By Bartosz Michalski, director, logistics, SEGRO Poland

Striving to achieve its ESG objectives, SEGRO executes a multi-year business strategy focused on investments in innovative technologies. With our dual role as property owner and manager, we work hard to minimise emissions and maximise energy efficiency throughout all phases of construction and operation.

It is widely accepted that real estate contributes about 40% of global greenhouse emissions, covering the construction and use of buildings, so we engage in a variety of initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. In order to achieve our goals, we have created the Responsible SEGRO framework which focuses on three long-term priorities: Championing Low-Carbon Growth, Investing in Local Communities and Environments, and Nurturing Talent. The framework also enables us to assist our business partners in achieving their own ESG goals.

Technology-based design and construction 

Our investment planning stage, during which we use modern technologies such as BIM (Building Information Modelling), considers the environmental benefits of ecological management of a warehouse and production facility. With this solution, we can optimise the project in terms of energy efficiency, plan its parameters, and reduce CO2 emissions. It refers to the selection of building materials that meet the right parameters, such as recycled steel. Additionally, it applies to the transportation method (including the use of local sources of supply with lower emissions) and the construction phase itself. As a result, the building’s operational and embedded carbon footprint are as small as possible.  

Solutions that promote sustainability 

By using energy-efficient equipment and intelligent management systems, buildings minimise CO2 emissions. In SEGRO’s warehouses, the BMS (building management system) platform not only collects data from utility meters and facilitates the tracking of consumption trends, but also enables the integration of heating and cooling equipment, enabling precise temperature management and significant cost savings (an increase in temperature by one degree can increase energy consumption by up to 5-7%). In real time, we can adapt energy consumption to the needs of each customer and warehouse conditions. This can result in a 20% reduction in utility consumption. Our business partners also appreciate that 100% of the energy they use in SEGRO’s warehouse parks comes from wind and solar sources. 

By combining LED lighting with DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) control system, energy consumption can be reduced by more than 30%. Sensors illuminate the storage area when movement is detected. Therefore, we save energy in areas that don’t require lighting when the customer runs processes elsewhere in the facility. Our buildings are also equipped with heat pumps and photovoltaic panels. PV modules help to significantly decrease CO2 emissions – every 1,000 kWh of energy generated reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 812 kg per year. The warehouse’s roof and facade are appropriately insulated to provide additional savings. In the heat, this insulation would cause the building to overheat, which would increase its operating costs, while in the cold, it would cause huge energy losses. 

Electromobility is another environmentally friendly solution: we have already installed charging stations for electric and hybrid cars in 90% of our parks. As a result of the automatic number plate recognition system, vehicle entry times are reduced from two minutes to two seconds, resulting in a reduction in CO2 emissions. 

Taking steps to protect the environment 

The importance of ESG reporting and the desire of warehouse and production space providers and their clients to minimise the environmental impact of their operations has led to an increase in green certifications. The number of commercial properties available on the Polish market that hold BREEAM certifications, which assess a building’s sustainability, is currently 53%.  

Although certification is not compulsory, at SEGRO we ensure that all newly constructed buildings receive a minimum of ‘Excellent’ BREEAM certification from 2022 onwards. Furthermore, we are implementing solutions to achieve BREEAM In-use certification for older buildings, ensuring that the facilities where our customers’ businesses have grown continuously for decades remain of the highest quality. 

Green transformation benefits a wide range of individuals and organisations 

SEGRO also undertakes many initiatives related to the environment and local communities as part of Responsible SEGRO. Whenever possible, we operate based on detailed analysis of the actual requirements of the environments in which our warehouses and production parks are located. Among the initiatives are the installation of drinking water dispensers in educational, sports, and cultural facilities. Since 2021, we have launched 129 touchless drinking fountains in more than 100 of the institutions mentioned above in Łódź, Gliwice, Komorniki near Poznań and Ożarów near Warsaw. There are already 54,000 schoolchildren and young athletes using this healthy alternative to sugary drinks in plastic bottles. Consequently, the dispensers consumed at least 125 tons less plastic, contributing to our goal of reducing CO2 emissions and instilling healthy habits in young people. In the years to come, we plan to gradually expand the number of fountains throughout Poland. 

Additionally, we have joined the Clean River Operation program, which is a Polish nationwide campaign to clean up rivers and green spaces that are integral to our landscape. Since 2021, we have been cleaning the banks of rivers and lakes near SEGRO’s logistics parks. We had a special season this year because our customers and suppliers joined our employees as volunteers. Over the past four years, we have managed to collect 7.5 tonnes of waste. Another conservation initiative we have been implementing for several years is to strengthen the bee population. SEGRO parks in Poland currently have 60 beehives maintained by qualified beekeepers. 

We all benefit from green transformation efforts that encompass a variety of initiatives. By implementing innovative technologies and pursuing clearly defined goals, we can ensure that our action will deliver the expected results and measurable benefits for us and for future generations.