Maia - December 17th 2010
6th edition of the ACGE Sectorial Index
Sonae Sierra leads Corporate Climatic Responsibility ranking for the 5th time
- Acknowledgment of Sonae Sierra's carbon emissions reduction strategy
- Most internationally awarded company in the shopping centre sector
Sonae Sierra leads for the fifth time the "Corporate Climatic Responsibility: ACGE Sectorial Index 2010", published by "Euronatura - Centro para o Direito Ambiental e Desenvolvimento Sustentado", reinforcing the Company's national and international commitment to the Sustainability area.
The ACGE Index is based on direct contact with the companies and on the fulfillment of criteria for commitment in fighting the climatic changes phenomenon.
In its 6th edition, the project evaluated the performance of 54 companies, assessed in 42 criteria associated with the administrative structure and supervision of environmental issues, as well as the management of environmental audits and the dissemination and communication of issues connected with climatic changes and the inventory of greenhouse gases.
The top ranked companies are the ones that are able to establish a structured and consistent plan with long-term objectives, master the monitoring of climatic indicators, use CO2 as a preferred indicator for the definition of goals and express their concerns and responsibility reporting in the value chain.
The ACGE Index allows the comparison of management policies results of the different companies, in a perspective of competitiveness and improvement of the environmental performance, also taking on a dimension of public awareness and information.
Acknowledgment in the environmental area
Sonae Sierra's strong commitment in the Sustainability area was received wide international acknowledgment. In 2010, Sonae Sierra was distinguished for the second consecutive year at the "European Risk Management Awards", an initiative of British magazine "Strategic Risk" that rewards the best and most innovative actions in the risk management area. This distinction, in the "Best Environmental Risk Control" category, acknowledges Sonae sierra's commitment to being the best Company specialized in sustainable shopping centres.
In 2009, the Company was distinguished at the "Sustainable Energy Europe Awards" (SEE), an initiative of the European Commission, which rewards the best and most innovative programs in the area of energetic sustainability, at a European level. This distinction, in the "Market Transformation" category, acknowledges the company's innovation in the energetic sustainability area, through the implementation of the pioneering "green centre" concept in the development and management of its centres.
In 2008, Sonae Sierra had already been distinguished with the "Green Thinker Award", by Expo Real and Dutch magazine "PropertyEU", acknowledging Sierra's pioneering attitude in the matter, and classifying the company as the "most sustainable developer in Europe", in the real estate area. In the same year, the company also became certified with the ISO 14001 standard for its Environmental Management System (EMS) in five finished projects and 18 shopping centres in operation.
In 2007, Sonae Sierra won the ReSource Award, a distinction from the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC), at the European Shopping Centre Awards 2007, which rewards the excellence of the company's long-term commitment to sustainable development.
Sierra was also the only shopping centre company in the world represented at the Energy Efficency in Buildings Project of the WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainale Development) - a project for the "zero carbon building" vision - and the only company in the sector to subscribe the WBCSD manifesto for the reduction of building energy consumption.
We are also the only Portuguese company represented at the Greenprint Foundation, which brings together a group of leading companies in the real estate, investment and financial areas, committed to the reduction of carbon emissions in the real estate and construction sector. The objective of this organization is to create solutions for the improvement of energetic efficiency, focusing essentially construction, which represents 1/3 of the total carbon emissions on the planet.
About Sonae Sierra
Sonae Sierra, www.sonaesierra.com , is the international shopping centre specialist, with a passion for bringing innovation and excitement to the shopping centre industry. The Company owns 51 Shopping Centres in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Romania and Brazil, with a total Gross Lettable Area (GLA) of 2 million m2. Sonae Sierra is also providing services to third parties in Cyprus, Serbia, Morrocco and Colombia. Currently, the Company has 3 projects under construction and 7 new projects in different phases of completion in Portugal, Italy, Germany, Greece, Romania and Brazil. In 2009 our Shopping Centres had more than 436 million visits.