Our Business

Investa is committed to conduct throughout the organisation that is ethical, legal, and professional. Investa is further committed to the principals of sustainability encompassing environmental, social and economic dimensions.

Treat corporate loans as they were personal obligations; pay back our debts in a timely manner;
Offer clients investment funds which are overseen by an independent Board and where conflicts of interest are minimized;
Provide quality workplaces and a professional environment for our employees;
Support and nurture our staff to permit them to fulfill their potential;
Protect and enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, clients and associates;
Minimize resource use, pollution and waste;
Conserve biodiversity and enhance ecological outcomes.

We will integrate sustainability practices in a manner which is specific, accountable, and enduring as part of our business platform.

Our approach

Improve our identification and management of risk and control unnecessary costs;
Identify changes in the business environment and adjust to position ourselves to survive economic declines and prosper in periods of growth;
Foster a culture of innovation;
Build employee motivation and capacity and evaluate and reward employees using a merit based system;
Exercise company and industry leadership;
Report regularly on our sustainability performance.

The Sustainability platform provides a framework for focusing upon and enhancing good business practices which in turn will contribute to shareholder value and improved social and environmental outcomes.

Investa takes pride in practicing environmental and social responsibility in every aspect of business. Not only have these practices helped set the standard for environmental performance targets among our peers, they have been recognised by government, community and industry organisations.

In September 2006, Investa became the leading company on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) the property sector and also the financial services “supersector”.

Our awards continue to multiply. Here is a brief chronology of our distinctions.

2011

NSW Government Green Globes Award – Premier’s Award for Sustainability Excellence
NSW Government Green Globes Award – Excellence in Sustainability | Built Environment Sustainability Award
NSW Government Green Globes Award – Excellence in Leadership & Innovation| Climate Change Leadership Award
Property Council of Australia’s 2011 Innovation and Excellence awards – NSW Development of the Year, for the Ark development at 40 Mount Street, North Sydney.
Property Council of Australia’s 2011 Innovation and Excellence awards – Best New Sustainable Development (National), for the Ark development at 40 Mount Street, North Sydney.

2010

10th Australian Sustainability Awards – Award for Environment
10th Australian Sustainability Awards – nominated for “Sustainable Company of the Year”
NSW Government 2010 Green Globe Awards – Commercial Property Sustainability
Australian Property Institute – Environmental Development Award for the Ark
Australian Web Awards (East Coast) – Innovation Award for Investa’s 2009 Sustainability Report
MBA Excellence in Construction Awards – Energy Efficiency Award for the Ark
MBA Excellence in Construction Awards – Best Use of Glass Award for the Ark
Urban Taskforce Awards – Development of the Year Award for the Ark
Highest ranked business in the National Safety Council of Australia’s FiveStar Program
Planning Institute of Australia’s Industrial Planning Award for Swanbank Enterprise Park Development

2009

Highest ranked business in the National Safety Council of Australia’s FiveStar Program

2008

Planning Institute of Australia (NSW) Media Award
- Winner – Clarendon for the ‘Your Home Buyers Guide’
2008 National Safety Council of Australia / Skilled Group – National Safety Awards of Excellence
- Winner – NSCA Member of the Year
Banksia Foundation Climate Award for “Addressing Climate Change”
Department of Environment & Climate Change (NSW)
Highest NABERS Energy rating for a tenancy in NSW – 07/08
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Australia & New Zealand Awards for Sustainability Reporting
“Best Report in the Property Sector”.
NSCA Score 99.5% (up from 99.0% in 2007)
NSW Government Sustainability Green Globes Awards
Climate Change Leadership Award
Energy Award (Industry) for continued leadership in the way energy is addressed in the property industry.

2007

Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC):
- Highly Commended Award for Clarendon’s Bellflower residential community
Australian Property Institute (API) NSW Excellence in Property Awards:
- Kemp Strang Property Industry Award for the Green Lease Guide
Queensland EPA’s Sustainable Industries Award for Corporate Sustainability:
- for achievements improving the energy and water efficiency of our office portfolio.
Sydney Water’s Every Drop Counts Business Program:
- first company to achieve a 5-Star One-2-Five® Water diagnostic rating recognising “Best Practice Water Management”.
NSCA Score 99.0% (up from 97.3% in 2006)
Member of Global 100 (G100) list of the most sustainable corporations in the world – Corporate Knights/Innovest:
- one of only three Australian companies included in list announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
- list was ranked in April 2007 for Newsweek International according to “how effectively they manage environmental risks and opportunities relative to their industry peers”, we came 38th.

2006

Climate Change and the ASX100 report by Citigroup:
- study placed Investa at the top of the list of “overall winners” by being well prepared for near-term climate change and minimising exposure to climate change costs through sustainability focus.
C-Air Hillarys – Finalist in HIA Green Smart Awards for Design Concept.
C-Air Hillarys – Finalist in Banksia Awards (Built Environment Category)
UDIA best Western Australian residential development under 250 lots)
NSCA Score 97.3% (up from 94.9% in 2005)
Green Building Council of Australia:
- 5 Star “Green Star–Office Interiors” rating for Investa’s 126 Phillip Street office. Highest rating achieved for an office fitout in Australia.
2007 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World). Commencing September 18, 2006 Investa is:
World leader in Real Estate sector
World leader in Financial Services supersector
Sydney Water Awards:
Winner – Sustainable Processes and Practices Award (highest honour)
Finalist – Largest Percentage Reduction 2005-2006
Finalist – Largest Volume Reduction 2005-2006
National Safety Council/Telstra Safety Awards:
Winner – Business Excellence through OHS & Environmental Management.
Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS) Green Globe Awards:
Winner – NABERS Office / ABGR Leadership Award.
2006 Australian Sustainability Awards:
Nominated – Sustainable Company of the Year
Nominated – Special Award for Environmental Sustainability

