We are transitioning to a net zero carbon portfolio by increasing the use of clean and sustainable energy and reducing carbon emissions across our assets and their associated lifecycles. In line with our sustainability efforts, we design and operate buildings aligned with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements certified by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
Our goal to achieve water neutrality across all our businesses is based on the tenets of reducing, reusing, and recycling. All our assets are equipped with Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) and rainwater harvesting systems. We are committed to minimizing wastewater discharge and promoting water recycling across our office parks.
In line with our goal of being a zero-waste campus, we have partnered with authorised vendors to treat hazardous waste and ensure that the waste is discarded as per regulatory guidelines. We aim to achieve 100% waste diversion from landfills by reducing, recycling and reusing the waste generated at our properties.
Mindful of the environmental implications of our projects, we have incorporated flora and fauna in all our parks. The tree plantation drives around our properties add to an increase in urban greenery and aid in decarbonisation. New landscape designs incorporating an increasing share of green walls, native greens and biophilic elements are in the pipeline.
In a bid to improve the sustainability performance across our supply chain we train and encourage our 700+ suppliers to adopt green initiatives and disclose their sustainability performance transparently. ESG clauses are incorporated in our agreements and contracts with major suppliers. We conduct audits and continually monitor and review their performance to ensure ESG compliance across our value chain.
To enhance the socio-economic well-being of communities near our operations and reduce our environmental footprint, we have defined a 1,000 km radius around our respective sites to evaluate the availability of local materials. We are developing a ‘Local Sourcing Data Tracker’ and incorporating a Local Sourcing Clause in all our major contracts.
To manage, monitor and regulate the use of green and eco-certified material usage in our portfolio, we have initiated the tracking of material certificates and have developed a certifications database. Our initiative to use EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) or HPD (Health Product Declaration) materials as well as third-party certified wood-based materials helps enhance the sustainability aspects of our projects.
Renewable energy consumption share
TARGET1
75% by FY2025
FY2024 progress
53%2
FY2025 Key Planned Initiatives
Evaluate options to expand installed renewable energy capacity for our portfolio
Certify ISO 50001 for our portfolio
USGBC LEED certified portfolio (% of operational area)
TARGET1
100% by FY2023
FY2024 progress
100%
FY2025 Key Planned Initiatives
Implement 3-year roadmap based on opportunities identified through energy audit for energy eciencies and savings
Maintain USGBC LEED Platinum O+M certification for the portfolio
Re-certify ISO 14001 for the portfolio
Water consumption reduction across the operational portfolio
TARGET1
7% by FY2025
FY2024 progress
19%
Implement 3-year roadmap based on opportunities identified through water audit for water eciencies and savings
Organic Waste Converter (OWC) capacity increase
TARGET1
25% by FY2025
FY2024 progress
4%
Upgrade the capacity of existing OWCs
Realign waste program target to align with ‘Zero Landfill’ goal
Improve biodiversity in our properties
FY2024 Progress
Butterfly parks created across multiple properties
Innovative biophilic design incorporated for the Central Garden at Embassy TechVillage
FY2025 Key Planned Initiatives
Develop biophilic designs and promote native greens in all ongoing constructions
Continue to support local flora and fauna by promoting native plants and herbs within our operational properties
Adherence to ‘Supplier Code of Conduct’
TARGET1
100%
FY2024 progress
100%
Continue periodic performance monitoring and regular ESG audits of identified key suppliers
Local sourcing share
TARGET1
70% by FY2025
FY2024 Progress
91%3
Continue evaluation and adoption of local vendors for sourcing materials to maintain or improve our defined targets
Increase usage of certified and eco-labeled materials4
FY2024 Progress
Identified and added more certified and eco-labeled materials to our database
Continue to identify more certified and eco-labeled materials to add to our database
Studies
The installation of solar panels allows Embassy REIT to adapt to possible future energy shortages caused due to climate variations. By making the switch to renewable energy, we are ensuring a reliable supply of power which is not reliant on depleting resources. The use of solar panels helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which is a key factor in mitigating climate change. By focusing on sustainable energy sources, we are proactively lowering our contribution to rising global temperatures and other climatic disruptions. From a TCFD risk perspective, this initiative is a strategy that helps strengthen resilience against transition market risks as it reduces our exposure to carbon pricing and the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), given that we are lowering our carbon footprint. It can also serve as a proactive measure against policy and legal risks in anticipation of future policies designed to curb nonrenewable energy use and carbon emissions.
