Wereldhave Belgium achieves 50.5% CO₂ reduction in just six years

PRESS RELEASE | Wereldhave Belgium, the listed real estate investor and operator of shopping centers, retail parks, and offices in Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, announces a significant milestone in its sustainability strategy: a 50.5% reduction in CO₂ emissions achieved in just six years. This performance accelerates the company’s ambition to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 — five years ahead of the European target of 2050.

The achieved CO₂ reduction is the result of Wereldhave Belgium’s strategic, data-driven Road to Paris approach, which embeds sustainability into every aspect of its operations. Since 2018, Wereldhave Belgium has systematically invested in energy-efficient solutions, modernization of technical installations, and the integration of renewable energy sources across its shopping centers. Initial progress was achieved through relatively simple measures, while the next phase requires more impactful actions — including major renovations, electrification, and innovative energy partnerships with tenants — demanding greater time and investment.

Three key pillars in defining and implementing Wereldhave Belgium’s sustainability strategy

Ambitious climate goals
Since 2018, Wereldhave Belgium has reduced its CO₂ emissions by an impressive 50.5% and aims for full carbon neutrality by 2045 — five years ahead of the European target.

Roadmap to carbon neutrality
This reduction results from the Road to Paris strategy, a data-driven roadmap supported by over €4 million of investments in 2024, focused on:

• Large-scale HVAC upgrades and the implementation of advanced Building Management Systems (BMS) to continuously optimize building performance.
• A strong commitment to renewable energy, with 8,500 operational solar panels already generating around 12% of the common-area electricity needs across the shopping centers. Upcoming solar installations, such as in Shopping Ring Kortrijk (2025), will further increase this share.
• The installation of over 350 EV charging stations, facilitating sustainable mobility and contributing to the reduction of Scope 3 emissions.

Value creation for all stakeholders
Sustainability creates tangible value for tenants (lower operating costs, future-proof locations) and investors (long-term value creation, risk mitigation). Wereldhave Belgium also contributes actively to societal impact, investing €0.9 million in 2024 (approx. 1% of net rental income) in community initiatives, and confirms its performance through 13 renewed BREEAM certifications (Very Good target).

Wereldhave Belgium remains firmly committed to a sustainable future, focusing on creating resilient, energy-efficient, and socially responsible Full Service Centers. The results achieved demonstrate that integrating sustainability is not only a forward-looking choice, but also a strategic necessity leading to measurable impact.

To further illustrate the company’s investments, commitments, and achievements, the three key pillars of Wereldhave Belgium’s sustainability strategy are detailed in the press dossier below.