ESG @ ECE
From improving the quality of the indoor environment and air quality to designing barrier-free accessibility, promoting sustainable mobility and strategies to achieve climate neutrality: sustainability aspects play an important role in the visitor experience in the centers. By 2030, we want to significantly reduce ourCO2 emissions in the shopping center sector by 40 percent compared to 2019.
With a cleverly planned ESG strategy and sustainable facility management, our centers are continuously becoming more efficient within the maintenance cycles. With the use of our "ECE map2zero", our shopping centers can become climate neutral. We are not focusing on a few "best in class" properties, but want to lead the entire portfolio on a climate path towards climate neutrality.
"Climate neutrality can also work in shopping centers. To this end, we have developed a customized roadmap that shows measures for the most efficient path to climate neutrality. However, measures that can be implemented in the short term, such as increasing energy efficiency, also play a key role."
Joanna Fisher, CEO ECE Marketplaces
3200
Tons of CO₂ energy savings through efficiency measures in 2025
> 6.800
Green lease contracts
89
DGNB, LEED and BREEAM certificates for our properties
ECE's sustainability strategy
One of our key tasks in the coming decade will be to take account of future climate policy requirements and thus to promote the value retention of real estate. The sustainability strategy with its fields of action and objectives is our basis for this.
Our focus is on a long-term orientation and the assumption of long-term responsibility. This is because ECE Marketplaces acts as a project developer, but also as a landlord and manager of real estate locations. In addition to political regulations and investor requirements, we take into account the expectations of other stakeholders such as tenants, visitors and our employees. After all, the well-being of our employees is also a central component of our actions in order to ensure a healthy and equitable climate in our company.
Our fields of activity
In 2024, we carried out a double materiality analysis in accordance with CSRD and identified our material topics on this basis. In consultation with our stakeholders, six strategic areas of action have emerged for which we have defined targets in the three core areas ofMarketplaces, Work & Live and ECE / Employees, which we review on an ongoing basis and report on transparently.
Energy
- Climate protection
- Energy consumption and energy mix
- Greenhouse gas emissions
Resources
- Waste management
- Resource inflows and utilization
- Biodiversity and ecosystems
Sustainable mobility
- Climate protection
- Consumers and end users
Well-being
- Consumers and end users
- Employees in the value chain
Employees
- Own employees
- Employees in the value chain
Regulation & Compliance
- Political representation of interests
- Standards of conduct
Sustainability report: GRI
In the GRI performance section, which we publish once a year as part of our annual and sustainability report #FutureForward, we introduce our sustainability structures and responsibilities as well as our detailed sustainability strategy.
GRI performance section
Renewable energies, sustainable operations, climate adaptation & wellbeing
Environmental @ ECE
Renewable energies
Photovoltaic systems
Supplying properties with renewable energy is a key element in achieving climate targets. We therefore included this topic in our strategy for new developments over a decade ago. In the case of photovoltaic systems, the biggest obstacle - even for existing properties - was the legal requirements. Our efforts in Berlin have also helped to get things moving here. We have therefore developed a strategy on how photovoltaic systems can be further integrated into existing properties. At the same time, we are also thinking ahead in other areas and are actively working on new and innovative solutions such as the use of battery storage systems.
100% green electricity and district heating
In order to rapidly reduce CO2 emissions in our centers, our first measure 15 years ago was to switch from conventional electricity to green electricity. Today, we use 100% green electricity both nationally and internationally in our centers, where we are responsible for purchasing electricity, and have therefore already been able to significantly reduce our CO2 emissions. The key also lies in moving away from fossil fuels such as gas. Today, 80% of our German centers are equipped with district heating. We are keeping a close eye on the GEG (Building Energy Act) and are working on solutions to convert the gas-powered centers to other technologies, because switching from natural gas to district heating can save a whopping 90 percent of the CO2 emissions caused by heat consumption in the center.
Sustainable operation
Sustainable operation
Reducing energy consumption during ongoing center operations plays an important role on the road to climate neutrality. However, only those who know the consumption of a property can determine whether the measures taken to reduce consumption are working or whether and where further reductions need to be made. As part of its energy and environmental management system (EUMS), ECE has therefore digitized 20,000 meters in all of the German centers it operates in order to digitally record energy consumption. This means that current data can be compared with data from previous periods (from 2018), savings can be verified and measures can be readjusted. Thanks to the revised green lease agreements in 2023, tenants will also disclose their consumption data so that the entire center carbon footprint can be recorded in future.
ESG specification
ECE Marketplaces has developed a comprehensive ESG specification for interior fit-out and refurbishment measures in its shopping centers that is unique in the industry to date. Based on the DGNB specifications and the EU taxonomy, it lists criteria that can be used to make sustainable decisions for climate-friendly construction measures and materials in line with the ECE standard - as a step-by-step guide. In addition to ecological aspects, economic and social aspects are also taken into account. In addition, the framework is used to evaluate measures and make adjustments so that a conversion can be designed sustainably.
