegetables in biodegradable pots.