Our purpose is to deliver sustainable logistics solutions that create compelling opportunities for our stakeholders and provide our customers with the space to succeed.
We recognise the importance of ESG to our customers, shareholders and the communities around our assets. We also believe that a rigorous focus on ESG will ensure our long-term viability and commercial success, by helping us to make sound decisions in the interests of all our stakeholders.
Collaboration is key to enhancing the sustainability of our logistics portfolios.
Petrina Austin Head of Asset Management
Sustainability and a culture of responsibility is embedded across the Group. Acting sustainably and responsibly is fundamental to our ability to deliver long-term value for shareholders and other stakeholders. We develop and own logistics real estate that delivers net positive impacts through cutting edge, sustainable design, investment and asset management, to create a positive environmental and socio-economic impact by 2030.
We are committed to creating a net positive impact through our activities, driving social, environmental, and economic value for our shareholders and wider stakeholders. We are working towards this ambition by developing and managing net zero carbon buildings with high green building standards, enhancing nature and biodiversity, and creating social value through our investment.
We recognise that we cannot achieve this alone and we seek to collaborate with our stakeholders to achieve our ambition. For Tritax Big Box this means developing and upgrading logistics assets to meet high sustainability standards, defined in line with industry standards, such as BREEAM, RICS, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and engaging with our industry peers to further sustainability in logistics.
Learn more about our approach to sustainable logistics real estate.
We have identified four sustainability goals that enable us to make the greatest impact. These goals enable us to mitigate significant ESG risks and capitalise on opportunities to create sustainable, long-term value. These goals include short- and medium-term targets and metrics to measure impact. These initial targets are set to be achieved by 2023 from a 2020 baseline.
We recognise we cannot achieve these goals alone; collaboration is key. As the landlord and owner of one of the largest logistics portfolios throughout the UK, we have a significant role as a facilitator of sustainable operations. Although we do not have direct operational control of our assets, where we can, we bring interested parties together to deliver sustainability solutions. Our focus is to initiate, facilitate, partner and encourage our stakeholders to achieve collective sustainability goals.
Ensuring high standards for the buildings within our portfolio is key to being able to demonstrate the sustainability of our assets to a broad range of stakeholders. Aligning to the UN SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
| Target | Progress |
|---|---|
| Embed ESG into investment practices and ensure any new acquisitions and investments align with ESG investment principles. | |
| Ensure all new development assets in the portfolio have a green building certification. | |
| Improve GRESB score to three Green Stars. | |
| Improve MSCI ESG rating to A. | |
| Implement green leases on all new leasing opportunities, where our customers agree. | |
| Provide recommendation reports to customers, and provide sustainable operations guides. |
With the built environment responsible for a significant proportion of global carbon emissions, we have a responsibility to seek to reduce the carbon emissions from our portfolio. We aim to achieve net zero carbon by 2026 and be climate positive by 2030. Aligning to UN SDG 13, Climate Action.
| Target | Progress |
|---|---|
| Maintain net zero carbon for Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions. Measure indirect (Scope 3) emissions. | |
| Identify the products and processes that remove carbon from construction. | |
| Improve EPCs to A-C Grade. | |
| Install renewable energy generation projects to benefit our customers. | |
| Ensure top three priority assets have climate resilience plans in place. |
To enhance biodiversity on our land and ensure wellbeing of our stakeholders. Biodiversity loss has accelerated to an unprecedented level. In Europe, some 42% of European mammals are endangered, together with 15% of birds and 45% of butterflies and reptiles. With a large land holding in continental Europe we have the opportunity to enhance biodiversity and wellbeing from community interaction with nature to ensure we create a net positive benefit. Aligning to UN SDG 15 Life on Land.
| Target | Progress |
|---|---|
| Pilot 10% biodiversity net gain on new developments. | |
| Implement biodiversity enhancements on 11 assets with no measures in place. | |
| Support the local environment for the communities near our assets. |
As one of the largest investors in logistics space we have the opportunity to ensure that our investments create social value through employment and skills, local procurement, and supporting healthy and connected communities. Aligning to UN SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth.
| Target | Progress |
|---|---|
| Measure social value to demonstrate impact of our investment. | |
| Support apprenticeships and employability in construction. | |
| Invest in our communities through the Community Benefit Fund. | |
| Support Schoolreaders until 2023, to increase childhood literacy in the communities where our assets are located. |
