At Grosvenor, we have set ourselves stretching carbon reduction targets as part of our commitment to becoming a net zero business by 2040.

Since setting this target in 2019, we have retrofitted c.1.4 million square feet of our Mayfair and Belgravia property portfolio to improve energy efficiency and replaced over 50 gas boilers with fossil fuel-free alternatives - cutting gas usage across our portfolio by 40%.

These interventions, whilst impactful, only account for part of the carbon impact of our portfolio. We soon realised that if we are to achieve our goals, we needed to engage with our retailers and other occupiers to support them to make sustainable decisions - particularly when it comes to fitting out their spaces.

We know that fit-out design and material choice can have a significant operational and embodied carbon impact, and from discussion with our occupiers, we identified that they often face challenges in navigating the complexities of low-carbon design and material selection.

Two thirds of our occupiers are independent businesses, and don’t have the luxury of in-house sustainability experts, so we have focussed on practical ways we can support them, as well as leverage the opportunities offered by the scale of our portfolio to consider the issue strategically.

This process led to the introduction of our sustainable fit-out guide, a free, publicly available resource, providing a structured approach to integrating sustainability into every aspect of design, construction, and occupation. By embedding best practices from the outset, we can encourage and support our occupiers to make decisions that align with our shared sustainability goals.

The guide includes a checklist on designing for sustainability, such as energy-efficient lighting, reuse of materials, and water efficiency in sanitary fittings. The technical elements offer practical advice on material specifications and waste management targets. These resources are introduced as soon as a new occupier enters discussions on a space, ensuring sustainability is embedded from the outset.

A great example of how it has worked in practice is Green Michelin Star restaurant Apricity in Mayfair, led by Chantelle Nicholson. By focusing on circularity in their fit-out using reclaimed materials and responsibly sourced fixtures, we achieved a 45% reduction in embodied carbon compared to a typical restaurant fit-out.