Focus and performance
Gold Award
for compliance with its Best Practices Recommendations (BPR) for financial reporting
ESG Risk rated as Low
AA
ESG rating
"leader"
among 86 companies in the real estate management & services industry
Environmental, Social and Governance rating
ESG Risk rated as Low (11.4/100) by Sustainalytics, a leading independent global provider of ESG ratings.
NEPI Rockcastle was also included in the FTSE4Good index (founded by FTSE Russell) measuring the performance of companies demonstrating strong ESG.
ESG approach revolves around the following:
- strong focus on corporate governance through compliance with the King IV Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa, and voluntarily implements selected principles recommended in the UK and Dutch codes
- relevant supporter and developer of the communities where it operates
- commitment to achieve the highest standards of sustainability and act as a responsible corporate citizen
- consistent application and continuous improvement of the ESG approach
Key sustainability metrics in 2021
71%
of the properties are BREEAM Certified
66%
share of renewable energy from total energy consumption
-24%
climate change impact from CO2 emissions compared to 2020
27 kg
CO2e/m2/year average carbon intensity
69%
of the assets are equipped with highly-efficient LED lighting
163.8
MWh/m2 average energy intensity
Sustainability Approach
NEPI Rockcastle strongly believes in its duty to be a responsible corporate citizen and achieve the highest standards of sustainability. Under the guidance of the Board of Directors and the permanent coordination from the Social and Ethics Committee, the Group embraces this approach as a driving force of its strategic objectives, influencing significantly its stakeholders relationship management and allowing one unified approach towards customers, local communities, staff, suppliers, investors, analysts, local and central government, peers and non-governmental organizations.
Green Financing
€1 billion green bonds have been issued under the Green Finance Framework (€500 million in July 2020, and another €500 million in January 2022). Moreover, a green loan agreement was concluded with the IFC in June 2021, undertaking that all proceeds will be allocated as per the Green Finance Framework.
The Company has committed to use proceeds from green bonds and green loans to finance or refinance existing and future projects which improve the environmental performance of the Group’s property portfolio.
Green Buildings
BREEAM is the world’s leading environmental assessment method and rating system. Buildings that obtain BREEAM recognition have achieved the highest corporate, organisational and environmental objectives, and enhance the continuous improvement capability for sustainable design, construction and operation.
The BREEAM ‘In Use’ certification policy ensures that biodiversity issues are well addressed and promoted to achieve high standards. Once the project has been built and delivered, the Group’s operating management team, particularly the on-site teams that manage each asset, are responsible for maintaining and monitoring biodiversity.
The Group continues to monitor its buildings, to certify or re-certify them, as a measure of its commitment to long-term sustainability. BREEAM certification is a continuous process, where all buildings requiring review and re-certification are analyzed timely by independent authorized consultants.
The status of BREEAM certifications, as at 31 December 2021, is presented as follows:
Property | Country | Property Type | Status | Scoring obtained/ targeted |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bonarka City Center | Poland | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Arena Mall | Hungary | Retail | Certified | very good |
Mega Mall | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Mammut Shopping Centre | Hungary | Retail | Certified | very good |
Paradise Center | Bulgaria | Retail | Under ongoing certification | excellent |
Arena Centar | Croatia | Retail | Certified | very good |
City Park | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Promenada Mall | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Aupark Kosice Mall | Slovakia | Retail | Under ongoing certification | very good |
Galeria Warmińska | Poland | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Serdika Center | Bulgaria | Retail | Under ongoing certification | excellent |
Karolinka Shopping Centre | Poland | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Ozas Shopping and Entertainment Centre | Lithuania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Shopping City Sibiu | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Shopping City Timisoara | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Galeria Mlyny | Slovakia | Retail | Certified | very good |
Aupark Zilina | Slovakia | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Promenada Novi Sad | Serbia | Retail | Under ongoing certification | excellent |
Focus Mall Zielona Góra | Poland | Retail | Under ongoing certification | excellent |
Shopping City Galati | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Promenada Sibiu | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Iris Titan Shopping Center | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Alfa Centrum Białystok | Poland | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Forum Ústí nad Labem | Czech Republic | Retail | Under ongoing certification | very good |
Shopping City Deva | Romania | Retail | Certified | very good |
Braila Mall | Romania | Retail | Certified | very good |
Solaris Shopping Centre | Poland | Retail | Under ongoing certification | excellent |
Forum Liberec Shopping Centre | Czech Republic | Retail | Under ongoing certification | excellent |
Pogoria Shopping Centre | Poland | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Platan Shopping Centre | Poland | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Vulcan Value Centre | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Aura Centrum | Poland | Retail | Under ongoing certification | excellent |
Galeria Wołomin | Poland | Retail | Certified | very good |
Shopping City Buzau | Romania | Retail | Under ongoing certification | excellent |
Shopping City Satu Mare | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Shopping City Piatra Neamt | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Shopping City Targu Jiu | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Shopping City Ramnicu Valcea | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Focus Mall Piotrków Trybunalski | Poland | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Aupark Shopping Center Piestany | Slovakia | Retail | Under ongoing certification | very good |
Korzo Shopping Centrum | Slovakia | Retail | Under ongoing certification | very good |
Severin Shopping Center | Romania | Retail | Certified | very good |
Galeria Tomaszów | Poland | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Retail Park Pitesti | Romania | Retail | Certified | excellent |
Aupark Kosice Tower | Slovakia | Office | Under ongoing certification | very good |
Serdika Office | Bulgaria | Office | Under ongoing certification | excellent |
Shopping City Targu Mures | Romania | Retail | Under ongoing certification | excellent |
Priorities of the Community Engagement strategy
The Group focused on three main pillars that are contributing altogether to more healthy and responsible ecosystems, thus improving people’s lives and lifestyles:
- Social and Health
NEPI Rockcastle increased the impact of its social and health education programs by developing a series of scalable projects across its network. It focused on rigorously selected community needs that tackled education and health support, from prevention to intervention. NEPI Rockcastle believes a community should be well informed, well connected with its relevant bodies, with strong networks within the respective community, becoming an engaged, responsible and active part of the society. The Group believes it is its role to support community growth and development, and it chooses to do that in ways that are collaborative, encourage engagement amongst community players, authorities and people. The Group brings all parties together and acts as a facilitator of sustainable engagement.
- Environment
Climate change and environment protection are not just global priorities and top policy concerns in Europe, but also local and community issues. Tackling environmental matters starts at the level of each person and the community as a whole. The Group believes that it should also be a practice in everyday life of companies and people to bring their contribution. In this respect, environment responsible actions have been implemented across all countries. Moreover, the Group continuously engages with the tenants and business partners to encourage them to join in this initiative, build awareness and boost support.
- Educating communities
NEPI Rockcastle invested in educational programs for children and parents, as it is the belief of the Group that education is the most powerful tool that one can use to truly create positive impact and change the world to a better place in the long run. The Group aligned educational topics with the local communities, bringing them relevant information from various fields of interest: science, parenting, technology, road safety, safeguarding and keeping traditions.