Upgrading old systems with energy-efficient designs at Embassy Express Towers reduces energy consumption and GHG emissions, mitigating climate change risks, including future energy shortages and policy-driven cost increases. These upgrades also enhance resilience to temperature rise, mitigate transition risks like carbon pricing, and reduce financial and legal commitments by aligning with anticipated energy efficiency policies.
Reducing energy consumption lowers the entity’s exposure to carbon pricing and emissions trading schemes (ETS). Moving towards an energy-efficient lighting system also preempts shifts in policy and, legal factors which may encourage or mandate energy efficiency in the future. Lower energy usage typically means lower demand for cooling systems in certain facilities, which could be an effective adaptation against rising temperatures. This case study can also be partially considered a mitigation strategy. While the initial goal is not directly targeting GHG emission reduction, it indirectly contributes to it by reducing energy consumption, thus potentially reducing CO2 emissions if the saved energy was to be produced from fossil fuels.
A well-designed outdoor lighting system is an integral attribute of quality-built spaces. They not only light up the façade of the building’s aesthetic appeal but also enhance the safety and security of the premises through adequate and uniform illumination. Integrating energy-efficient lighting solutions can also help conserve energy and reduce environmental impact.
As part of our focus on integrating sustainable solutions into every aspect of our development and operations process, we decided to implement an innovative outdoor lighting design solution at M3 Block B, Embassy Manyata Business Park, Bengaluru.
We installed an energy-efficient outdoor lighting system that not only improved illumination levels and uniformity in pathways and public spaces within the construction site, enhancing safety and security, but also reduced energy consumption and emissions. At the same time, the new system also reduces light pollution and sky glow, minimizing environmental impacts and lowering maintenance costs due to the long lifespan of LED lights. Furthermore, the solar-powered streetlights eliminated a proportional share of electricity demand from the grid.
This is an example of an initiative that directly adapts to acute physical risks such as drought and water stress by ensuring that the valuable water resource is conserved through the implementation of the Rainwater Charging Pits System. This system also reduces the impact of extreme rainfall by providing a mechanism for effective rainwater recharge to the ground, thereby preventing waterlogging and flooding. By preserving water, the system aids in the mitigation of physical chronic risk like water stress. Reducing the loss of valuable water resources and mitigating potential ecological imbalances indirectly contributes to lowering environmental degradation, which is a key element in mitigating the overall effects of climate change.
We initiated a Smart Apiary project in November 2023 at the Rose Garden within the park to bring about a paradigm shift in the way we revitalized the biodiversity of the area.
Leveraging technological advances in IoT devices, we integrated precision beekeeping methods using a solution, BeePrecise, to transform existing beekeeping practices on the campus. This solution monitored the health of honeybees and their behavior in real-time to facilitate improved pollination, a key factor in enriching the biodiversity of the area, creating a more sustainable ecosystem and enhancing the fertility of the land to further ourcommitment to global food security.
With the new advanced solution, we overcame issues like preventing swarms in an urban setting and protecting our occupants’ health. It also helped us monitor and track the vitality of existing hives without requiring infrequent and reactive inspections every 2 to 3 months by outsourced agencies. The long gap between the agency visits often led to swarming or weakened colonies due to delayed interventions.
Our facility management team, trained in precision beekeeping, actively monitors hives remotely. They respond to real-time alerts and follow expert advisories that they receive on their phone via the BeePrecise mobile app, shifting from reactive to proactive hive management. This ensures the strength and health of bee colonies, reflecting an improvement in pollinator population maintenance and beekeeping operations.
Embassy REIT has spearheaded the construction of a Women’s Police Outpost at Gate 1 of Embassy Manyata Business Park, inaugurated by Mr. Laxmi Prasad (Deputy Commissioner of Police) on 7 February, 2024. This outpost represents a significant stride towards bolstering safety and security for all women within and around Manyata. It serves as a dedicated hub where women can confidently seek assistance and report emergencies or safety concerns.
The outpost offers a safe and easily accessible space for women to report crimes, seek assistance, and access support services without apprehension. Manned by female police officers specially trained to address the unique needs and challenges faced by women, including cases of domestic violence, the outpost ensures tailored support and assistance. With a focus on women’s issues and concerns, the outpost facilitates swifter and more effective responses to incidents involving women, ensuring prompt intervention and support. This initiative underscores Embassy REIT’s unwavering commitment to promoting safety, inclusivity, and well-being within the communities we serve, aligning with our broader ESG objectives.
