Sustainability: The Key to Future-Proofing Commercial Property Investment

Through the economic cycles of the past decade, sustainability has emerged no longer just a trend in commercial property investment, but a necessity. At Mackersy Property, a journey to understand, measure and improve the environmental and community impact of our operations was an obvious route for our Guardianship Team. A surprising outcome was the ability to unlock wide-ranging benefits while shaping a more resilient future for our investors, staff, tenants and communities.

The Mackersy Property business has evolved from our foundational values of collaboration, innovation, and respect. Each has played an integral role in developing key features of our sustainability strategy.

Collaboration for Impact

Sustainability thrives on partnerships and it’s clear that strong relationships determine success in this space. From waste reduction to native reforestation, by working together with our team, our tenants, investors, and local communities, we know we can co-create solutions that improve environmental outcomes.

Following a twelve-month measuring and monitoring regime, Mackersy Property have recently been awarded Toitu CarbonReduce Certification. The team that tackled the project comprised of members from all different areas of the business, who set ambitious carbon reduction targets for the five Mackersy Property offices. Establishing a baseline saw the team learning how to measure the impact of travel, electricity usage, waste disposal and office consumables. The data produced some interesting variances between the offices and a number of opportunities to improve our environmental impact while saving time and money. To embark on the certification pathway, baseline emissions were calculated and a set of aspirational two-year targets were developed, including;  

• A 50% reduction in air travel
• A 10% reduction in vehicle fuel consumption
• A 10% reduction in electricity usage

Our team (always fiercely competitive!) quickly jumped at the challenge. In-person meetings around the country were upgraded to video conferences, saving not only carbon but valuable time as well. We leased two EV’s for our offices with the highest number of Property and Facilities Managers to reduce the reliance on fuel and polled our team asking how they get to and from work. We investigated our wasted food, energy and packaging and found easy changes that helped us reach the targets.

The Toitu Envirocare journey has been a successful story of teamwork, education and awareness so far. We now understand the impact of our operations and the importance of bringing the team along as we make sustainability a significant part of it.

Innovating for Longevity

Sustainability sparks innovation. From smart technologies that optimise energy use to eco-friendly building designs, sustainable investment will drive the commercial property sector into the future. Businesses that prioritise innovation stand out in the market, attract forward-thinking tenants, and enhance the long-term value of their properties.

Respecting People and Planet

Sustainability embodies respect for the environment, for future generations, and for the community’s that commercial properties serve. By integrating sustainable practices, businesses demonstrate a commitment to reducing carbon footprints, preserving resources, and creating healthier spaces for people to live and work. This respect reinforces the business's integrity and strengthens relationships across all levels.

Next steps

From eliminating the risk of potential asset obsolescence to accessing preferrable green financing, sustainability considerations are touching the entire life cycle of commercial property assets and asset management.

Led by government agencies, many tenants are increasingly prioritising sustainability in their leasing decisions, expecting landlords and property managers to provide environmentally responsible spaces that align with their values-based targets. This includes energy-efficient buildings, access to renewable energy sources, waste reduction initiatives, and transparency around Environmental Social Governance performance.

Toitu certification has given our business best-in-class tools, industry connections and science backed data to make positive changes. Now that we have our own house in order, we are developing a two pronged approach to cultivate a portfolio of sustainable, attractive and profitable assets. One arm of the work focusses on the reduction of embodied carbon by employing green building strategies at the time of construction or redevelopment. The other seeks to reduce operational carbon emissions by engaging with like-minded tenants, tuning our buildings with accredited partner contractors and sharing our learnings with syndicate boards, making decisions that will affect our investors and environment long term.

In a world increasingly focused on climate action, sustainability isn't just good ethics; it's good business. For a commercial property investment company rooted in collaboration, innovation, and respect, sustainability is the foundation for lasting success.