Sustainable mobility
Increasing urbanization presents cities with a variety of challenges. As the number of inhabitants grows, so do the traffic and emission problems within conurbations. We have been adapting to this development for many years and are developing intelligent and sustainable mobility concepts for our centers in response. By 2025, all ECE centers in Europe are to be equipped with e-charging stations. We are also focusing on car and bike sharing solutions and infrastructure for bicycles and e-bikes, as well as good public transport connections to promote sustainable mobility for people in urban areas.
Green lease rental agreements
ECE has made its green lease agreement an integral part of the rental agreement in order to work with tenants to come a step closer to the goal of a CO₂-neutral building stock and to support the objectives of the Green Deal for Europe. In addition to the consistent use of LED lighting and the exclusive use of green electricity, the green lease agreement also includes the disclosure of tenant consumption data so that the overall carbon footprint of the centers can be measured and appropriate sustainability measures can be derived from this.
Certified sustainable
Certification systems can help to assess the sustainability of real estate. As an internationally active company, we support all reputable certification systems. In order to create a binding framework, all new construction projects are systematically built and certified in accordance with the standard certification criteria. Our shopping centers are currently certified according to DGNB, LEED and BREEAM on the basis of around 86 certificates. We use this system for continuous further development, as we optimize the critical points identified during the certification process.
Climate adaptation & wellbeing
Biodiversity
Protecting our ecosystems is a high priority for us. We are therefore developing a wide range of measures to promote biodiversity at our centers. We are currently working on two pilot projects to implement biodiversity strategies and are participating in a multi-stakeholder dialog on transition plans and biodiversity as part of the Initiative for Nature-Aligned Transition (INAT). Our center roofs are also becoming green, as more and more centers are using the space sensibly for greater sustainability - whether for planting or providing garden boxes for consumers, as in the Skyline Plaza in Frankfurt under the motto "Skyline Gardening". Green roofs offer many ecological advantages:
- Improving the microclimate: green roofs cool the surrounding air through evaporation and help to reduce the "urban heat island" effect.
- Promoting biodiversity: They provide a habitat for insects, birds and plants - especially in densely built-up urban areas.
- Air pollution control: Plants on roofs filter fine dust and pollutants from the air.
- Rainwater retention: Green roofs store rainwater and thus relieve the burden on the sewage system during heavy rainfall events.
Sustainable places to feel good
Our shopping centers are more than just retail space. Lighting concepts that are sustainable from an energy point of view and promote a feel-good atmosphere in the center ensure optimum quality of stay. Windows, glass fronts and domes provide plenty of daylight. Supplemented by dimmable LED luminaires, brightness and light color can be adapted to the daylight. Lounge areas and children's play areas invite people to linger. WLAN and cell phone charging stations ensure good accessibility. All materials used have been certified as harmless. Community shopping under ideal conditions thus becomes the standard. Experiences such as a visit to a restaurant are made possible for the whole community thanks to the barrier-free centers.
Commitment beyond ECE
We are committed to sustainability beyond the boundaries of our company by developing practical ESG guidelines together with industry partners and actively participating in initiatives that promote environmental, social and governance standards in the real estate industry.
Guide to biodiversity in the real estate industry
The document shows how biodiversity can be integrated into construction projects and existing properties - with practical tips for more sustainability and new habitats in the real estate sector.
Social Community Hub - the ECE impact strategy
We not only make an important contribution in the "Environmental" area, but also in the "Social" area. We have long been using the centers we operate as social hubs with educational, awareness and health offerings as well as social campaigns, for example as part of the "Center with a Heart" campaign. We are also working on making social impact measurable.
Center with heart
As part of the "Centers with Heart" initiative, we are committed to social and sustainable projects and invest a seven-figure sum per year across all centers in corresponding activities and cooperations in the respective catchment areas of the shopping centers we operate. Authentic and effective commitment is particularly important to us.
Social Impact
ECE shopping centers are much more than just shopping facilities - we have developed them into social community hubs where the focus is on people as visitors. As public, multifunctional spaces, social community hubs combine various uses, offers and functions such as supply, exchange and experience for visitors. This creates lively places that offer sustainable added value for all users and the entire neighborhood and help to strengthen and enrich the local community. This also includes making the centers available as supply hubs and points of contact for local people in public emergencies and crisis situations.
With our specially developed social impact strategy with measurable targets, we ensure that the measures we take are effective. At the same time, we support owners in meeting increasing ESG requirements, for example in the context of certifications or in the case of an emerging social taxonomy.
Based on the scoring model of the Institute for Corporate Governance (ICG), which we tested as part of an evaluation of the Alstertal-Einkaufszentrum, and based on criteria from other systems, we have developed targets for various categories that are continuously reviewed and refined.
Living City" Foundation
Since 2000, the "Lebendige Stadt" corporate foundation established by ECE has been pursuing the goal of promoting and maintaining cities as vibrant and diverse places to live together.
We are certified and awarded
In order to clearly demonstrate the quality of our buildings in terms of sustainability aspects, we rely on recognized green building certification systems and a voluntary commitment to sustainable corporate management.
This includes the quality seal of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), which is aimed at both new and existing buildings. In addition, we certify existing buildings and buildings in other European countries according to the BREEAM and LEED certification standards, among others. All of these certifications are established internationally to assess sustainable construction and the optimization of existing properties and are a yardstick for our sustainable actions.
