NEINVER reduced CO2 emissions by 15% last year and invested €2.2 million in environmental upgrades

NEINVER, reduced CO₂ emissions by 15% across its portfolio and in its offices in Europe in 2019, continuing the downward trend of recent years. This figure reflects a significant achievement as all of the electricity used by centres that the company manages, accounting for about 90% of its total energy consumption, now comes from renewable sources.

NEINVER’s 2019 Annual Report includes the main highlights of its solid ESG (environmental, social and governance) strategy, underscoring its commitment to maximising the value created for all its stakeholders. The report also presents the main economic indicators for last year.

Over the course of the year, NEINVER invested more than €2.2 million in initiatives to keep shrinking its environmental footprint. Besides reducing direct CO₂ emissions, the company successfully decreased emissions from employee travel by 38% thanks to measures such as moving its headquarters from the suburbs to a central location in Madrid proper with better public transport links, and encouraging videoconferencing instead of in-person meetings.  

Similarly, water consumption across the portfolio was down by more than 20% thanks to continual improvements and the fostering of best practices among visitors, employees, suppliers and tenants.

The company’s environmental commitment was reflected in its renewal of BREEAM In-Use certificates, vouching for the sustainable construction and management of its entire portfolio in Europe, with increased scores across the board. It also obtained the BREEAM New Construction certificate for the design phase of the centre it is developing in the Netherlands, Amsterdam The Style Outlets, which will open towards the end of the year.

The company’s goals for 2020 include working to implement photovoltaic energy systems at some of the centres and carrying out mobility studies to assess transport alternatives other than private vehicles.

As for social responsibility, NEINVER continued to reaffirm its commitment to creating stable, high-quality jobs: it increased its in-house staff by 4% last year and held joint events with the brands at its centres to promote local employment in the communities where it operates. Additionally, in 2019, the company reached an accessibility milestone by having all its centres in Spain certified under the Accessibility Indicator System (AIS) standard, with plans to expand this certification to its centres in France and Italy in 2020.

The company’s firm commitment to responsible investment and management is also seen in its support for four more United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, besides those it already supported. In total, NEINVER has announced its commitment to eight of the goals, related to health and well-being, environmental sustainability, reduced inequality, economic growth and high-quality employment, and responsible consumption.

The report also spotlights other landmarks such as increasing the company’s GRESB score – the main ESG assessment index in the property industry – from 69 points in 2018 to 82 in 2019.

You can find the 2019 Annual Report at this link.