Our sustainability strategy

We are following a sustainable growth approach, where economic-financial aspects are increasingly integrated with social-environmental ones.

As of 2017 IGD’s sustainability strategy is summarized in «Becoming G.r.e.a.t.», which testifies to the company’s commitment to sustainable growth which focuses on environmental issues (Green), on people (Responsible), on being ethical (Ethical), in attractive places (Attractive), together with its stakeholders (Together).

The strategy is made up of three elements which make it effectively operational:

• the material issues: currently the issues are 10, defined with the materiality analysis carried out in 2017 for the first time and then reviewed in 2022 in line with the new GRI Standards. For 2023 the Group deemed it appropriate to confirm the same material issues that had emerged in 2022.
• the sustainability targets: 2023 was the second year of the 2022-2024 Business Plan with which we introduced a serie of targets – 41 – up to 2024, for each of the priorities identified (Green, Responsible, Ethical, Attractive, Together). Furthermore, for the first time, we set long-term ambitions up to 2030.
• the risks and related policies/actions: the relative risks have been identified for each material issue and those risks correspond to policies and actions that the Company is carrying out or will carry out in the next few years.

Our process involves a structured engagement of our stakeholders. In particular, we carry out periodic surveys to understand the level of satisfaction of our visitors, of our retailers in our centres, and also of our employees by means of internal atmosphere assessments.

Three corporate bodies are involved in social responsibility:

• The Board of Directors
• The Operating Management (top management)
• The Sustainability Committee (internal work group)

Our priorities

We are committed in reducing the environmental impact and actively contributing to a transition towards a “low carbon” economy in the countries where we operate.

MATERIAL ITEMS:

• Road to zero emissions
• Zero waste
• Accessibility and sustainable mobility

We continuously place more and more attention on the wellbeing and health, both of our employees and of those that visit our shopping centres on a daily basis.

MATERIAL ITEMS:

• Good employment
• Wellbeing, health and safety

We undertake to comply with the highest ethical-social and governance standards, not only by complying with the laws in our daily business and promoting compliance with the law within our stakeholders, but also by adopting international best practices in our governance structure, communications and risk management system.

MATERIAL ITEM:

• Governance, ethics and corruption

Our approach aims to ensure our shopping centres are constantly attractive,  when carrying out actions on the assets and when managing both the retail offer and marketing initiatives, with particular focus on innovation

MATERIAL ITEMS:

• Enhancement of the portfolio
• Spaces to be lived in
• Innovation

 We work together with our stakeholders, consolidating, at local level, not only the important role of the Shopping Centres with regard to shopping, but also with regard to economic and social development, in response
to the needs of the local areas in which we operate.

MATERIAL ITEMS:

• Relations with the community and stakeholders

Certifications and recognitions

Our sustainability practices are becoming increasingly recognised at national and international level.

• We are particularly proud to have received in 2023, for the ninth year running, the “EPRA sBPR Gold Award” for our sustainability report.
• As at 31 December 2023, 24 of our shopping centres had obtained UNI EN ISO 14001 Environmental Certification, corresponding to 95% of m² of the portfolio, and 10 obtained the BREEAM In-Use Certification.
• In 2022 IGD obtained the BIOSAFETY TRUST CERTIFICATION Management System with regard to the entire Italian portfolio, in addition to the headquarters located in Bologna. This certification represents the first management model introduced into the market which is designed to prevent and mitigate the spread of infections to protect the health of individuals.