Sponda's Sustainability Review 2024 – the GRESB Global Sector Leader reached its significant climate target ahead of schedule and continued its long-term sustainability work

In 2024, Sponda advanced sustainable urban development in various ways, particularly through two significant construction projects located on Mannerheimintie in Helsinki and in Tikkurila, Vantaa. The new buildings have incorporated the latest technologies and innovative solutions to minimise emissions during both construction and use. Another example of Sponda’s commitment to high ESG standards last year is the renovation of its Korkeavuorenkatu 37 property, where the energy efficiency increased by 35%, resulting in an improvement to the building energy certificate, achieving an EPC rating B.

“I am proud of our remarkable sustainability achievements in 2024. Every day, as part of our long-term strategy, we are incorporating sustainability considerations into all areas of our business. For us, sustainability is an opportunity to strengthen the real estate sector and create long-term value for our customers, stakeholders and society as a whole”, says Sponda's CEO Christian Hohenthal.

Significant investments in environmental sustainability and communities

In 2024, Sponda achieved several significant milestones in its sustainability activities.

• In the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) assessment, Sponda shared the number one position globally in its peer group as one of the most sustainable real estate companies, and was again named the Global Sector Leader in its peer group. The company has been among the top performers in GRESB for twelve years. 
• Sponda successfully achieved its climate target for energy use – from the beginning of 2025, all of its properties are now carbon neutral in terms of energy consumption during use, utilising 100% emission-free energy.
• Sponda’s climate targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) - the company’s goal is to reduce all its emissions by at least 46.2% by 2030. This target also includes indirect Scope 3 emissions in the value chain, which Sponda has reduced by 28.9% from the 2019 baseline.
• At the end of 2024, the company's first office and commercial property utilising geothermal energy was completed in Tikkurila, Vantaa. The 20,000-square-metre, LEED Platinum certified property built for Valmet, the City of Vantaa and Lidl, was completed ahead of schedule. The property is rated EPC A and is taxonomy aligned (CCM7.1 and CCM7.7).
• Sponda has succeeded in reducing energy consumption across its entire real estate portfolio by 15.9% (compared to the average for 2016–2018). Investments and energy efficiency measures helped the company achieve energy savings of more than 7,000 megawatt hours last year.
• Sponda achieved four new environmental certifications and 12 re-certifications last year, and 91% of the company's properties were BREEAM or LEED certified by the end of 2024. 80% of the company's real estate portfolio is certified Excellent or Platinum.
• Sponda continued to invest in biodiversity in accordance with its sustainability strategy. The company works with ecologists to strengthen its positive impact on local ecosystems. Across 80% of the company’s real estate portfolio, measures have been taken to support biodiversity.
• Shopping centres owned by Sponda hosted more than 128 community events, reaching 5.7 million people. These events included Earth Hour and Helsinki Pride. In addition, Sponda’s employees carried out a total of about 400 hours of volunteer work during their working hours.
• Sponda's own office premises in the centre of Helsinki, which were commissioned a year ago, achieved the WELL Gold certification and raised the attendance of the company’s staff to more than 70%.
  
  

“Being ranked among the most sustainable real estate companies in the GRESB assessment demonstrates our commitment to sustainability. I’m particularly pleased that from the beginning of 2025, all our properties now use 100% emission-free energy and are carbon neutral in terms of energy consumption during use. We are taking concrete steps to increase the use of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and minimise our carbon footprint.  However, sustainability is not limited to environmental actions but also covers the principles of social responsibility and good governance”, says Sponda's Head of ESG Pirkko Airaksinen.

Sponda has taken early action to implement the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), well in advance of the regulatory deadline. Sponda’s Sustainability Review 2024 can be downloaded from Sponda’s website.