Sustainability begins with the first idea.
Commitment
Seeking to build on our positive contribution to the environment and society and to meet changing requirements, we moved early to consolidate our previous approaches and create a strategic, holistic framework for implementing sustainability at UNMÜSSIG. We are committed to ESG, a three-pronged approach to sustainability, and are aligning our strategies at project and corporate level.
ESG
We see sustainability not as a trend, but as an integral part of our corporate DNA. Alongside the broad array of measures we implement every day at property and project level, as a family-run company, we have been committed to environmental and social responsibility for decades. We work with our partners, customers and stakeholders to build a future that is liveable, more sustainable and defined by social justice.
Environmental
Utilities & Emissions
We take the following action to continuously reduce consumption and CO2 emissions in the premises we occupy:
- Use of district heating and green electricity
- Use of LED luminaires and energy-efficient appliances
- Installation of water-saving fittings and modules
- Increasing digitalisation of our workflows to save paper
- Purchase of regional products and foods
Mobility
To reduce our carbon footprint, we are increasingly focused on optimising the following aspects of mobility:
- Addition of more hybrid or electric vehicles to our corporate fleet
- Subsidies for the use of public transport
- Establishment of efficient online meetings to eliminate unnecessary business travel
- Bicycle leasing models (JobRad) to promote green mobility
Engagement
Aside from sweeping environmental measures within our projects, we are also involved in environmental protection initiatives outside the real estate sector:
- Renaturation of the Wutach River to promote biodiversity in the Black Forest
- Production of local honey by building beehives on the roofs of our properties such as the Green City Tower, where we harvest our own organic honey in cooperation with Black F House
Social
Initiatives
We have long been committed to promoting and supporting social initiatives to assist young talent in the areas of sport, art and education:
- Promotion of young talent and sponsorship of the Freiburg EHC youth ice hockey team, main sponsorship of handball club HSG Freiburg e. V.
- Support of various art projects to promote young artists
- Donations to various charitable initiatives such as the Mathias Ginter Foundation and the Förderverein für krebskranke Kinder e. V. [Association for Children with Cancer]
People
Aside from an open and appreciative corporate culture, we build on the following aspects of career development in our role as a modern employer:
- Social benefits such as Hansefit gym membership, JobRad bike leasing programme, a company pension scheme and corporate discounts
- New office building in an urban setting, equipped with state-of-the-art technology
- Flexitime arrangements and options for mobile work
Education & team building
We nurture an inspirational working environment that fosters initiative, team spirit and an entrepreneurial mindset. Our targeted workshops and training programmes help employees to develop their full potential:
- Internal workshops and talks on relevant topics
- Individual advanced training programmes
- Off-site and team building events
Governance
Guidelines
ESG is an integral part of our corporate culture. We have defined binding structures and guidelines to give clear orientation to our employees and stakeholders. They include our Code of Conduct, our EDG Guidelines for Real Estate Development and organisational measures that are firmly enshrined in our internal Corporate Manual. These measures create transparency, dependability and a shared understanding of how to act responsibly.
Good Governance
As family-run company built on strong values, we practise good governance in the form of transparent, responsible and legally compliant decision-making processes. We have established internal positions at both company and project level to consolidate all ESG-related issues within the Group. These appointees take central responsibility for the planning, coordination and implementation of all ESG initiatives.
Reporting
We continuously communicate the objectives, guiding principles and results of our ESG strategy to our employees and stakeholders. In addition to our regularly published sustainability report, this includes the town hall meetings we initiate as well as internal, project-based jour fixes with our employees.
Bringing sustainable ideas to life.
We promote biodiversity in the Black Forest with the renaturation of the River Wutach.
Social involvement and initiatives
We believe that social and socio-political responsibility is not limited to individual aspects of real estate development, but begins where the future is built: with people. Our Group therefore has a long-standing commitment to promoting talented local young people in sport, the arts and wherever involvement and social support are needed.
We strongly believe that every one of us deserves the chance to discover our personal strengths and develop them further. And it is not all about financial support. We care deeply about providing inspiration, building bridges and creating spaces where young people, artists and socially disadvantaged individuals can flourish.
Sustainability at project level
Our new build projects subscribe to holistic sustainability concepts regarding both environmental and social aspects. Sustainability has been embedded in our corporate DNA since day one. We revitalise buildings wherever this is possible and logical. Doing so conserves resources, saves grey energy and can even help to preserve historical locations. In our view, development and preservation are not a contradiction.
Overview of our typical ESG approaches in development
Certified, award-winning, connected
Sustainability is an integral part of our corporate strategy. Recognised green building certificates demonstrate the quality and environmental credentials of our buildings clearly and transparently. In addition to DGNB certification for new builds and portfolio properties, we have also obtained BREEAM certification for our existing real estate and are currently undergoing further certification processes. Our objective in this regard is always to obtain DGNB Gold Standard certification or higher for all new commercial and mixed-use projects. In addition, we are involved in numerous other initiatives, partnerships and certifications to continuously improve the sustainability of our properties and meet European climate targets.
