intu Properties plc. have published their latest corporate social responsibility report, outlining their sustainability results and achievements from 2016. 

The company behind many of the country’s popular shopping destinations, including intu Trafford Centre, intu Lakeside and intu Eldon Square, has met its zero landfill target four years early and is close to reaching its 2020 carbon reduction and recycling targets.

Targets (set in 2011)

• 99% diverted from landfill by 2020
• 75% of waste generated recycled by 2020
• 50% reduction in carbon intensity by 2020 based on 2010 levels

2016 performance

• 100% waste diverted from landfill
• 74% recycled
• 21% reduction (47% reduction since 2010)

Measures introduced to date include increasing the number of electrical vehicle charging points across intu centres to 78 as intu gears up to charging an estimated 900 electric cars a month by the end of 2017.

Further initiatives planned include utilising the success of solar panels on the roof of intu Chapelfield to encourage more intu centres to start generating their own electricity. intu is also working with sustainability charity Bioregional to test new innovations that can be rolled out across the retail sector and intu centres nationwide.

"Being a responsible business is at the heart of our brand values and can be seen through our culture." says Alexander Nicoll, Corporate responsibility director, intu. 

The company have also launched an innovation lab to drive forward a range of ground-breaking sustainability initiatives across the business. The project – dubbed Green Lab - is outlined within intu’s 2016 corporate responsibility report. 

In addition to the Green Lab, intu is progressing its commitments to up-skilling more people for a career in the retail and hospitality industries, with its Retail Gold employability scheme launching in Watford, and making intu centres accessible to all thanks to pioneering partnerships with organisations such as the National Autistic Society.

Alexander Nicoll continues: “intu is at the heart of a vibrant retail sector which offers a range of challenging and rewarding careers. It is important that we ensure there are the right skills in the community for today’s requirements and for the changing needs of tomorrow’s retail sector. In doing so, we can help our retailers to thrive.”

"And our work with the National Autistic Society and other organisations through awareness-raising, staff training and enhanced customer service is ensuring that our centres remain accessible to all.”      

intu Properties plc. CSR report 2016 

For further information contact:

Mark Thomson

PR Manager

Tel: 0207 887 7011 / 0777 699 8236

mark.thomson@intu.co.uk

intugroup.co.uk

@intugroup

This press release was originally published on the intu Properties plc website here.