Dear reader
The beginning of the year marked the start of our new four-year strategy period. We have again set ourselves ambitious environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. These guidelines will ensure that our sustainability efforts remain focused. We want to halve the use of non-renewable energy by 2030 and reach net zero across our portfolio by 2050. Systematic expansion of renewable energy, making our properties more energy-efficient and applying high sustainability standards to new builds and site developments are key levers in this regard.
One significant milestone in the reporting year was the comprehensive rating of our portfolio by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) for the first time. The fact that we achieved four out of five stars in the first full reporting cycle is testament to the impact of our integrated sustainability approach, while at the same time giving us valuable pointers on where we can take further action.
We also made important progress in project development. The awarding of the SNBS Gold Site certificate to Baarermatte is a perfect example of our understanding of sustainable site development. We also focused on expanding our photovoltaic capacity in the reporting year. We have now successfully completed the initiative launched three years ago for properties in our portfolio. In total, our installations currently produce around 7250 kWp of renewable energy. Additional installations at our new-build projects will push this up in the coming years.
We see sustainability not as a short-term programme, but a continuous process requiring clear goals, reliable data and effective governance. By further strengthening diversity on the Board of Directors and systematically anchoring sustainability aspects in our strategy, investment decisions and operational processes, we, the Board of Directors and Group Management, are jointly setting a clear example of responsible entrepreneurship.
We would like to thank all employees, partners and stakeholders for their commitment and support along the way. Together, we design properties that are not just resource-saving and sustainable, but create permanent values for this and future generations.
| Ralph-Thomas Honegger Chair of the Board of Directors | Stephan Widrig CEO |