Creating the Concert Sustainability Framework
Our comprehensive Sustainability Framework outlines our specific commitments and guides all our business decisions. From outlining our goals to breaking down our short-term objectives into measurable steps, our framework holds us accountable as we tackle all aspects of sustainability.
Concert Gives Back
We are deeply invested in improving the lives of the people who live and work in our communities. This philosophy extends to our corporate giving program. We recognize that all Canadians should be able to live and work with dignity. Based on this belief we invest in trades training programs and causes focused on housing, and the health and welfare of Canadians wherever we build and work. Our corporate giving includes many philanthropic endeavors, from donating staff time, as well as money, and resources to worthy projects and organizations all over Canada.
"At Concert we are trying to demonstrate a model of how a national developer can take serious action on climate change, while also addressing housing affordability and providing healthy stable returns for our investors. These are exciting times and there is lots to do.”
- Dave Ramslie, Vice President, Innovation & Sustainability
Sustainability Goals & Targets
As a company, we weave environmental, social and economic sustainability practices into every level of our business. Where possible, we seek to maximize synergies among these three priorities.
Environmental Sustainability
We are taking bold action to fight climate change, save energy and reduce waste—when designing and constructing our buildings, and in our day-to-day corporate operations.
Social Sustainability
In our efforts to nurture thriving, resilient communities, we work to foster social connections between residents—helping members of our community foster inclusive, strong relationships with one another.
Economic Sustainability
Concert was founded to create a reliable return on investment for Canadian pension plans and provide quality employment opportunities for a diverse cross-section of Canadians.
Sustainability Metrics
Operational Carbon Emissions
Reducing carbon pollution is a top priority for Concert. We’re committed to achieving an 80% reduction in our corporate GHG emissions by 2050.
Embodied Carbon Emissions
As we aggressively reduce our buildings’ operational emissions, our focus will shift to tackling the embodied emissions that result from the construction of our buildings. We’re committed to tracking these emissions on every project, and reducing them where possible.
Green Buildings
Whether we’re building new properties with the latest environmental innovations or retrofitting existing properties, reducing GHG emissions and creating healthy spaces in our properties are top priorities.
Waste Diverted
We seek to minimize waste in our business operations and building operations, offering solutions like multi-source recycling programs and innovative construction waste diversion practices.
Health & Social Wellness
Through thoughtful design of facilities, amenities and programming, we foster healthy choices and community connection, enhancing the well-being of our residents.
Inclusion
We want Concert properties to be accessible to everyone. We seek to be equitable and inclusive in all that we do, and to continue creating affordable housing options.
Transportation
We carefully consider walkability scores in neighbourhoods where we develop buildings, and have introduced initiatives to encourage carpooling, cycling, transit and the use of electric vehicles among our staff.
Transparency
We know we have a long way to go. That’s why we feel it’s important to disclose key metrics, such as our annual GHG emissions, so our wider community helps hold us accountable to our goals.
Sustainability Awards
BC Business Business of Good Award
Recognizing BC-based companies with pioneering environmental sustainability initiatives
HUB Bike Friendly Business Award
In celebration of businesses that encouraging employees and customers to bike to work
BOMA Toronto Earth Award
Awarded for our 2010 Forensic Services and Coroner's Complex project
Toronto BILD's Stephen Dupuis Award
Given to Concert in 2020 in recognition of our corporate social responsibility initiatives
Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a major contributor to climate change, now exceed 415 parts per million—the highest level in 2.2 million years. According to the United Nations, buildings account for more than one third of global GHG emissions. In Vancouver and Toronto, two cities where Concert regularly develops properties, buildings contribute more than 50% of each city’s current total emissions.
New Property Commitments
In line with our plan to ensure all new Concert buildings are zero-carbon in operations by 2026, environmental considerations are top of mind from day one of our design stage.
Existing Property Commitments
Our sustainability work is never done. To keep all Concert properties operating efficiently into the future, we have comprehensive plans to retrofit our existing properties to achieve significant carbon savings.
