As part of Citycon, Trio complies with the company's sustainability strategy. Our goal is to make sustainable operations – essential both to us and our planet – an integral part of our corporate culture. Sustainability is built on the right actions and to reflect this, Citycon updated its sustainability strategy in 2017. The new strategy encourages companies to take even more decisive environmental measures and challenges them to define ambitious long-term sustainability targets for themselves and their stakeholders. We have accepted this challenge and have set clear, concrete targets that we want to achieve by 2030. These targets form the basis of our sustainability operations. Our strategy is based on the four focus areas of our long-term sustainability pledges:
WE WILL REDUCE OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCE MORE ENERGY OURSELVES
We are aware that buildings account for a major share of carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption globally. The property sector has the potential to reduce property maintenance costs, thereby also reducing energy-related environmental impacts. We strive to minimise our energy consumption and improve our efficiency in our day-to-day operations and to produce clean, renewable energy. Cutting energy consumption and producing renewable energy onsite boosts profitability and makes the property more attractive and competitive.
Main long-term goal: Citycon will be carbon-neutral by 2030.
Implementation of the strategy over the next few years:
All our properties generate energy for their own use.
By 2020, Citycon had reduced its energy consumption by 15% per square metre (from 2014 levels).
Since 2018, all the properties have only used green energy.
Since 2018, a sum corresponding to 2% of the rental income has been earmarked for energy investments that generate added value.
WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE ECO-FRIENDLY MODES OF TRANSPORT
Having our shopping centres within reach of good public transport connections is part of our sustainability strategy and company strategy. All our shopping centres are easily accessible by public transport, and our goal is to ensure that they are an integral part of their cities' public transport system. All of them can be reached by bus and ten are located close to a metro station, 17 by a rail line and six along a tram route. In addition, we strive to make our shopping centres easy to visit on foot or by bike or electric car. Of our shopping centres, 87% have allocated a designated area for parking bicycles, and four shopping centres have chargers for electric bikes. In cities with a city bike service, we work actively to have a bike station located near our shopping centre.
Main long-term goal:All our properties can be reached by public transport, and we encourage people to use eco-friendly modes of transport. By 2030, most our visitors will use public transport, bikes or electric cars or they will arrive on foot.
Implementation of the strategy over the next few years:
All our shopping centres will have chargers for electric cars and bicycles.
Encouraging people to cycle, our shopping centres will also test various ways of promoting cycling. The best practices will be implemented at all our shopping centres.
Public transport connections will be developed in a forward-looking manner in collaboration with local stakeholders.
We will focus on shopping centres located within good public transport connections.
VISITORS, CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES ENJOY BEING AT OUR SHOPPING CENTRES
Cooperation with tenants plays an important role in the achievement of our sustainability targets. We will help and encourage our tenants to participate in our sustainability operations in a range of ways, for example by encouraging them to consider energy-efficiency when making changes to the shop premises, offering recycling advice to their staff, and inviting them to join our youth collaboration, which is aimed at making our shopping centres inviting and pleasant places for all our visitors. We will communicate actively with our tenants. We will implement a portal for our tenants where they can find information on various topics, from safety to recycling and waste management.
Main long-term goal: Our tenants' satisfaction with safety, the services provided for them and our customer orientation will remain above 90% at all times. In addition, customers will spend more time at our shopping centres.
Implementation of the strategy over the next few years:
Citycon will work actively in a predictive manner to create a standardised safety procedure for the sector.
Youth collaboration and participatory projects will be launched and different practices will be tested. The best practices will be implemented at all our shopping centres. By 2020, all our shopping centres will arrange activities engaging young people.
The goal is that all our shopping centres will offer spaces to local communities, civic associations and local companies for short-term use, free of charge every year, thereby promoting a sense of ownership and engagement among the local community.
All Citycon employees may spend one day a year engaged in voluntary work at events held at Citycon's shopping centres to benefit the local community.
BEST PRACTICES IMPLEMENTED AS STANDARD PROCEDURES
To achieve our sustainability goals, we must implement the best practices we identify. In practice, this means that we must learn from one another and share successful practices across functions and countries. Development in the area of sustainability is assessed quarterly, which enables the close monitoring of projects and processes. A central factor in the execution of our strategy is the achievement of the BREEAM In-Use certificate for our properties.
Main long-term goal:Citycon will implement the best sustainability practices in accordance with a clearly defined plan and monitors the results.
Implementation of the strategy over the next few years:
A personal target system will be determined for sustainability work.
Roles and responsibilities in our sustainability operations will be clearly defined. In all our properties, the things that we learn will be recorded, results will be reported and best practices will be actively implemented.
By the end of 2020, all our properties will have the BREEAM In-Use certificate at the level of ‘Good' or higher.
An environmental certificate will be acquired for all new development projects.
Each year, Citycon will reward the measures that best support the company's sustainability strategy (the prize can be awarded to a tenant or a community project, for example).