Green initiatives pay off for Hammerson
Published: 20 April, 2010
Hammerson has cut carbon emissions across its portfolio as a result of a series of energy-saving initiatives implemented in the UK and France.
The company has measured its carbon emissions since 2006, targeting a 19 per cent reduction in its UK portfolio and an 11 per cent reduction in France by 2010. Since 2006, it has to date achieved like-for-like reductions of 16 per cent in its UK shopping centre portfolio and 17 per cent in its French shopping centres.
Hammerson has now put in place an environmental initiatives programme which, when complete, is expected to achieve carbon emission savings of around 40 per cent at its UK shopping centres.
In its 2009 Corporate Responsibility Report, Hammerson highlighted the fact that 698 Green Leases had been signed with retailers and office occupiers since the lease’s introduction in 2007. Around a fifth of Hammerson’s passing rent is now covered by a Green clause.
Around 53 per cent of waste in UK shopping centres is now recycled And 2009 saw the development of an externally-certified environmental training course, used to train 85 people at WestQuay, Southampton. Environmental training will be rolled out across the portfolio as part of Hammerson’s aim to achieve ISO 14001 for each property. Environmental training was also given to 92 staff in France in 2009.
Paul Edwards, Head of Sustainability said: “Our energy reductions mean that Hammerson is relatively well placed ahead of the introduction of the Carbon Reduction Commitments Energy Efficiency Scheme in the UK and the anticipated Carbon Tax in France.
“In 2010 our focus remains on sustainability solutions which reduce costs for our occupiers and for ourselves. We also aim to increase our understanding of our suppliers’ sustainability profile so that we can manage operational risk.”
