Supporting the
environmental
transition

Discover the Better Places Certification - a transparent rating of the sustainability of all our centres

The Better Places Certification

At Westfield we are committed to the environmental transition of cities and the sustainable evolution of retail. To evaluate and monitor our progress, we developed the Better Places Certification, a tool that helps our destinations stay committed to reducing environmental impact and creating positive social change. The Certification assesses our destinations based on 96 criteria, measuring a wide variety of indicators from the amount of water used to the number of jobs created locally. This framework is a starting point, enabling us to monitor our performance so we can keep improving the environmental and social impact of all our centres. All our shopping destinations will be graded from A to E, then challenged to improve their grade, creating a virtuous circle of sustainable change and progress.

Continuously improving sustainability at our destinations

WasteOur destinations implement waste-sorting and recycling programmes and work to continuously reduce the volume of waste they produce. Visitors and tenants are encouraged to sort and recycle their own waste, and we strive to send no waste to the landfill by the end of 2025, and reach 70% of recycling rate by 2030.
Sustainable RetailWe support the sustainable evolution of our retailers’ offer via the Sustainable Retail Index. This index provides insights into the progress of performance and the commitments of retailers in their sustainable transition efforts. Through initiatives such as the Westfield Good Festival, we promote more sustainable experiences and support circular consumption. Learn more about the SRI!
Existing CertificationsMany of our destinations already have existing certifications that rate the performance of their buildings and activities, such as BREEAM-in-Use, Energy Performance Certificates and health & safety scores.
WaterThe amount of water each shopping centre uses is carefully monitored to find ways for continuous improvement. All centres are given targets to reduce their water usage and tasked to find alternative sources, such as collecting rainwater for nourishing plants or flushing toilets.
BiodiversityWe take action to protect and support biodiversity in our assets by setting up a biodiversity action plan, using eco-labelled cleaning, maintenance and phytosanitary-free gardening products, as well as increasing biodiversity-friendly areas on site.
Health, Safety & ComfortAs part of the Better Places Certification, the air quality of each of our centres is tested and analysed. Air quality in indoor areas is monitored to ensure it complies with all health and safety standards.
MobilityThe transportation used by our visitors is a major contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions, so we are implementing solutions to encourage the use of more sustainable mobility. These include the expansion of bike parking, increased access to public transportation, electric vehicle charging points and more.
Energy & ClimateThe energy consumption of each shopping centre is assessed. Centres are tasked with continuously reducing their energy intensity and assessing the likely impacts of climate change on their assets and activities.
Communities & Local SupportOur shopping centres are local hubs, bolstering economic and social vitality, and delivering jobs and skills, social inclusion and health programmes to serve local communities. Each destination is scored on the work it does to support its local community and strives to create a positive impact, from creating jobs to promoting charitable causes, fostering social inclusion and providing access to those living with disabilities.

Ranked and rated

Using this data, all our European shopping centres will be rated from A to E. Each centre will also develop a local action plan to continuously improve its score. We are on track to rate our first 10 shopping centres by the end of 2024 and all our remaining European and UK centres within the next three years. Rating methodology and indicators have been developed with internationally recognised experts Bureau Veritas and WWF France (1).

Westfield commits for the environnemental transition

We are committed to improve the carbon footprint and environmental efficiency of our assets and operations. We contribute to global carbon neutrality, with a clear priority towards reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions, and we operate an efficient and resilient portfolio that minimises negative impact on resources and the environment.

Learn more about our group commitments
Energy use50% reduction in energy intensity of shopping centres by 2030 (2).
Emissions90% greenhouse gas emission reduction on Scopes 1 & 2 by 2030. 50% greenhouse gas emission reduction on Scopes 1, 2 & 3 by 2030 (3).
Water conservationReduce water consumption intensity by 20% per footfall by 2030 (3).
RecyclingZero waste to landfill by the end of 2025. Recycle 70% of our waste by 2030.

Our Better Places Certification and performance

Thanks to our Better Places Certification, we can assess the potential for improvement at our centre. Your Westfield team is working continuously to enhance this grade over time.

Westfield Glòries' commitments

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

  • We currently have a D rating on our energy performance certificate.

  • We have the BREEAM certification in use, with EXCEPTIONAL ratings in Building and EXCELLENT in Management.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

Our goal is to improve our Energy Efficiency Certificate to A (Very Efficient).

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

  • We ensure that our equipment is turned off when the shopping center closes.

  • 100% of the electricity purchased for current uses comes from renewable energy sources.

  • 15,500 kWh of electricity is produced annually on-site through solar panels.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

Our goal is to increase the electricity produced on-site through solar panels by 30 times.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

  • The water we collected in 2024 corresponds to 687 showers saved.

  • We use reclaimed rainwater to water the plants in the shopping center.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

  • Our goal is to reduce our water consumption by 25% by 2030.

  • Our goal is to collect and reuse more than 10,000 m³ of water per year from treated greywater, rainwater, and groundwater for use in toilets, gardening, and other cleaning tasks.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

  • We have outdoor gardens that promote biodiversity.

  • We only use eco-friendly gardening and cleaning products. We perform reasonable trimming and pruning of our green spaces.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

Our goal is to increase the number of insect hotels and plant species to restore natural habitats.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

  • We recycle more than 385 tons of organic matter per year for compost creation.

  • 95% of our waste is recycled or converted into energy.

  • We sort and recycle 27 tons of cardboard each month; equivalent to 270,000 egg cartons, and 7 tons of plastic per month; equivalent to 233,000 water bottles.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

  • Our goal is to recycle 70% of our waste by 2030. Reduce waste production by 20% by 2030.

  • Increase the percentage of recycled waste by 100%.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

We provide 14 charging stations for electric vehicles and 52 bicycle spaces to promote more sustainable mobility.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

Our goal is to improve the bicycle services we offer to our visitors.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

  • We monitor the air quality of our indoor spaces.

  • 100% greenhouse gas emission-free in scopes 1 and 2.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (scopes 1, 2, and 3) by 2030, compared to the base year 201.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

Some of our stores have been rated as "Active," "Advanced," or "Leader" in our Sustainable Retail Index, based on retail revenue. So far, fashion clothing, sportswear, jewelry, handbags, and footwear and accessories retailers have been evaluated. We plan to evaluate the remaining eligible retailers by 2027.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

  • Our goal is to improve the ISR rating of your shopping center each year.

  • We want to increase our offering of organic food products.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

  • Through Work@ Westfield Glòries, we support local employment. In 2024, more than 100 job offers were posted and over 30 people were hired.

  • Once a year, we organize the Westfield Good Festival, where the shopping center's brands share their sustainable initiatives.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

  • We would like to partner with the city/local association to increase the number of available jobs in your center.

  • We would like to implement more initiatives to better accommodate people with special needs.

(1) WWF France shared its expertise and critical perspective on the biodiversity, water, mobility, energy climate and sustainable consumption criteria.
(2) In kWh/sqm of the energy consumed to power common areas, against our 2015 baseline.
(3) In litres per visit, against our 2019 baseline.
(4) A ranking of energy efficiency covering the amount of power used by a property for heating, cooling, lighting and hot water. The scale runs from A to G.
(5) Electricity produced by renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power.
(6) Shower of 8 minutes.
(7) The SRI is a comprehensive assessment tool providing insight into the progress of retailers in their sustainable transition: Leader: retailers consistently outperforming peers, setting industry standards. Advanced: retailers above average, actively contributing to the industry’s transition. Active: retailers meeting or slightly exceeding expectations, committed to improvement. Starter: retailers showing promise as new entrants, relative growth. Inactive: retailers falling short of standards, no commitment to improvement.