Sponda Sector Leader in the GRESB assessment in 2017

Sponda Plc                                                Press release                          8 September 2017 at 09:45 a.m.

Sponda Sector Leader in the GRESB assessment in 2017

Sponda has again been ranked among the best companies in the property sector in the international Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) assessment. Sponda's result was the best in the Nordic countries within its peer group. Sponda was chosen as the 2017 Sector Leader, proof of its outstanding leadership in sustainability within its sector. Sponda received a full five-star assessment and, for the fifth year running, Sponda was awarded a Green Star for its responsibility work.

This year, Sponda improved its result in all areas of the assessment. With regard to the sector average, Sponda took great leaps among other things in managing sustainability risks and opportunities, measuring and decreasing the environmental impacts of Sponda's real estate portfolio, environmental certifications of buildings, and interaction with stakeholders. Sponda also clearly distinguished itself from others in the peer group with regard to environmental responsibility in property development.

"We are pleased that our efforts in the area of responsibility work have again been recognised on the international stage. Our position at the top of a highly regarded sustainability assessment in the property sector shows that we are doing the right things in developing our responsible operations. Responsibility work is carried out in close co-operation with different stakeholder groups, and I would like to thank all stakeholder groups participating in the development of Sponda's environmental responsibility for their excellent work", says Hannamari Koivula, Sustainability Manager at Sponda.

The GRESB survey assesses the work done by companies in the property sector to promote sustainable development. The assessment, first introduced in 2009, includes all components of corporate responsibility, with companies evaluated comprehensively in the areas of company-level responsibility management, environmental management systems, environmental performance, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and property development.

The number of participants in the GRESB survey has increased annually, with a total of 850 companies in 62 countries participating this year.

Sponda Plc
 
Additional information: Hannamari Koivula, Sustainability Manager, tel. +358 40 581 9921

Sponda Plc is a property investment company specialising in commercial properties in the largest cities in Finland. Sponda's business concept is to own, lease, and develop retail and office properties and shopping centres into environments that promote the business success of its clients. The fair value of Sponda's investment properties is approximately EUR 3.8 billion and the leasable area is around 1.2 million m².