"With real estate and development being key areas of business for our Group, the pressure on companies like ours in the context of the European Green Deal, evidently has become higher and from our end there will be no corner cutting," says Anuschka Von Der Heyden, head of Sustainability at Von Der Heyden Group.
Founded in Germany in 1989 by Sven von der Heyden as a high-quality niche player in the European real estate market and based in Malta for the past 10 years, the Group today has operations in real estate investments, development, hospitality and catering in around 20 cities across Europe.
The Group is currently engaged with the fourth development phase of its Anders Square project in the city of Poznań in Poland, a 26-storey A-class office tower, which is expected to be completed by 2026.
The company has just published its latest ESG report, with which it aims to position itself as one of the first Malta-based firms to share extensive details on its efforts to reach EU-wide sustainability targets.
"In our latest report, we outline how the Group aims to reduce emissions in its hospitality operations by 40% by 2030," states Von der Heyden.
She explains how since its inception, the Group always sought to uphold the highest standards in investments and operations, especially in terms of its social and governance commitments.
"Amid unprecedented global carbon emissions, it is crucial for all stakeholders involved to reduce their carbon footprints and this principle remains central to our commitment to sustainability," she added.
For the first time, data released by Von der Heyden Group not only relates to Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, which essentially consist of the firms' direct and indirect activity, but also shared details of Scope 3 emissions, which cover the activity across its value chain, including its hospitality suppliers.
"Reporting about Scope 3 was crucial not only because it prompted us to engage with our suppliers and stakeholders but it has fostered better relationships and improved processes upstream and downstream. In turn, this has also helped us create shared value through collaboration and enhanced our environmental efficiency," explained Von der Heyden.
Sustainability and construction
And while construction and sustainability rarely feature hand in hand in Maltese discourse, Von der Heyden is keen to highlight how things can be done differently in a way that also yields financial benefits.
"The company has for several years focused on developing A class LEED certification compliant buildings and our ambition is to take this way of doing things into the future with all our new developments. In fact, all our Anders Square project developments have been built using the most modern energy-efficient solutions, long before certification in this area became a standard."
"We did this because we truly wanted to create places that take care of the well-being of their users and are sustainable for the environment and the local community. Malta too, would do well to seek these high international standards to upgrade its unique proposition, especially in terms of its tourism industry," added Von der Heyden, while highlighting how such practices are increasingly sought after by large institutional investors when selecting assets to invest in.
Von der Heyden Group's AND2 building in Poznań features some of the latest and most innovative sustainable solutions, including environmental quality, location, water efficiency, energy and atmospheric use, as well as materials and resources.
In addition, consideration is being given to the inclusivity and accessibility of spaces according to universal design principles and the impact on surrounding areas.
"We are well aware of our obligations towards the community hosting our projects, and in addition to modern office spaces designed to reflect social trends and the evolving needs of the workforce, each property also includes areas accessible to the wider community. For example, the AND2 building will feature a modern medical facility and a private kindergarten with a public gym for children," notes Von der Heyden.
Is it always a question of money?
"Our ESG considerations are factored in from the moment we start thinking about a new development project. More investors are increasingly looking to invest in energy-efficient buildings and projects with sustainability certifications and as a result, the Group will keep setting aside budgets to make its projects more water and energy-efficient and when feasible, to purchase on-site renewable energy sources," she adds.
The company is also focusing on reducing energy consumption within its hospitality business, demonstrating its commitment to achieving its goals in this area as well.
"This is not just about direct costs but about attracting the conscientious guest who cares about the environment and society and who seeks entertainment and leisure destinations that actively lessen their negative impact on the community around us."
This approach is now integral to the Group's future strategy for its IBB Hotel & Cugó Gran Hotel Collections, which already includes two properties in Malta - IBB Hotel Palazzo Bettina and Cugó Gran Macina - with a third one set to open soon.
And despite its plans for the eventual addition of new properties, which will potentially raise total emissions, the company has presented a plan to reduce the overall carbon footprint per square metre which will require the Group to invest in higher quality, more eco-friendly buildings and spaces.
According to von der Heyden, the company's ESG report outlined how its hospitality operations will see the biggest effort to improve sustainability.
"This is why it is important to have reliable data at hand. We know that hospitality is one of our most carbon-intensive activities, so we are putting an extra effort to find solutions and implement measures to reduce our carbon footprint on that front."
"We have made sustainability one of Cugó Gran Hotel Collection's key pillars because the Group's future lies in sustainable luxury tourism," she concluded.