2005

Banksia, Finalist for the 2005 Banksia Foundation Award in “Business Environmental Responsibility and Leadership” category
Planning Institute of Australia, Category 6. Urban Design – Plans and Ideas Environmental Resources Management
Victorian Save Water Awards, Service Provider Category
Facilities Management Association, FMA 2005 Award for Excellence in Facilities Management
Facilities Management Association, FMA Johnson Controls Young FM Practitioner – awarded to Bradley Robbins
DEUS Green Globe Awards, Green Power Leadership Category
DEUS Green Globe Awards, Gold award for performance in cutting emissions through the Energy Smart Business Program
DEUS Green Globe Awards, Highly Commended in ABGR Leadership Category
Ranked 2nd in the world Dow Jones Sustainability Index among international Real Estate Investment organisations

2004

Ranked 4th in the world Dow Jones Sustainability Index among international Real Estate Investment organisations
National Safety Council of Australia’s 5 Star rating of OH&S systems across the portfolio in NSW, Victoria and Queensland
Winner of the Banksia Award in “Leadership in Socially Responsible Investment”
Ethical Investor Sustainable company of the Year Award
Ethical Investor Sustainability Awards – The Merit Award for Environment
Facilities Management Association, SEDA Facilities Management Environmental Achievement Award
DEUS Green Globe Awards, the Australian Building Green Ratings Corporate Leadership Award
DEUS Green Globe Awards, the Silver energy smart Award
DEUS Green Globe Awards, the DEUS Ambassador Award which was awarded to Chris O’Donnell
Rated Australia’s leading real estate investment trust by Sustainable Asset Management
Two IPG properties were rated in the top ten in the NSW Government’s ABGR Scheme 2005
Planning Institute of Australia Award – Category 6. Urban Design – Plans and Ideas Environmental Resources Management for C-Air Hilarys: Application for Medium Density Housing Achieving Innovative and Sustainable Outcomes

2003

Rated as a leading Australian Property Company by Sustainable Asset Management
ICPF rated by SIRIS as Australia’s only SRI accredited wholesale property fund.
Macarthur Central won – PCA Award
Selected as a finalist for the Banksia Award in “Leadership in Socially Responsible Investment”
National Safety council of Australia’s 5 Star rating of OH&S systems across the portfolio in NSW and Victoria

2002

Rated as a leading Australian Property Company by Sustainable Asset Management

2001

Rated as a leading Australian Property Company by Sustainable Asset Management

Throughout the past decade we have been internationally recognised for leadership in environmental management of buildings and for addressing climate change through sophisticated energy and water efficiency practices and innovative facilities management. We have also been recognised for other elements of our sustainability platform, including our safety record, our communications with tenants, the construction of environmentally responsible office developments and our innovative sustainability reporting.

Investa’s first Sustainability Report was published within our 2003 Annual Report. In that very brief document we committed to targets for reducing electricity, water and waste to landfill because we believed there was a clear business case for doing so; each of these resources cost money, so reductions would deliver savings. We have reduced our portfolio’s annual water use by 41%, electricity use by 26% and natural gas use by 49% below the benchmarks we set in 2003. Our latest recycling figures show 69% of our commercial and industrial waste, and 84% of our construction and demolition waste, is being recycled. Greenhouse gas emissions are down 27% on a like-for-like basis.

While we remain committed to ever more stringent efficiency targets, our focus is increasingly on sustainability initiatives that complement other core strategies; strategies that are designed to attract and retain tenants and make us a preferred business partner.

Investa is a recognised leader in responsible property investment and, up until its delisting upon becoming a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Real Estate in late 2007, was rated number one on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) in both the real estate sector and the financial services super-sector.

RIAA Certified Funds

In 2007, Investa Funds Management became the first Australian property fund manager to receive SRI (Sustainable Responsible Investment) Certification for its two principal funds: Investa Diversified Office Fund (IDOF) and Investa Commercial Property Fund (ICPF). To achieve this Certification, Investa had to meet the strict disclosure requirements of the world’s only SRI Certification Program which was launched in Australia in 2005 by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA).

Investa Funds Management has been certified by RIAA according to the strict disclosure practices required under the Responsible Investment Certification Program. Investa had to demonstrate how our funds apply a systematic methodology for taking environmental, social, ethical and labour standards into account in the selection and management of buildings. See www.responsibleinvestment.org for details.

United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment

Investa Property Group became a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment in July 2007. We consider this framework to be aligned with our corporate philosophy. The Principles, developed under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, are a voluntary and aspirational framework for incorporating environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues into mainstream investment decision-making and ownership practices. They are not prescriptive, but instead provide a menu of possible actions that investors can take. More information about the UN PRI can be found at www.unpri.org or click here to view Investa’s commitment to the Principles.

Development, almost by definition, impacts the environment. At Investa Land, we aspire to minimise this impact by sourcing and valuing quality design and construction services to provide climatically and locally appropriate developments. By creating a high quality product, we aim to enhance the long term value our developments bring to their residents. Aside from managing risk, our focus on sustainability leads to a variety of commercial opportunities.

These include:

Building a reputation for creating a high quality, high value, product
Enhancing relationships with various tiers of government
Delivering development and operating costs savings
Attracting rebates and reduced infrastructure charges by limiting utility requirements