Interparking’s ESG journey
Interparking is committed to achieving strategic Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) objectives as we believe these will positively impact people (our internal and external stakeholders), the economy, and the environment. Our strategy supports the United Nations Sustainable Goals, an agenda that sets targets to be met by 2030 through ambitious but realistic goals.
We have started our ESG journey in 2012, beginning with the measurement of our carbon footprint in Belgium and were awarded the CO2 neutral label consequently. Over the years, we have expanded the scope of our carbon footprint calculations, incorporating more countries and refining our methodologies.
Certified CO2 neutral in 9 countries in 2015, we took a step further in our commitment the following year by investing in a community project in Benin called Wanrou. Two years later, Interparking contracted the first green credit loan in Belgium. The payment conditions were determined by the achievement of environmental commitments which we achieved in 2020.
Improving air quality in cities is one of the strategic goals of Interparking. This is why, in 2019, we were the first car park operator to roll out “Lung in the City”, enabling us to reduce significantly the amount of fine particles in our operations (see here).
In 2020, we revised our greenhouse gas (GHG) calculation methodology. The new method led to a higher reported total emissions, prompting us to adopt a more ambitious emissions reduction plan. The following year, we signed a green Interest Rate Swap (IRS) with stringent environmental commitments and joined the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB). This international assessment compares the ESG performances of actors in real estate sector. From our very first entry, we scored above the average of our peers and obtained in 2023 a very honorable score of 85%.
In 2022, we worked with global sustainability consultancy Environmental Resource Management (ERM) to identify the ESG topics most material to our business and stakeholders. Six priority topics (see blue frame) were agreed via consultation with our valued stakeholders (employees, end users, shareholders, car park holders, suppliers, society) and members of Interparking management.
Entering 2023, we outlined specific ESG objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) and, with the assistance of Southpole, we conducted a physical risk assessment to examine the potential impacts of climate-related events on our parking facilities.
As of now, Interparking is in the midst of a transition risk assessment to evaluate the potential effects of the shift towards a low-carbon economy. Alongside this, we are performing a double materiality assessment and a gap analysis as part of our Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) journey.
Community Engagement
Our strategic goal: Engaging and forming partnerships with our local communities such as cities, railroad operators and airports to ensure their considerations and ideas are taken into account (e.g., consultations with cities to ensure sustainable urban planning, partnerships to support local retailers, actors of the social and cultural life).
Interparking has entered into a number of partnerships, not only with players in the mobility and transport sector, but also with local authorities and service provider so as to expand the range of products and services we can offer.
This commitment is also reflected in a number of corporate philanthropic and sponsorship initiatives in social, environmental, cultural and sporting areas.