Sustainability in the real estate sector
Sustainability
Deka Immobilien: Focusing on sustainability
Deka Immobilien created a separate business-related sustainability strategy based on the DekaBank principles for sustainable corporate governance in order to lend the issue of sustainability appropriate significance in our Company.
Central elements and key points of our operating activities:
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general reduction in CO2 emissions,
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greater inclusion of green contract clauses in property, facility and lease agreements,
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reduction of operating costs using sustainable management and energy renovations
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integration of environmental and social concerns and good corporate governance into processes related to real estate and fund management.
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Accompanying communication about our activities and their presentation in internal and external media is another important element.
For a detailed report, please see the Deka Group Sustainability Report.
Codes and memberships
BVI (German Investment Fund Association) guidelines for sustainable portfolio management and ZIA (German Property Association) industry code
By accepting the BVI guidelines for sustainable portfolio management and ZIA industry code, we document our commitment to sustainability using a continuous optimisation process. The goal of the guidelines and code is to increase the transparency and valuation of sustainability for real estate and real estate portfolios.
BVI guidelines for sustainable real estate portfolio management (in German)
ZIA sustainability in the real estate industry – code, reports and compliance (in German)
UN Global Compact and German Sustainability Code
Deka Immobilien formally recognised the UN Global Compact and German Sustainability Code in 2015.
The United Nations Global Compact is the largest and most important initiative for responsible corporate governance in the world. Based on 10 universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and the prevention of corruption, it promotes a vision of an inclusive and sustainable global economy that benefits all people, communities and markets today and in the future.
The German Sustainability Code was prepared by the German Council for Sustainable Development after extensive dialogue with representatives of corporate groups and medium-sized companies, as well as financial analysts and financial service providers. Its aim is to develop a declaration on the environmental, social and economic dimension of sustainability, including criteria for sustainable corporate governance, that can be easily implemented and applied to the key elements of the business model of a company.
Sustainability filter for the fund liquidity investment universe
Developed with the sustainability rating agency imug in Hanover, the EIRES (Ethical Investment Research Service) database has been used to check every transaction for violations of the following criteria since the beginning of 2018:
- Environment & biodiversity
Failure to adequately address serious environmental scandals - Ozone-depleting chemicals
Production and sale of ozone-depleting chemicals without an exit scenario - Controversial weapons/armaments
Production of controversial weapons or relevant system components and offering services
(cluster bombs, anti-personnel mines) - Human rights & worker rights
Failure to appropriately address violations of international human rights conventions or key ILO labour standards (child labour, forced labour, discrimination, freedom of assembly) - Money laundering
Failure to appropriately address cases of money laundering - Corruption
Failure to appropriately address cases of corruption and bribery
Further information on our memberships is available here:
Certifications
Sustainable real estate
Certification of a large number of our fund properties is an important part of our commitment to sustainability. This focus on sustainability in the building sector is based on a comprehensive approach to the property life cycle using environmentally-friendly technologies, while ensuring profitability at all times. Property sustainability certificates allow compliance with sustainability criteria to be measured and compared based on nationally established and internationally recognised certification systems. These include, for example, the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM*), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) and the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).
* BREEAM is a registered trademark of BRE (the Building Research Establishment Ltd. Community Trade Mark E5778551). The BREEAM marks, logos and symbols are the Copyright of BRE and are reproduced by permission.
Almost 70 per cent of the portfolio are certified
We focus on sustainability and our high quality portfolio boasts 213 certified sustainable properties at the end of 2017, including, for example “The Edge” in Amsterdam, “Kings Place” in London or the newly constructed 1 St Peters Square, in Manchester.
By now 68 per cent or EUR 21.7 billion of our total real estate assets are certified. Thus, our »Certification Ratio« has more than doubled in the past five years.
“Kings Place” in London wins 2017 BREEAM Award
The building itself is already unusual. Located directly on the Regent Canal in London, the property includes office space as well as a restaurant, art and event areas and a theatre. Building management received an “Outstanding” rating under the BREEAM In-Use rating system, achieving the highest score ever granted in the United Kingdom. The building implements a well-thought-out sustainability design with features ranging from showers for bicycle riders to support green travel, to a green roof to improve biodiversity.
“Kings Place” received the 2017 BREEAM Award in the Office In-Use category in March 2017.
“The Edge” in Amsterdam sets new sustainability standards
Deka Immobilien’s “The Edge” property in the Zuidas district of Amsterdam is one of the most innovative buildings in the world. The building is designed with the path of the sun in mind, allowing around 1,800 m² of solar panels to be used in the façade and on the roof. The energy that is generated is used for charging electric cars and powering the geothermal system that provides independent heating and cooling for the building. The energy concept for the interior areas allows smartphones to be used to individually regulate the light and temperature at each workplace. “The Edge” received BREEAM New Construction sustainability certification with a rating of “Outstanding”, and in December 2014 achieved the highest score received so far for a sustainable office building anywhere in the world.
In 2016, “The Edge” office building won the BREEAM Award in the "Office New Construction" category.
“Skylight” in Frankfurt receives LEED® for Commercial Interiors Platinum certification.
“Skylight” is one of the first office buildings in Frankfurt am Main to be equipped throughout with LED lighting with daylight-dependent regulation. This decreases power consumption by around 70 percent, which is the equivalent to reducing CO2 emissions by 190 tonnes a year. The property received LEED® Platinum for Commercial Interiors certification.
See our gallery for a selection of other certified “green buildings”.
OUTLOOK
Deka Immobilien's commitment to sustainability was further developed in 2017, and five guidelines were defined for its sustainability activities.
Our guidelines for future action:
- Use energy management to increase tenant loyalty, e.g. by reducing the operating expenses of suitable properties
- Use sustainability as a tool for optimising returns, e.g. by reducing tenant fit-out costs
- Create a positive image as a provider of sustainable real estate, e.g. by ensuring and, if possible, improving rating results
- Anchor social responsibility in the day-to-day business, e.g. by integrating strategic and operational sustainability factors in the investment process
- Fulfil sustainability-related regulatory requirements
Downloads
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Business strategy extract 2017, chapter 2.3 (in German language)
Here you get an insight into the business strategy of DekaBank.
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Sustainability Report 2017
For DekaBank sustainability is a dynamic process, which affects all stages along the value chain.
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Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement
This statement is made further to section 54(1) of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Deka‘s slavery and human trafficking statement for the 2017 financial year (ending 31 December 2017).
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GRI Content
This Sustainability Report has been prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.
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Declaration of Conformity to the German Sustainability Code (only available in German)
In December 2013, DekaBank recognised the German Sustainability Code as a binding set of rules. The declaration of compliance with the DNK was last renewed in December 2017 (for the reporting period 2016).
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Equal opportunities plan (only available in German)
Promote equal opportunities, make family and profession compatible.
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Key Figures 2017
Here you can find our most important sustainability key figures.
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Environmental policy
Discover more about the DekaBank environmental guidelines.
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Code of Ethics
The Code represents the binding general frame-work for the activities of employees and third parties who act in the name of the Deka-Group.
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Archive
Here you can find the environmental reports of Deka till 2013. Since 2014 the environmental report is included into the sustainability report. Both formats can be downloaded from the archive.