Entrepreneurial activities are increasingly aimed at reducing their negative impact on the environment and supporting the environment they operate in. This is all thanks to the ESG strategies, the implementation of which seems to be the only right way for sustainable business development. And this is what is successfully happening at Platan.
CH Platan is located in the very centre of Zabrze, right next to the City Hall, cultural facilities such as the Theatre or the Symphony Orchestra of Zabrze Philharmonic, as well as local institutions. Numerous projects carried out with local authorities, as well as Platan’s location, significantly contribute to the centre’s attractiveness – both for customers and for entities choosing Platan to locate their showrooms or organise various events related to health, culture or environmental protection. Following the modernisation in 2018, Platan has gained a modern, attractive design that attracts customers who are keen to spend time here.
Long-term sustainability strategy
At the NEPI Rockcastle Group, to which Platan belongs, the management and the board of directors have decided to link the company’s financing to a sustainability strategy.
– Today, we cannot afford a different path – says Magdalena Gibney, Group Head of Sustainability NEPI Rockcastle. We are taking a number of measures in our shopping centres to reduce our impact on the environment and the surroundings in which we operate. We implement the sustainability strategy at NEPI Rockcastle at the corporate level. It is divided into three pillars: E – Environment, S – Social Responsibility and G – Corporate Governance. We have teams of people assigned to each of these pillars, who are responsible for the implementation of each action. At NEPI Rockcastle, as part of our sustainability strategy, we have consciously set environmental targets and are investing in green buildings, or implementing community projects – she adds.
An important tool for measuring the quality of buildings is the BREEAM certification, which allows us to assess the quality of solutions implemented in the facility in terms of minimising environmental impact, adapting to climate change and taking care of the employees’ comfort. Currently, all of NEPI Rockcastle facilities are BREEAM-certified, fitting into the definition of green buildings.
Collaboration and innovative actions
collaboration in the ESG area is a key element in the long-term perspective and at the same time a challenge for the entire industry. That is why both Platan and the entire NEPI Rockcastle Group involve both subcontractors and tenants in their processes through so-called Green Agreements. This collaboration is to help with reporting, but also to share practices and discuss possible solutions.
– We focus on effective cooperation with partners and long-term activities. As a result, we pioneer innovative solutions, oftentimes implemented by other centres. We are currently in the middle of a major process related to climate change adaptation. We have just completed the extensive audit part and are moving into the solution design phase. We carry out many activities in cooperation with tenants and other business partners, thus we jointly create a space that is friendly to people and the environment – says Agnieszka Nizio, Shopping Centre Director.
Relationships with employees are also worth mentioning. Without their involvement, it would be difficult to achieve results, which is why the atmosphere and the so-called ‘something more’ matter so much.
– Activities in the area of sustainable development have been the number one topic at Platan for many years and our entire team is hugely involved in these activities. Last year, we organised two major employee volunteering events. One of them was held in cooperation with Animal ZOO in Zabrze, and the other was about supporting senior citizens in cooperation with the Municipal Family Assistance Centre in Zabrze and the Senior Activation Centre. We assume this is only the beginning of our cooperation in various fields, because there are many needs – enumerates Agnieszka Nizio. Next year we are planning a big project aimed at the youth – she adds.
A new role for shopping centres
Today, shopping centres play a number of important roles. Modern and customer-focused they’re not only places for business development, but also for education, meetings, entertainment, access to culture and art. They are also places where local needs and challenges go hand in hand.
Local community initiatives are a very important area of sustainable development activities. Platan has many achievements in this field, i.e. a number of projects having positive impact on the community and the environment in the region where it operates, devoted not only to the environment protection, but also to education and inspiration of customers to behave in a more responsible and environmentally friendly manner.
Last year, in cooperation with the dotlenieni.org social organisation, an important action – “Plant trees with NEPI Rockcastle” – was carried out with the aim of creating new green spaces in the surroundings of Polish centres from the group’s portfolio. As a result of this initiative, 24,000 trees were planted in 10 locations in Poland. So far, no group operating in the area of shopping centres in our country has carried out such a large tree planting campaign. More than 4500 people took part in the joint planting and the preceding educational workshops in less than 5 months, and 70 local institutions and organisations were involved. Last year, in Zabrze alone, 2000 beech treelings were planted in the Rotmistrz Witold Pilecki Park. Zabrze schools and organisations, including the Militarny Mikołaj Foundation, joined in the action.
– We are delighted to be initiating such an ecologically important project. We have our own flower meadow, constantly developed. We have installed nesting boxes for birds of different sizes, for bats, and for squirrels. We have actively participated in tree planting and are involved in spreading the knowledge of how to take care of green spaces. Together, we are making sure that Zabrze is even greener and residents awareness increased. This year, we invited them to an upcycling workshop, where beautiful reusable bags were created from old advertising banners and participants could learn more about circular solutions and upcycling. During another of our this year’s campaigns – i.e. the #WasteResponsible campaign – the Zabrze residents handed over 150 kg of small electro-waste for disposal. They also actively acquired knowledge about the principles of segregation – says Karolina Imiolska, Regional Marketing Manager of CH Platan and CH Pogoria.
In total, more than 1,500 bags promoting the idea of a circular economy were sewn in 14 NEPI Rockcastle facilities, and 2 tonnes of electro-waste were collected during the educational campaign on waste segregation.
In October, as part of Circular Week, Platan and other NEPI Rockcastle centres published the second edition of the ‘Circular Guide’ aimed at shopping centre customers and tenants. The publications showcase particular examples of sustainable and conscious behaviours and choices to live more circularly. In this year’s edition, the tenants boasted of applying good practices. Health-oriented initiatives, still undertaken because of insufficient access to preventive examinations, are also an important area of local actions.
Major events valued in the region
since 2019, Platan has been a strategic sponsor of the ZABRZE SUMMER FESTIVAL, and the well-known concert series permanently takes place within the area of the center’s car park. It attracts crowds of residents of Zabrze and neighbouring cities. More than a dozen entities, including many of Platan’s tenants, have become partners of the event. Media patronage was granted by the largest local media, including television. A report on the concert was broadcast on a national news programme in the prime time slot. The organisation of the event is possible thanks to close cooperation with the city authorities and the partnership of many entities.
Platan also puts an effort into unconventional events and solutions. Just before the last Christmas, the centre’s customers experienced quite a surprise when an unannounced happening in the form of a musical flash-mob began on the premises. Approximately 150 people were involved in the event – including a 50-strong youth choir conducted by Waldemar Gałązka, a 40-member brass band conducted by Konstanty Janiak, artists from the Youth Cultural Centre No. 1 in Zabrze and the independent HoM theatre. The event was very warmly received by customers, who appreciated both the piece of music itself and the realisation of the entire, unannounced event. On December 22, the flash-mob premiered on the YouTube platform and Platan’s social media channels.
Over the last few years, the role of shopping centres has significantly changed. The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be an unexpected reason for transformation of the market, which mobilised business and ultimately convinced the public that shopping centres are very important places on the map of cities, integrating residents around important issues. In some cases, it proved that actions they implement inspire others in the area of sustainability.
In the past year, the 7 NEPI Rockcastle practices, including actions carried out by the Platan Shopping Centre, have been included in the prestigious Good Practice Report issued by the Responsible Business Forum. In November 2023, the actions of Platan and other NEPI Rockcastle centres were also awarded a Silver statuette for ESG Strategy and Activities within the PRCH Retail Awards.
Katarzyna Reck
