Absolute Zero by 2050
We’re ready for a revolution
We’ve spent almost 30 years pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with innovative, sustainable buildings.
Still, 34% of global emissions come from buildings and construction, making it clear that the real estate industry needs a complete revolution. Not in 2050. But today.
We are proud to have set out our roadmap to Net Zero, a journey we set out on in 2022 and in which we continue to make steady progress. Not just for the company, but for every single building we develop and redevelop going forward.
Since 2022, we commit ourselves to Net Zero
It's an ambitious goal. And every step of the journey will be crucial. That's why we've set important milestones to help us on our way, and to do our share to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
01.2022
Company level
We officially set 1,5‑degree aligned science‑based targets to stay accountable to our commitments. We set up a carbon emission reduction programme for our company operations.
EDGE projects
We have launched the Edge Net Zero Carbon Framework with the goal of reducing the embodied and operational carbon emissions of all new projects by at least 50 % in line with the World Economic Forum (1) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (2).
To ensure alignment with our climate goals, we require all projects to follow national best-practice targets, track and report their carbon performance, and feed their carbon data into our international carbon database.
Compensation
We offset all residual company carbon emissions, all residual upfront embodied carbon impacts at practical completion, and all residual operational carbon emissions from district heating or gas supplement(if any) during the use phase of all newly announced projects.
02.2030
Company Level
The carbon emissions associated with our operations (scope 1 and 2) will be reduced by at least 46% compared to our 2019 baseline (3) in line with our commitment at the Science Based Targets initiative.
EDGE Projects
All projects will be within the 50% reduction pathway, if not more.
Compensation
As a result of the above, the required compensationwill be significantly reduced.
03.2050
Company Level
We aim for our operations to result in zero emissions.
EDGE Projects
We aim for our entire supply chain to emit zero carbon during the building production, construction and operation, which would mean that all EDGE buildings emit zero carbon.
Compensation
As a result of the above, no more offsetting would be required, either at company level nor at project level.
Where do we start?
To reach our goal of Net Zero buildings, we focus on continuously reducing all carbon emissions across each building’s entire lifecycle.
We do this through the Edge Net Zero Carbon Pathway, which includes both embodied and operational carbon. While today, there is still a need to offset emissions, we have made it a priority to lead the way for change within our industry and achieve zero emissions - without offsetting – by 2050. Or even sooner.
Embodied carbon
Embodied carbon is the term for emissions that arise from producing, procuring, and installing materials and components that make up a building structure. It also includes emissions from maintenance, repair, replacement and ultimately demolition and disposal of the materials throughout the building’s lifecycle.
Edge focuses on the emissions generated up to practical completion of an Edge building. As part of our Net Zero Carbon Pathway, these emissions will be reduced as quicklyas possible through innovations, such as using low carbon concrete or steel, or by using natural construction materials like wood. As a final course of action, all residual emissions will be compensated for projects announced starting 2022.
Operational carbon
Operational carbon is the term for carbon emission associated with the energy use arising from the running of the building over the course of its lifecycle. Edge buildings strive to reduce the energy consumption to a level where a fully decarbonised grid can meet 100% of the energy demand. Each building aims to reduce the energy use as much as possible through efficient design and efficient systems. Additionally, our buildings will generate as much renewable energy as possible on-site. This is the route to zero operational emissions.
How do we measure and reduce our building emissions?
Our own Net Zero Carbon Framework serves as an overall strategy that guides all EDGE projects across the globe. This framework determines how the embodied and operational carbon emissions of all new developments should be measured, managed, and reduced. While the targets and scope of the embodied and operational carbon emissions are the same for all countries, calculation methodologies are country-specific. Therefore, Edge amends the national calculation methods to allow for international comparisons as defined in the Edge Net Zero Carbon Framework.
On a sustainability mission for years
We believe in a holistic approach to limit the resource use and global warming and to mitigate climate risks. Our approach involves the design and construction of ultra-efficient, all-electric buildings, powered as much as possible with on-site renewable electricity, and reducing, reusing and recycling materials to cut the embodied carbon emissions to a minimum.
Our projects are widely recognised (and awarded) for their sustainable features and innovations – from timber construction, renewable energy and underground heat storage, to the cutting-edge smart sensor technology that allows our buildings to optimise for health and sustainability. With every development and redevelopment, we seek to push the boundaries, exploring new technologies and materials, and striving to create better, healthier and more sustainable buildings.
We’re incredibly proud of what we do. But we want to do more.
Science Based Target initiative
We’re proud to be backed by the Science Based Target initiative. We’ve set a 1,5-degree aligned emission reduction target, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.
Through the implementation of a carbon emission reduction programme for all our business operations (Scope 1 and 2) we support our transition into a low-carbon economy while remaining accountable next to thousands of other organisations who have committed to a science-based target with the SBTi.
Compensating today, to reach Zero in 2050
Committing to our Net Zero Carbon Framework
It means improving the way we construct our buildings, how our tenants use their energy and how we operate as a company.
It also means compensating for the emissions we still produce as we move to Net Zero. Once our entire industry - from concrete producer to energy supplier - is on board, we can actually begin to build without any carbon emissions, at all. But until then, we will continue to support compensating initiatives that are fully certified and part of our long-term strategy.
We will offset with high-quality carbon removal projects, iandexplore options for compensation in Europe.
Working closely together with knowledgeable parties in the market, we invest in a diversified portfolio of projects in order to mitigate the risk affiliated with even the best carbon offsetting schemes. This way, we doour best to offset our emissions when we cannot reduce them any further.
We report transparently on all our carbon emissions and carbon offsetting activities through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and our carbon offsetting activities through our Carbon Removal Dashboard.