We create Better Spaces

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Move towards low carbon economy and sustainable mobility

Participating in shaping and improving the cities in which we are present, we are committed to creating better spaces across all our regions. Our primary goal? To cut carbon emissions across our value chain by 50%.

Visit Better Places 2030 on urw.com for more details on the targets of this pillar.

Highlights from 2021

URW has engaged in collective action by joining Net Zero Initiative (NZI) to develop a framework for collective carbon neutrality, and Act4nature international, with its biodiversity commitments. We delivered major environmental projects contributing to measurable outcomes.

parking spaces equipped with EV chargers

reduction in GHG emissions from our operations since 2015

of BREEAM In-Use certified assets are at Excellent or Outstanding levels

Westfield La Part-Dieu’s rooftop has become home to urban saffron farming

Climate change

We take significant action on climate change, including completing a fast transition to renewable energies. In 2021, URW achieved its target to reach 100% electricity from renewable energy sources for the consumption of the common areas of its assets (including shared facilities) and supports an equivalent transition for the private electricity consumption of its tenants.

For many years now, the Group has been rolling out a solar photovoltaic installation programme across its portfolio. The Group’s installed renewable energy capacity has progressed significantly to reach 15.4 MW in 2021, playing a strong role in our portfolio decarbonation.

Better Places 2030 also addresses the major topic of adaptation. After building a risk-oriented vision, we develop the resilience of our development projects and standing portfolio to climate change. The Group has a target that by 2025, 100% of its development projects will include long-term climate risks, while minimising resource use and maintaining user comfort. By the end of 2022, 100% of the Group’s standing assets will include a climate change risk plan.

Biodiversity

In 2021, URW’s commitments for biodiversity were recognised as SMART by the Act4nature international multi-stakeholder steering committee. This committee gathers the 14 partner organisations of Act4nature international (business networks, environmental NGOs and scientific bodies), the member companies of the French Association of Companies for the Environment (EpE), and the committed members of the funding networks.

Outstanding initiatives for biodiversity can be noted in the projects of the Group’s pipeline, such as a biological trail devoted to education purposes outside of Garbera extension (Spain). In another example, since September 2021, Westfield La Part-Dieu’s rooftop has become home to urban saffron farming. More than 45,000 organic bulbs were planted on two terraces with a total of 980 square meters of cultivation space.