Environment

We take our responsibility for the environment very seriously. Our long-term objective is to reduce our carbon emissions by 30% by 2020. To achieve this we're designing and building more sustainable retail properties, as well as managing our existing estate more efficiently.

Our commitment to corporate sustainability includes:

Carbon reduction plan
As well as setting reduction targets, we're developing a long term carbon reduction plan for our entire UK retail portfolio. This includes promoting carbon-efficient design, using more sustainable materials, retrofitting new technology and encouraging sustainable occupier behaviour.

Environmental plans
Since 2008 we've made sure all our shopping centres adopt a detailed environmental plan. We regularly update these plans and encourage site managers to continually improve their centre's performance.

BREEAM ratings
The Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method - known as BREEAM - is the world benchmark for sustainable buildings. Since April 2010 we've insisted all our UK retail property and UK retail parks achieve a "very good" rating. To date all our completed properties have achieved at least this rating.

Natural resources
Achieving the Forest Stewardship Councils' Chain of Custody Certification Standard is now a contractual requirement for every one of our UK retail property and UK retail parks. We're also committed to replacing every tree we remove or damage during construction with at least 100 new trees.

Waste and recycling
All our UK retail parks are working towards ‘zero waste to landfill'. Six centres located close to energy recovery plants have already achieved this, and two - Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth and White Rose in Leeds - won Green Apple Awards for their achievements in 2010. By investing in rubbish balers and encouraging recycling at sites located away from energy recovery centres we've managed to divert 78% of retail waste away from landfill.

Low-carbon retail
Our Design Guide for Low-Carbon Fit-Out was launched in November 2010. This encourages retailers to reduce their carbon emissions - and associated energy costs - through best practice design and the effective management of lighting, heating, air conditioning, kitchens and restaurants.