Shopping centres, retail outlets and commercial properties have a number of particular challenges in greening their buildings such as split incentives which can be addressed through green lease arrangements. Retailers can also be perceived as a vehicle for greenwashing and promoting an industry which pushes unsustainable consumption, however, these may be at different points in the journey forward.

To help with this journey, this page will soon outline some of the leaders in this area and point you to relevant information, research and resources. Certainly there exists many property owners, developers and peak bodies claiming to be progressing sustainability, performing at different ends of the quality spectrum.

Peak bodies in the green retail and property sector

• The National Retail Association’s sustainability resources:
  Australia’s NRA is educating retailers about the environmental and economic benefits of improved environmental performance. The NRA encourages and support retailers to implement environmentally sustainable practices within their business and reduce their use of energy, water and waste in order to increase profitability whilst caring for our environment. More info at: http://www.nra.net.au/sustainable-retailing-resource-centre.html
• GRESB – Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark for Retail and Office:
  GRESB is an industry-driven organization committed to assessing the sustainability performance of real estate portfolios (public, private and direct) around the globe (and based in the Netherlands). The dynamic benchmark is used by institutional investors to engage with their investments with the aim to improve the sustainability performance of their investment portfolio, and the global property sector at large. More info at: https://www.gresb.com/
• International Council of Shopping Centres: ICSC is committed to conducting its business in ways that minimize its impact on the environment through a variety of initiatives. Additionally, ICSC is committed to aiding retailers, developers, property operations, architects, construction professionals and others in their goal to develop, design and operate their retail property in the most efficient and environmentally responsible manner so as to preserve resources for future generations to enjoy all around the world. More info at: http://www.icsc.org/sustainability

Green retail assessment tools:

• Green Star for retail (Green Building Council of Australia)
• NABERs for Shopping Centres (National Australian Built Environment Rating scheme)

Other relevant organisations and resources:

• Media on green retail and commercial properties:
  http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/category/property/retail
• Green Retail Decisions is a USA-based organisation
• Catalyst has undertaken research and advocacy in relation to a sustainable retail and property sector:
  http://www.catalyst.org.au/campaigns/building-sustainability

Green retail and green leasing guides:

• The Tenants and Landlord’s Guide to Happiness – Fifth Estate in collaboration with Sydney’s Better Building Partnership
• The Shopping Centre Study – Green Lease by ICSC

Books on green retail:

• Sustainable Retail Development – new success strategies by Jerry Yudelson
• Greentailing by Stern & Ander
• Force of Nature: the unlikely story of Walmart

Articles on green retail:

• Applause for Australia’s green building leaders 2013
• Green leases – will tenants get what they want? by Rodney Timm for the Fifth Estate

See also pages from Getting to Sustainability:

Energy Saving
Green Buildings

More to come!