Pictured above: Scott Rutherford
Sustainability is climbing up the business agenda, a survey of
board directors in charge of location for the 500 largest companies
in Europe by Cushman & Wakefield, who have an office in
Birmingham, reveals.
More than two-thirds (69%) of companies consider sustainability
to be either 'important', 'very important' or 'fundamental' issues
for their business. Of the countries in which these companies are
located, Spain placed lowest with 54%.
For the vast majority of European companies (90%), the 'green'
credentials of a building play a role in their decision to buy or
lease a new space/ building. Of these, 42% view them as playing a
'significant' role and for 8%, green credentials play a
'fundamental' role. Spain ranked the lowest again, with 15% of
companies viewing green credentials as playing no role at all.
Across Europe, more than two-thirds (68%) of all companies
surveyed either currently own or occupy a 'green' building or would
like to. The UK performed well in this category with 75% of
companies. Italy has the biggest percentage of businesses which do
not occupy a green building and are not interested in doing so
(45%).
When choosing a more sustainable building, the five most
important factors for companies in order of priority are;
'reduction in energy and water consumption in use' (29%), 'saving
in costs of running the building' (16%), 'building location to
maximise travel planning' (12%), 'overall reduction in CO2
emissions' (12%) and 'ability to switch to more environmentally
friendly renewable energy sources' (9%).
Scott Rutherford, head of Cushman & Wakefield's Birmingham
office, said: "Attitudes are definitely shifting and the results
reflect our own experience in the market. However, when it comes
down to transactions sustainability often still ranks low on the
list of tenant requirements. This is in part due to the lack of
understanding and transparency about the link between
sustainability and factors such as life-cycle cost and occupier
environment."