Microsoft has achieved its goal of matching 100% of its annual global electricity consumption with renewable energy, reaching the milestone five years ahead of its 2025 target. The achievement supports the company's commitment to become carbon negative by 2030.
The recent weakening of the CSRD may have some real estate developers cheering the compliance rollbacks, but the consequences could be complicated. A new research survey examines how EU real estate firms are navigating changes to the CSRD, and what that could mean for upcoming SFDR revisions.
As ESG expectations move from aspiration to obligation, real estate leaders are being forced to confront how sustainability directly affects asset value, financing and long-term resilience. Chaired by ESG Partner Tjidsger Wierda of Walvius Partners, the sustainability session at CEE Property Forum 2025 brought together a range of expertise and pragmatic perspectives on the evolving role of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) in commercial real estate.
Lidl Romania has published its eighth sustainability report for the 2024 financial year, announcing accelerated progress in reducing environmental impact. The retailer has achieved its international 2030 target for transitioning to natural refrigerants, with these now used in 100% of logistics centres and 81.7% of stores, compared to the original goal of 100% of logistics centres and 40% of stores. The company has also increased its green energy usage to 80% of total consumption.
The European Union has reached a provisional agreement to reduce the scope and stringency of two major ESG regulatory frameworks: Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Older buildings usually consume more energy in operation than new construction. That is not only a cost issue. It also affects how an asset performs against market standards like BREEAM, EU Taxonomy, and CRREM, as well as regulations such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the rules for Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS). Many owners assume the only way to close the gap is a major refurbishment. Better insulation and new equipment certainly help, but they are expensive and disruptive. Investments in deep fabric and equipment upgrades can reach one to five percent of the asset value.
Globalworth has renewed its Access4you certification for all 16 office buildings in its Romanian portfolio, totaling almost 500,000 sqm. The recertification, conducted with consultancy services from Colliers, marks the second three-year certification cycle for the leading office investor in CEE.
51% of Romanian entrepreneurs see sustainability as a way to reduce operational costs, yet the same proportion say implementation is too expensive, according to a new study by BRD Groupe Société Générale. Conducted among micro and small-to-medium enterprises, the research outlines how Romanian entrepreneurs perceive the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to sustainable business models.
Nepi Rockcastle has inaugurated its first photovoltaic park in Chișineu-Criș, Arad County, Romania, marking a milestone in the shopping centre developer's sustainability efforts.
Garbe has received a building permit for the second phase of its Garbe Park Brno South project. It is adding two modern buildings, bringing the park's total area to 111,000 sqm.
Once seen primarily as a regulatory requirement, accessibility is now increasingly recognised as a driver of value in the real estate market. Balázs Berecz, Founder and CEO of Access4you, who himself has been a wheelchair user since 2005, explains how accessibility is moving beyond compliance to become a competitive advantage, influencing ESG scores, boosting occupancy, and shaping investment decisions.
Only 14% of office buildings across the Prague market have achieved an Energy Performance Certificate in class A or B, with older properties having a higher probability of being classified in lower energy performance classes. An internal Savills survey, covering dozens of properties, has revealed that a significant proportion of Prague's office stock is facing the need for modernisation.
96% of European logistics tenants are planning to expand their capacity in the next 12 months, to a greater or equal extent than in the past year, according to the latest CBRE survey.
The Polish Chamber of Commercial Real Estate (PINK), the Polish Council of Shopping Centers (PRCH), and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) have published the English-language version of their joint report “ESG for Commercial Real Estate 2.0. Selected Issues and Practices.” Originally released in March, the publication is now accessible to a wider international audience.
The European Ombudsman has formally questioned the European Commission's handling of recent proposals aimed at scaling back corporate sustainability requirements, raising concerns over transparency and procedural compliance.
Mihnea Cristescu, Project Manager & Sustainability Consultant at Cushman & Wakefield Echinox, talked to Property Forum about the shift from the traditional green certification system in the real estate industry and the growth in the segment of green loans over €100 million.
The European Commission has adopted the 2025-2030 work plan for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Energy Labelling Regulation.
The GBCI Europe Circle conference was established to provide the LEED community in Europe with a space for professional and social exchange. The next edition is scheduled to take place in Prague from May 14-16 and Property Forum is proud to be joining the event as Media Partner. More about the event's significance and program has been shared by Kay Killman, Managing Director of GBCI Europe, Vessela Valtcheva-McGee, Director Market Development EE and Simona Kalvoda, Executive Director of the Czech Green Building Council (CZGBC).
In Romania, L'Oréal encourages people to choose larger sizes and refills while helping them understand how and where to recycle our packaging.
Romanian construction group Bog'Art has published its first sustainability report that outlines the company's results and objectives under the ESG development framework.
Microsoft has achieved its goal of matching 100% of its annual global electricity consumption with renewable energy, reaching the milestone five years ahead of its 2025 target. The achievement supports the company's commitment to become carbon negative by 2030.
The recent weakening of the CSRD may have some real estate developers cheering the compliance rollbacks, but the consequences could be complicated. A new research survey examines how EU real estate firms are navigating changes to the CSRD, and what that could mean for upcoming SFDR revisions.
Waldevar Energy has begun construction on two utility-scale photovoltaic parks for Doral Energy in Tudor Vladimirescu (Brăila County) and Ștefan Vodă (Călărași County), Romania. The projects will deliver 14 MWp of installed capacity using around 25,000 photovoltaic panels.
Lidl Romania has published its eighth sustainability report for the 2024 financial year, announcing accelerated progress in reducing environmental impact. The retailer has achieved its international 2030 target for transitioning to natural refrigerants, with these now used in 100% of logistics centres and 81.7% of stores, compared to the original goal of 100% of logistics centres and 40% of stores. The company has also increased its green energy usage to 80% of total consumption.
The European Union has reached a provisional agreement to reduce the scope and stringency of two major ESG regulatory frameworks: Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
