Taking Sustainable Actions across Europe
In offices from Ireland, to France, to Spain and the Netherlands, our people have introduced actions that promote sustainability and energy management. These include revising company-car policies to increase the use of hybrid cars and reducing the number of corporate parking spaces to encourage the use of public transport. Research reports are no longer being printed in some countries, but are exclusively produced electronically. Offices are contracting with vendors to recycle outdated personal computers and servers. Plastic water bottles and cups have been replaced with reusable glass containers, databases of eco-friendly vendors and suppliers have been created, and motion detectors have been installed to control office lighting.
Upstream Team collaborates with HRH The Prince of Wales's Accounting for Sustainability Project
Upstream Sustainability Services recently collaborated with The Prince of Wales’s Accounting for Sustainability Project. Upstream was invited to devise a best practice worked example to demonstrate how the concept of ‘Connected Reporting’ could be applied to the property investment sector. Connected Reporting aims to make a clear connection between business strategy and sustainability whilst improving the relevance of information provided to investors by highlighting the connection between financial and sustainability performance. The example incorporated financial performance metrics such as the value of investment in energy efficiency initiatives (with associated returns) and the monetary impact of extreme weather such as flooding and storm damage.
A round-table event was held at Clarence House in October with a number of key representatives from the industry including PRUPIM, Aviva Investors, The Crown Estate, Hammerson, SEGRO, LIM, L&G Property and EPRA to discuss the worked example. The event was co-facilitated by Upstream Lead Director Julie Hirigoyen. Following positive reaction from those present, the worked example is currently being finalized and will be featured in a public report being launched by The Prince of Wales.
London’s Electric Van
In 2008, we unveiled our Jones Lang LaSalle branded electric van, which is used to transport post and light goods between our Canary Wharf and West End offices twice each day. Electric vans are not subject to road tax or the London congestion charge, while also incurring no fuel costs. With zero-emissions, the van not only helps to reduce our carbon footprint but sets a great example for other businesses to follow.
UK Sustainability Fair
Our English business hosted a number of office-based Sustainability Fairs in November 2008. These provided our employees with advice and ideas on eco-friendly products and healthy lifestyle choices. Under the umbrella of our ACT: A Cleaner Tomorrow campaign, the fairs gave local retailers the chance to showcase their offerings which included natural, organic and eco-friendly products, and advice on how to lower carbon footprints and lead a greener lifestyle.