Green transition – a strategic approach

COP30, held this year in Brazil, called for decisive action to turn climate commitments into measurable progress. The focus is clear: accelerate implementation and strengthen resilience. Real estate stands at the centre of this challenge, as buildings account for a significant share of global emissions. At Colliers, we understand that the time for pledges has passed – now is the time to act. That is why we have embraced the green transition as a strategic, long-term priority, starting with our own operations and extending our expertise to clients and the wider market.

In 2025, we introduced our first local Sustainability Strategy, designed specifically for the Polish market while remaining aligned with Colliers’ global principles. This strategy reflects our belief that meaningful change starts at home. It focuses on three interconnected areas: transforming our own organisation, supporting our clients in their green transition, and promoting sustainability across the real estate sector. These pillars guide every decision we make and every project we deliver.

Leading by example – our Warsaw office
Our internal transformation is best illustrated by our new Warsaw office, developed under the Newffice concept. This space embodies the principles of sustainable design and employee wellbeing. From the very beginning, we focused on reducing the embodied carbon footprint of the fit-out – even though no local benchmark existed. The lack of standardised methodology and limited availability of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) meant we had to set our own standards. And we did: achieving an impressive level of 238 kilograms of CO₂e per square meter.

We embraced circularity by reusing 30% of furniture from our previous office and integrated biophilic elements to create a healthier, more inspiring environment. Air quality was a top priority and a major investment – sensors were installed throughout the space to ensure optimal conditions for our team. We implemented over 100 solutions from the WELL Building Standard, from lighting and acoustics to ergonomic workstations. The result? A workplace that truly supports people – not only in their work but in their overall wellbeing.

Our office has been officially WELL Pre-certified by the International WELL Building Institute, confirming our commitment to health, inclusivity, and sustainability. Additionally, the building housing our office is pursuing the highest levels of certification, including LEED, WELL, Airscore A&O, Activescore, Wiredscore, Smartscore, and the Building Without Barriers standard. For us, it is more than just a workplace – it’s a tangible expression of our values and a model we are scaling across other projects we lead.

Empowering clients to decarbonise
By applying these practices ourselves, we’ve gained valuable insights that allow us to support clients in navigating their own sustainability goals. Our role extends far beyond advisory services – we deliver comprehensive solutions that enable organisations to decarbonise and become more resilient – from energy audits and practical decarbonisation plans to full implementation. In one of our projects, we integrated a photovoltaic installation with an air-source heat pump system. As a result, 80% of the electricity consumed on-site now comes from self-generated renewable energy, significantly reducing both energy bills and CO₂ emissions. The modernisation also nearly eliminated gas from the heating system and substantially lowered operating costs.

We also advise clients on contracting green energy, enabling them to reduce the carbon footprint of electricity consumption almost to zero.

As one of the first companies in Poland, we calculate the embodied carbon footprint in office interior fit-outs. We reduce it through more efficient space planning, low-emission materials and furniture, and optimised HVAC system layouts.

Our clients can access public funding for decarbonisation initiatives – we provide guidance on how to effectively leverage available instruments such as grants and preferential loans, which help partially finance investments in decarbonisation.

Fifteen years ago, we were among the first on the market to establish a team dedicated to promoting environmental knowledge, and today we complete around 30 building certifications annually for our clients.

These efforts are not only about compliance with EU Taxonomy, CRREM pathways and SBTi targets – they create real business value. By future-proofing assets and operations, our clients strengthen their competitive advantage and enhance the long-term resilience of their portfolios. Recent examples include supporting Green Caffè Nero in securing renewable energy for 34 locations, designing sustainable offices for Medicover and Roche, and conducting ESG audits for Skanska’s office buildings in Poland and Hungary.

Driving industry-wide change
We also recognise that sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation. Colliers actively promotes sustainability awareness across the real estate industry through education, partnerships, and thought leadership. We are proud members of the UN Global Compact and the Science-Based Targets Initiative, reporting annually on our progress. We monitor our supply chain through Know Your Supplier assessments, and today, 64% of our partners have already implemented ESG measures, with another 15% planning to do so within three years.

For us, sustainable transition that demands persistence, innovation, and collaboration. As a responsible leader, we approach this challenge holistically, understanding that only a long-term perspective can deliver meaningful results. We are determined to lead by example – starting with ourselves and extending our expertise to those who trust us.

For 28 years, Colliers has been actively shaping the real estate market in Poland and the Central and Eastern European region, becoming a symbol of the transformation of the Polish economy. We support our clients – property owners, investors, tenants, banks, and public institutions – in dynamic growth, pursuit of modernity, and adaptation to climate change.

Together, we can accelerate the transformation towards more sustainable future of real estate.