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 guidelines to be respected and observed without exceptions and limitations. Observance of high ethical standards of behaviour characterised by personal responsibility and 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 in shareholder value.

Ecological responsibility

While 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. They are usually more than compensated for in the short to medium term by means of lower operating and maintenance expenses and a longer life expectancy. When taking into consideration the entire life of a building, it shows that projects that are planned and realised sensitive to the ecology and easy on the environment can be considered profitable and by all means consistent with economic interests.

At Allreal, development, planning and realisation of all projects are based on the principle of careful use of resources and minimum disruption of the environment. The company thus ensures to comply with the applicable provisions of environmental law, careful use of non-renewable sources of energy and implementation of energy-saving measures during realisation and operation of real estate. As a consequence, projects for third parties, for residential ownership and for the company’s own portfolio are balanced both in terms of ecology and the economy.

In this connection, Allreal has made a name for itself as a pioneer and pioneer in the development, planning and implementation of ecologically exemplary projects. The company has realised more than 70 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 Award. Moreover, Allreal is implementing Switzerland’s first building complex – Richti Wallisellen – which complies with the requirements of the 2000-watt society, and in Mönchaltorf the first residential complex in canton Zurich to comply with the Minergie standard A. In the spring of 2013, Allreal was distinguished by the Minergie Association for the realisation of 1.3 million square metres of certified energy reference area.

In 2013, Allreal worked on the realisation of 10 Minergie buildings – one own project and nine third party contracts – representing a construction sum of CHF 667 million. Upon completion of the projects under construction on the cut-off date, one will comply with the Minergie P standard, one with the Minergie A standard and 20 with the Minergie standard.

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 provides a precise inventory of the current status. A 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 in order to lower energy consumption and the connected reduction of pollutant emission.

The calculation of energy and water consumption takes into consideration income-producing properties for which the necessary information is available across a twelve-month accounting period. In the 2013 financial year, this applies to 15 residential complexes at a total market value of CHF 446 million and 39 commercial buildings at a total market value of CHF 1 895 million (2012: 19 residential/32 commercial buildings). Comparability is, however, restricted as both the composition of the portfolio and the parameters differ from year to year.

Total energy consumption (electricity and heating) of the surveyed properties in the year under review amounted to 53.6 million kilowatt-hours corresponding to an average consumption per building included in the survey of about 1 million kilowatt-hours. These values correspond to a CO2 equivalent of 19 000 tons or an average of some 350 tons.

Water consumption of the surveyed properties amounted to 293 562 cubic metres corresponding to an average consumption per property of 5 436 cubic metres.

The reasons for the increased values when compared to the previous year concern the higher number of commercial buildings in the surveyed portfolio and a higher number of heating days. Adjusted to the longer and more intensive heating period the total energy consumption decreased when compared to the previous year by some 2%.

Total energy consumption

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. In 2013, annual expenses of internal and external continuing and further training amounted to CHF 780 per employee, corresponding to 3.1 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 on-going 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, such as the International Opera Studio and support for children suffering from cancer. The company welcomes and supports volunteer work performed by its employees in their spare time. Moreover, the company demonstrates its commitment to the society and social responsibility by its membership in various non-party or politically non-partial organisations, which include Avenir Suisse, a free-market liberal Swiss think tank, and Stiftung Öffentlichkeit und Gesellschaft, an organisation affiliated to the University of Zurich championing quality in media work, both on the side of the public and the media.

A significant cultural commitment reaching out far beyond the company is Allreal’s collection of contemporary architectural photography. The photographs concern acquisitions and commissions which, as far as possible, take into consideration young photographers and those at an early stage of their artistic career.