Sustainability continues to deliver results for Stockland and communities across Australia

Stockland’s long-standing commitment to leadership in sustainability is highlighted in its FY18 Annual Review and Sustainability Reporting released today, showcasing the group’s achievements across its strategic, financial, social and environmental priorities and performance measures.

Mark Steinert, Managing Director and CEO Stockland, said: “These reports demonstrate the shared value we create for our securityholders, customers, community and the environment through the world-leading sustainability initiatives we’re implementing. Our leadership was recognised by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, which recently named Stockland the most sustainable real estate company globally, and by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, which recently named Stockland the Global Sector Leader for Listed Diversified – Office/Retail companies.

“We have lifted our investment in renewable energy to over $30 million, delivered over $7.7 million in community contributions in FY18 alone, and continue to enjoy strong employee engagement and widespread recognition for our diversity and inclusion efforts.

“Over the past decade energy efficiency improvements across our assets have saved our business and tenants over $91 million – so we know that investing in sustainability makes good business sense, in addition to creating jobs and opportunities for people living in our communities,” Mr Steinert continued.

Stockland’s 2018 Annual Review is an integrated report of its financial, social and environmental performance, available at www.stockland.com.au/investor-centre/results.

Importantly our sustainability and social initiatives make a real difference to our communities and customers. Resident satisfaction is 93 per cent and Stockland Retirement Living residents exceed national averages for personal wellbeing with their satisfaction above 8.4 out of 10. Stockland creates $1.66 in social value for every $1.00 invested in our retirement communities, reflecting security benefits, reduced social isolation and avoided hospital and aged care costs incurred by government.

Mark Steinert said “I am particularly proud of our female representation in management which is over 45 per cent, with a target of 50 per cent by 2020. We are absolutely committed to equality and fairness for all our employees and embrace flexibility as the future of a healthy and sustainable way to work.”

Stockland’s online Sustainability Reporting is a series of deep dives on the focus areas of our sustainability strategy and is available at www.stockland.com.au/sustainability/downloads.

Achievements that demonstrate Stockland’s sustainability strategy in action:

• Committing to net zero carbon – Stockland is committed to achieving net zero carbon by 2030 in its Logistics and Retirement Living portfolios, and Corporate Head Offices based on the World Green Building Council “Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment”
  
  
• Setting the Australian benchmark for renewables and energy efficiency – Stockland has saved over $91 million since FY06 through energy efficiency improvements, increasing its total investment in solar photovoltaics to $30 million.
  
  
• Continued excellence in creating liveable communities – Stockland has achieved 93 per cent resident satisfaction across its residential communities, leveraging its proprietary Liveability Index to focus on what matters most to residents. Stockland Retirement Living residents exceed national averages for personal wellbeing and have scored their satisfaction above 8.4 out of 10 every year since 2006.
  
  
• Contributing over $7.7m to our local communities – Stockland has partnered with community organisations to enhance community liveability with 782 community development activities during the reporting period, including inclusive playspaces certified by Touched by Olivia, healthy eating workshops with Jamie’s Ministry of Food, and Heart Foundation walking groups.
  
  
• Comprehensive climate risk management and disclosure – Stockland has been an early adopter of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, becoming the first Australian property company to lodge TCFD-aligned disclosures with the Australian Securities Exchange in February 2018. Stockland extended its scenario analysis by considering risks and opportunities for the business if Australia trends toward net zero emissions by 2050.
  
  
• Valuing the social contribution of our Retirement Living portfolio – a social return on investment analysis revealed that Stockland creates $1.66 in social value for every $1 it invests in its Retirement Living portfolio. The social value relates to security benefits and reduced social isolation experienced by residents, as well as avoided hospital and aged care costs incurred by government.
  
  
• Industry leadership in Green Star properties – over the reporting period Stockland achieved a 6 Star Green Star - Communities rating for its residential community at Waterlea, and a 5 Star Green Star Design rating for its redeveloped Stockland Green Hills Retail Town Centre. Stockland has the most Green Star rated residential communities and retail town centres in Australia.
  
  
• Furthering diversity and inclusion – Stockland has over 45 per cent female representation in management, with a target of 50 per cent by 2020. Stockland was recognised as an Employer of Choice by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency for the fourth consecutive year, enhanced its LGBTI+ inclusion efforts by participating in the Australian Workplace Equality Index, and was named a Top 20 Employer for Dads.
  
  
• Maintaining a strong employee culture – Stockland once again exceeded the Australian National Norm with an employee engagement score of 83 per cent. It continues to enhance health and safety outcomes with a corporate lost time injury frequency rate of 1.6, the lowest rate in seven years.
  
  
• Continuing to focus on human rights – Stockland completed an organisation-wide human rights issues review, which supported the organisation’s focus on diversity issues such as LGBTI+ employees and indigenous reconciliation, while preparing it for forthcoming legislation on modern slavery in the supply chain.