From reducing emissions and conserving energy to protecting the world around us, the security industry is helping to fuel a more sustainable future by empowering businesses with data, insights, and innovation.
In this blog, we’ll explore why businesses are shifting their focus on sustainability and how security is increasingly becoming a vital part of their sustainability journey.
Sustainability as a strategic imperative
Organizations across the globe have begun to redefine their approach to sustainability, recognizing it as a priority and integrating it as a core component of their business strategy, rather than a siloed initiative.
This shift in recent years has been driven by a number of factors, including rising global temperatures, evolving policies and regulations, and changing stakeholder demands.
Studies show that even as cost-of-living and inflationary concerns remain, customers are changing their buying habits, supporting businesses whose products, services, and supply chains have a positive social and environmental impact. Investors, too, are placing sustainability at the forefront, evaluating investments against key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics. And leading global businesses are setting ambitious sustainability targets that place peer pressure on others that have yet to make such a bold commitment.
With mounting pressure – and opportunity too – businesses are re-evaluating their investments, seeking to align with partners and providers who can support their sustainability goals.
“Most people recognize sustainability as a critical challenge that requires ongoing attention,” says Securitas Chief Ethics and Sustainability Officer Sune Chabert Larsen. “ESG factors and key performance indicators (KPIs) will play an increasingly significant role in how clients choose their partners. Additionally, we can expect to see the emergence of new business models and value propositions that incorporate sustainability as a core element.”
Cue: the security industry.
Transparency: Sharing security equipment emissions data
A significant portion of the environmental impact of electronic security equipment stems from its power consumption over its years of use. Securitas Technology is seeking to reduce this environmental impact with a new initiative that incorporates data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and provides lower-emission alternatives.
“We all have a responsibility to drive change,” says John Tomin, global sustainability officer at Securitas Technology. “For Securitas Technology, our focus is on offering clients the most energy-efficient solutions and services for the long term, creating the future of sustainable security.”
Beginning October 2024, Securitas Technology’s client proposals in the United States and Canada will include the security system's annual CO2 emissions. This information will be calculated based on the annual energy consumption of security devices or systems, expressed in CO2 equivalent.
Obtaining accurate product information from vendors is key to this endeavor, as this will allow Securitas Technology to report accurate GHG emissions for sold products and track progress while rolling out the initiative.
“This initiative is a great example of the transparency that is required in the value chain to reduce carbon emissions,” Sune says. “By providing accurate data on the emissions from the power consumption of the security systems we offer our clients, we can help our clients reach their own emissions reductions targets.”
Innovation: Developing tech to protect the environment
The security industry is playing an increasingly important role in not just helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint, but also protecting our communities and planet from devastating natural disasters.
In Spain, Security IoT technology is helping to prevent and predict wildfires – a pressing environmental concern that claims an estimated 339,000 lives globally each year and poses a significant challenge to several Sustainable Development Goals. Using a combination of solar-powered sensors and AI, these IoT devices can identify forest fires in their initial stages, allowing for swift intervention.
By monitoring the devices and extracting insights from the data, we can identify patterns, detect fire risks, and help predict fires in areas where sensors are strategically placed. All of this allows for a quicker response to fire outbreaks and helps to preserve the health and vitality of our planet.
Sune says such data and AI will lie at the intersection of security and sustainability in the coming years.
“One particularly interesting area is predictive security, where data can be leveraged to optimize the security solution based on insights from many data sensors,” he says.
Accountability: Taking energy-saving actions
By leveraging AI to analyze traditional guard reports, we can uncover a wealth of business insights, including the environmental impact of security officers’ routine actions.
During their regular shifts, officers are trained to take simple yet impactful actions, such as turning off lights, closing open doors and windows, and switching off unused appliances. These measures not only result in cost savings but also help to reduce energy consumption.
“We have to think strategically about sustainability and be creative about how it can be embedded into our operations,” Sune says. “Even the smallest actions like these can make a big difference if we scale it in our large organization.”
In Sweden, alone, Securitas officers logged an estimated 335,000 energy-saving actions in 2022. These actions contributed to energy savings of around 8.8 million kWh, leading to cost savings of 17 million SEK for our clients – a significant benefit not only for their bottom line but also for the environment.
To put this into perspective, the energy saved could power about 750 homes for an entire year or offset the emissions equivalent to around 850 gasoline-powered cars driven for the same duration. Perhaps unknowingly, businesses are saving substantial amounts of energy through the diligent actions of security officers.
Security as a partner in sustainability
These are just three examples of how the security industry is helping to contribute to a more sustainable future.
As businesses continue to prioritize sustainability as a strategic imperative, they'll no doubt begin to see the power and potential of security in advancing their efforts. And as the industry itself evolves, we’ll see even more innovation driving impact in this area.
