Transforming tomorrow through ESG

As part of our Science based target of Net Zero by 2040, Investa’s Capital Projects team has been focusing on optimising efficiency, building materiality, production and supply chain as well as other sustainability credentials like reducing waste to landfill and increasing recycled content and improving reusability. We are working closely with our service providers commencing very early in the projects to ensure that carbon friendly design principles are adopted, targeting a 45% carbon reduction in projects in the first 5 years. Our methodology has been applied to 7 projects so far in the last 9 months and we have exceeded our targets in all areas we targeted.

Investa’s target, based on our 2040 initiative was 40% and we have achieved 45% average embodied carbon reduction with a total of 6.6m kg-CO2 avoided. This is equivalent to 3 years of operating carbon for 201 Kent Street. The capital projects team have worked with 20+ consultants to achieve this outcome and is now influencing others in the industry to follow our lead.

1 Market, 135 King, 201 Kent and 347 Kent are the assets that we have verified reports so far this year. We achieved results varying between 12% and 62%. The Footprint Company’s building life cycle software was used to quantify the footprint of a proposed new project and develop pathways to minimise the carbon footprint. These outcomes were converted into a carbon development performance brief. Last year, we have developed the High Performance Guidelines to guide and brief our architects, engineers and consultants in the selection of construction materials and finishes with less embodied carbon content and other sustainable credentials like reducing waste to landfill and increasing recycled content and improving reusability.

Investa is proudly leading the market in scientifically reducing the carbon footprint in asset upgrades, refurbishments, fit-outs as well as service upgrades delivered to improve the efficiency of our assets.

A healthy workplace enables our customers to bring their best and productive self to work.

COVID-19 has made us all aware of the importance of the health and environmental aspects of the places we live and work, as well as the value of a collective response to the pandemic to support societal wellbeing. Research from the international WELL Building Council indicates that 90% of our time is spent indoors and the quality of the buildings we occupy can impact our productivity and the way we feel.

So how do we curate an environment within our buildings that puts human health and wellbeing first? That fosters community and connection and optimises both the performance of our occupiers as well as the real estate. How can we ensure that we maintain world leading standards ongoingly and are measured on our performance against rigorous, global standards?

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Investing in 100% renewable energy contributes to a low carbon economy and is a key step in Investa's pathway to net zero.

A key component of Investa’s pathway to net zero is investing in renewable energy, both in our buildings and offsite, through renewable electricity procurement.

This investment forms part of Investa’s commitment to address climate change and do our part to limit the increase in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In 2019/20, we commenced our renewable energy strategy to inform our renewable energy procurement approach.

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Achieving social and environmental impact, alongside financial returns.

Investa has a strong track record of performance in responsible investment, achieving a number of firsts in the Australian real estate sector since inception:

• First property company to secure real estate green bonds and green loans, verified by the globally recognised Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI).
• First Australian property company to commit to a net zero Science Based Target.
• First Investment Manager in Australia to receive Sustainable Responsible Investment Certification from the Responsible Investment Association of Australia (RIAA).
• Investa funds recognised in the top quintile of the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) for more than 20 years.

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