31 July 2023

Progressing towards our ESG targets

  • Release of our fifth ESG Progress Report
  • 50% reduction in Scope 2 CO2e emissions versus 2019 baseline
  • 71% recycling rate achieved across managed office assets (2030 target of 70%)

herbernia

Understanding the Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions of our buildings

We are delighted to have published our 2023 ESG Progress Report (the “Report”), which details the steps we have taken during the year ended March 2023 towards reaching our ESG targets, under the three key pillars from Transforming Dublin Responsibly, our sustainability strategy out to 2030;

  • to become a net zero carbon-resilient business by 2030 
  • to provide spaces that prioritise the environment, health and wellbeing 
  • to create long-term positive social impact

The Report includes key highlights and other achievements from 2022, such as receiving our first Five-star rating in GRESB for standing assets and developments and maintaining our A- score for our CDP response, placing us in the top 25% of responders globally and in Ireland.

We have made further progress towards our 2030 targets in several areas, including achieving a 71% recycling rate across managed office assets, a 50% reduction in Scope 2 CO2e emissions versus our 2019 baseline, and an 5% reduction in our energy-use-intensity of managed offices since 2021 which contributes to an overall reduction of 45% against our 2019 baseline.

Continued engagement with our occupiers through our sustainability working groups helps ensure information sharing and accurate data collection to support the decarbonisation of our buildings, in addition to supporting occupiers on their own sustainability journeys towards net-zero. 

Throughout 2022 we concentrated on health and wellbeing for our occupiers and staff. The launch of The Green Room in the Windmill Quarter as a space for wellness, fitness classes and wellbeing activities along with the repositioning of the multipurpose Townhall space and accessible Sound Garden (courtyard), all contribute to the promotion of positive health and wellbeing in our buildings. Our staff received mental health awareness training and an average of 20 training hours per employee throughout the year. 

We are proud of the achievements set out in our fifth ESG Progress Report and we are committed to continuing to improve our performance across all aspects of ESG.

Tom Edwards-Moss

Chief Executive

Working with the communities inside and around our buildings is of great importance to us – read more in our Community Engagement Charter. The Report provides insights into the partnerships we have developed with charity organizations and within the local community. Our partnership with youth mental health charity A Lust for Life (“ALFL”) continued for the third year with our Townhall space in the Windmill Quarter hosting the launch of the ALFL Schools Program in 2022. We also partnered with Oxfam to launch their “Take Back Scheme” in the Windmill Quarter, encouraging our occupiers as well as our staff to donate unwanted clothing items. Following this we held a pop-up shop, selling many of the donated items, to raise funds for Oxfam.

Launch of ALFL Schools Program

Launch of ALFL Schools Program in the Windmill Quarter Townhall.

We understand that while we have made positive progress over the last year, there are still areas in which we can improve. Our focus for the year ahead includes the development of a biodiversity strategy for the business, development of community engagement plans specific to individual buildings, and the continued effort to ensure 100% of developments are on track to meet our net zero operational and embodied carbon targets by 2030 whilst maintaining the highest levels of green building and health and wellbeing certification.

 

Click here to open our 2022 ESG Data book

Click here to Read our 2023 ESG progress report

transforming

Download PDF