Sustainability

Responsible entrepreneurial activity and sustainable corporate management have always determined Allreal’s strategy and operation. The company is aware of and assumes its responsibility toward the environment and the society.

The code of conduct applying to the entire Allreal Group describes the expected behaviour of employees, contractors and suppliers, thereby defining the guidelines to be respected and observed without exceptions and limitations. The observance of high ethical standards of behaviour characterised by personal responsibility and the strict adherence to national and international legislation of significance to the company represents the basis of all entrepreneurial activity.

Economic responsibility

Allreal endeavours to provide its shareholders with a regular return comparable to a direct investment in real estate and allowing shareholders to participate in the company’s economic success. The proven successful business model combines a stable-income real-estate portfolio with the activities of a general contractor. Generally, up to 75% of the earnings resulting from the operating business are distributed to shareholders. Allreal usually invests the remaining approximately 25% of operating earnings in new or initiated projects intended for its own portfolio or for sale to third parties.

Thanks to the clear strategy, considerate handling of risk, sound financing and the high earnings power, Allreal provides the best conditions for further growth and a continuous increase of its shareholder value.

Ecological responsibility

While the impact on the environment may be minimised when constructing or operating real estate, it cannot be eliminated completely. Efforts to minimise environmental pollution usually lead to higher production costs which frequently contradict economic interests, at least in the short term. Allreal is aware of this conflict, and the company strives to limit its impact on the environment to a minimum and to make frugal use of limited resources. Whenever possible, Allreal chooses ecological projects and advises its clients concerning environmentally friendly implementation of their construction projects. Moreover, Allreal endeavours to protect the environment and preserve non-renewable resources by ensuring compliance with the applicable provisions of environmental law, the promotion of energy-saving measures, and sustainable construction. In this connection, Allreal has made a name for itself as a pioneer and trailblazer in the development, planning and implementation of ecologically exemplary projects. The company has realised more than 50 Minergie buildings since the year 2000, including the zero-heating energy Eulachhof complex in Winterthur, which was granted the Swiss Solar Award and the Watt d’Or. Moreover, Allreal is implementing Switzerland’s first building complex – Richti Wallisellen – that complies with the requirements of the 2000-watt society.

In 2012, Allreal worked on the realisation of nine new projects and refurbishment projects complying with the Minergie standard and valued at a total of CHF 206 million. The Minergie residential and commercial buildings begun in the period under review refer to one own project and eight third-party projects.

Exemplary Minergie projects

In Widnau in canton St. Gallen, Allreal is realising the Bommert residential complex for a private owner on some 11 000 square metres of land. The project with a construction sum of about CHF 25 million comprises six apartment buildings with a total of 63 rental units. Compliance with the Minergie-P-Eco standard ensures even lower energy consumption than the Minergie standard and healthy and ecological construction method. Completion of the six future-orientated buildings is scheduled for mid-2013. Bommert is the first large residential complex in Eastern Switzerland complying with the Minergie-P-Eco standard.

Bruggächer in Mönchaltorf is an own project and the first residential complex in canton Zurich that complies with the Minergie-A standard. The project, which is being realised on Allreal’s own land and was started in spring of 2012, is valued at some CHF 44 million. It comprises nine buildings with a total of 50 condominium apartments in the medium to higher price segment. The sales rate of the apartments in this pioneering complex ready for occupation in autumn 2013 is extremely gratifying.

In Zurich-Aussersihl, Allreal is currently refurbishing and renovating a cooperative residential complex built between 1927 and 1929 and comprising 132 apartments. In addition to the total renovation of the residential units, the contract includes the rectification of construction defects, the combination of individual units to form larger and more family-friendly apartments, the creation of additional residential space by means of extensions and the inclusion of five elevator shafts. In order to reduce energy consumption, individual construction sections were insulated and two new heating plants taking advantage of groundwater thermal recovery. The total project volume adds up to about CHF 25 million. In 2012, the City of Zurich awarded the Sihlfeld complex the “Sustained Renovation” award for socially responsible renovation of residential buildings.

Energy balance of income-producing real estate

In terms of operating and maintaining its own income-producing real estate, Allreal endeavours to keep the strain on the environment as low as possible. For its income-producing properties, the company measures and analyses energy consumption, water consumption and CO2 emission based on the internationally accepted recommendations of the European Public Real Estate Association EPRA. The data systematically gathered for the first time in 2012 for 51 of 64 commercial and residential buildings provides a precise inventory of the current status. The multi-year comparison, which will be available in the future and continuously updated, is of relevance for the implementation and control of sustainable measures taken to lower energy consumption and the connected reduction of pollutant emission.

In 2012, total energy consumption (general electricity and heat) of the included buildings amounted to 44.4 million kilowatt hours or average consumption per included building of some 870 000 kilowatt hours. These values represent a CO2 equivalent of in total 14 931 tonnes, or an average of 293 tonnes.

Water consumption of the included buildings amounted to a total of 269 700 cubic metres or an average consumption per building of 5 300 cubic metres.

Total energy consumption of the buildings included

Average water consumption of the buildings included

Society and social responsibility

Efficient, capable and experienced employees are of major importance with regard to successful long-term business activity. That is why Allreal attaches great significance to continuing and systematic further training of its employees at all hierarchical levels and in all areas of activity. Annual expenses of internal and external continuing and further training amount to CHF 1 920 per employee, corresponding to 5.5 training days. Moreover, Allreal offers young people the opportunity to enter working life through an apprenticeship or a trainee programme.

An employee survey carried out twice a year ensures that conflict potential is recognised early and corresponding measures are defined and implemented on time.

To keep the quality of the services provided at a consistently high level, Allreal maintains a management system that applies to all employees and in which all processes and procedures are bindingly defined. Moreover, all aspects concerning occupational safety and safety on the construction site are clearly defined.

Adherence to the applicable safety regulations is regularly monitored by an internal safety management representative.

Allreal cultivates ongoing communications with various stakeholders and exchanges ideas with representatives of politics, the authorities, political parties and associations based on open and transparent communications.

In addition, Allreal supports cultural and social organisations within the framework of long-term agreements.