At Sustainable Strategies, we work hard to stay ahead of the latest trends and research. Recently, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) published its 2021 Sustainability Outlook, which outlines the top issues likely to affect real estate and development decision-making in the year ahead. Our key take-aways are:
Increased demand for ESG investing, a trend that is expected to continue. If you are new to ESG, a great place to start is this resource, from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, ESG Investing: What Every MBA Needs to Know.
Heightened emphasis on, and demand for, healthier living and working spaces. I have said it before and I will say it again, “healthier buildings are a risk management strategy, unhealthy buildings are a liability.” Healthier buildings are not a “trend,” and the demand for these spaces continues to steadily increase.
Energy efficiency as an increasingly popular market differentiator, as tenants reconsider their office space needs in the coming years. Tenants are also driving sustainable innovation, as they view their offices as an extension of their brand and the values of their organization. For example, tenant climate goals directly impact real estate choices from location to operations.
The importance of resilience and climate risk assessments, “investors see climate considerations as a necessary layer of fiduciary responsibility to their stakeholders, and are realizing that building for resilience on a property, portfolio, and citywide basis, is of paramount importance to staying competitive.”
Access and download the full report at the button below.
In our experience, most companies and teams don’t know what they don’t know with respect to sustainability; and the landscape is changing so quickly, it can be difficult to even know what questions to ask. That’s where we come in: we add value through sustainability.
Here are some of the common problems and questions we help our clients solve:
Where do we start - begin with strategies that align with values.
How do we engage internal and external stakeholders as well as end-users - create materials that resonate with diverse audiences.
How do we properly value sustainable practices - use the latest research-backed tools; our favorites originate from NYU’s Stern Center for Sustainable Business.
How do we authentically describe sustainable products (i.e. avoid “greenwashing”) - with defined terms, clear and defensible language and transparent data.
What trends and issues in sustainability expose my business to risk and what are the opportunities - currently, ESG disclosures and issues, a changing regulatory landscape and evolving consumer demand are at the top of the list.
How do I get my legal or financial teams to understand the value of sustainability - properly value both sustainable practices and risks avoided.
And we don’t always work alone. We love partnering with other companies and organizations to prepare joint proposals or to fill in experience or knowledge gaps in existing teams. If you are interested in working with us, reach out!
