Supporting the
environmental
transition
Discover the Better Places Certification - a transparent rating of the sustainability of all our centres
The Better Places Certification
At Westfield we are committed to the environmental transition of cities and the sustainable evolution of retail. To evaluate and monitor our progress, we developed the Better Places Certification, a tool that helps our destinations stay committed to reducing environmental impact and creating positive social change. The Certification assesses our destinations based on 96 criteria, measuring a wide variety of indicators from the amount of water used to the number of jobs created locally. This framework is a starting point, enabling us to monitor our performance so we can keep improving the environmental and social impact of all our centres. All our shopping destinations will be graded from A to E, then challenged to improve their grade, creating a virtuous circle of sustainable change and progress.
Continuously improving sustainability at our destinations
WasteOur destinations implement waste-sorting and recycling programmes and work to continuously reduce the volume of waste they produce. Visitors and tenants are encouraged to sort and recycle their own waste, and we strive to send no waste to the landfill by the end of 2025, and reach 70% of recycling rate by 2030.
Sustainable RetailWe support the sustainable evolution of our retailers’ offer via the Sustainable Retail Index. This index provides insights into the progress of performance and the commitments of retailers in their sustainable transition efforts. Through initiatives such as the Westfield Good Festival, we promote more sustainable experiences and support circular consumption. Learn more about the SRI!
Existing Certifications Many of our destinations already have existing certifications that rate the performance of their buildings and activities, such as BREEAM-in-Use, Energy Performance Certificates and health & safety scores. 
WaterThe amount of water each shopping centre uses is carefully monitored to find ways for continuous improvement. All centres are given targets to reduce their water usage and tasked to find alternative sources, such as collecting rainwater for nourishing plants or flushing toilets.
BiodiversityWe take action to protect and support biodiversity in our assets by setting up a biodiversity action plan, using eco-labelled cleaning, maintenance and phytosanitary-free gardening products, as well as increasing biodiversity-friendly areas on site.
Health, Safety & ComfortAs part of the Better Places Certification, the air quality of each of our centres is tested and analysed. Air quality in indoor areas is monitored to ensure it complies with all health and safety standards. 
MobilityThe transportation used by our visitors is a major contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions, so we are implementing solutions to encourage the use of more sustainable mobility. These include the expansion of bike parking, increased access to public transportation, electric vehicle charging points and more. 
Energy & ClimateThe energy consumption of each shopping centre is assessed. Centres are tasked with continuously reducing their energy intensity and assessing the likely impacts of climate change on their assets and activities.
Communities & Local SupportOur shopping centres are local hubs, bolstering economic and social vitality, and delivering jobs and skills, social inclusion and health programmes to serve local communities. Each destination is scored on the work it does to support its local community and strives to create a positive impact, from creating jobs to promoting charitable causes, fostering social inclusion and providing access to those living with disabilities. Ranked and Rated
Using this data, all our European shopping centres will be rated from A to E. Each centre will also develop a local action plan to continuously improve its score. We are on track to rate our first 10 shopping centres by the end of 2024 and all our remaining European and UK centres within the next three years. Rating methodology and indicators have been developed with internationally recognised experts Bureau Veritas and WWF France (1).
Westfield commits for the environnemental transition
We are committed to improve the carbon footprint and environmental efficiency of our assets and operations. We contribute to global carbon neutrality, with a clear priority towards reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions, and we operate an efficient and resilient portfolio that minimises negative impact on resources and the environment.
Energy use50% reduction in energy intensity of shopping centres by 2030(2)
Emissions90% greenhouse gas emission reduction on Scopes 1 & 2 by 2030
Water conservationReduce water consumption intensity by 20% per footfall by 2030 (3)RecyclingZero waste to landfill by the end of 2025 Recycle 70% of our waste by 2030Westfield Donau Zentrum - Our Better Places Certification and performance
Thanks to our Better Places Certification, we can assess the potential for improvement at our centre. Your Westfield team is working continuously to enhance this grade over time.
Our shopping centre's commitments
Current initiatives:
We scored a B-grade (Highly Efficient) on our Energy Performance Certificate(4).
Future initiatives:
We aim to improve our Energy Performance Certificate to A (Very Efficient).
CURRENT INITIATIVES
We make sure that our appliances are switched off when the shopping centre closes. 100% of the electricity purchased for general use comes from renewable energy sources, and 1,023 MWh of electricity is generated annually by on-site solar panels - equivalent to the annual consumption of around 250 households.
FUTURE INITIATIVES
We are pursuing the goal of reducing our energy consumption by 50 % by 2030 and are focussing on the increased use of renewable energy sources such as solar power.
We collect rainwater for watering plants and flushing toilets. The rainwater collected is equivalent to around 6,080 showers used.
We have 4 beehives on our roof, which help to promote biodiversity. Our outdoor gardens also support biodiversity and we only use organic gardening and cleaning products.
Current initiatives:
We methanise 370 tonnes of organic waste. 57% of waste is recycled or methanised. We sort and recycle 176 tonnes of plastic, 658 tonnes of cardboard, 109 tonnes of glass and 25 tonnes of metal every year, which equates to around 11.7 million water bottles, 3.3 million egg cartons, 545,000 glass bottles and 1.7 million cans.
Future initiatives:
Our goal is to increase the recycling rate of our waste to 70% by 2030 and reduce waste production by 15% by 2030. To achieve this, we are focusing on the complete methanisation of our organic waste, which is already being fully implemented today. In addition, we are continuously working on developing further measures to reduce and recycle waste in order to reduce our ecological footprint in the long term.
Current initiatives:
We currently offer more than 100 bicycle parking spaces and will provide 62 charging stations for electric vehicles by the end of the year to promote sustainable mobility.
50% of our roof surfaces are already greened or fitted with reflective materials to reduce heat loss.
62% of Westfield Donau Zentrum's eligible retailers have been rated as ‘Leader’, ‘Advanced’ or ‘Active’ on our sustainability index (7) based on their retail sales. So far, retailers from the fashion, sportswear, jewellery, bags, shoes and accessories sectors have been rated. By 2027, we plan to rate the remaining eligible retailers as well.
To promote sustainable development, we work with local partners such as Hope for the Future and Wien Work to increase the number of jobs available. We also organise events to raise our visitors' awareness of sustainable practices. Our existing collaborations with organisations such as Caritas, Fonds Soziales Wien and UNICEF help us to assume social responsibility in the community.
(1) WWF France shared its expertise and critical perspective on the biodiversity, water, mobility, energy climate and sustainable consumption criteria.
(2) In kWh/sqm of the energy consumed to power common areas, against our 2015 baseline.
(3) In litres per visit, against our 2019 baseline.
(4) A ranking of energy efficiency covering the amount of power used by a property for heating, cooling, lighting and hot water. The scale runs from A to G.
(5) Electricity produced by renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power.
(6) Shower of 8 minutes.
(7) The SRI is a comprehensive assessment tool providing insight into the progress of retailers in their sustainable transition: Leader: retailers consistently outperforming peers, setting industry standards. Advanced: retailers above average, actively contributing to the industry’s transition. Active: retailers meeting or slightly exceeding expectations, committed to improvement. Starter: retailers showing promise as new entrants, relative growth. Inactive: retailers falling short of standards, no commitment to improvement.