Real estate and facility strategies play a central role in the corporate sustainability efforts, according to a new global survey of 1,254 senior business executives, including more than 300 CEOs. Nearly half of all respondents named as their leading sustainability priority a goal that is addressed primarily or solely through real estate strategies.
Real estate and facility strategies play a central role in the corporate sustainability efforts, according to a new global survey of 1,254 senior business executives, including more than 300 CEOs. Nearly half of all respondents named as their leading sustainability priority a goal that is addressed primarily or solely through real estate strategies.
While the survey did not focus specifically on real estate topics, 46% of respondents selected energy efficiency, facility environment and greenhouse gas reduction as the prime sustainability concerns.
The survey was conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and was co-sponsored by global real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle and seven other leading companies from different industries including AT Kearney, Bank of America, ExxonMobil, Orange, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SAP and SunGard.
The main findings include: 33% of senior executives ranked 'improving energy efficiency across global operations' as a major priority, and 19% ranked it as the leading priority. 36% ranked 'improving the local environment around operating facilities'as a major priority, and 14% ranked it as the leading priority. 26% ranked 'reducing greenhouse gas emissions and/or waste/pollutants' as a major priority, and 13% ranked it as the top priority.
Dan Probst, Chairman, global environmental sustainability board at Jones Lang LaSalle, commented: 'As this study shows, the path to sustainability often starts with real estate and facility strategies.'
