Our impact on the world
Gleeds is committed to creating a fairer, greener and more inclusive world.
As an independent consultancy, we have a unique opportunity to develop a global and local approach, driving responsible business practices throughout our ecosystem.
Our ESG strategy: Together for a sustainable future – People, Project, Planet.
Our aim is to shape a sustainable future. Recognising the collaborative approach needed to make progress, we focus and report against three priorities:
- People: Inspiring our people and communities
- Project: Supporting our clients' sustainability goals
- Planet: Making a meaningful difference locally and globally.
Gleeds’ ESG priorities and targets are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They reflect our commitment to help our talented people and our multicultural communities to flourish, while supporting our clients’ sustainability goals and protecting the planet for future generations.
Our carbon reduction targets are aligned with the most ambitious aims of the Paris Agreement: to limit global warming to 1.5°C and reach science-based Net Zero emissions by 2050.
These targets are recorded in Gleeds’ Net Zero Carbon roadmap and validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative.
Beyond our own business, we play a wider role in the decarbonisation of the built environment. We advise our clients on how to make their projects and programmes truly sustainable in a world of rapid environmental, technological and social change.
Expertise
Our expertise in climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience is critical in supporting regions, cities and businesses to prepare for the impacts of climate change and to develop sustainable infrastructure while respecting local communities. Climate science has advanced dramatically in the last five years and the price of mitigation and adaptation technologies has fallen. But the threats to nature and biodiversity continue to rise. At Gleeds, we have a responsibility to take a holistic view and create the best outcomes for people and the planet.
Our impact
Social impact is always in the spotlight, as we look to achieve a positive effect on society through our clients’ projects and our own corporate culture. We take a bespoke approach, establishing what real success looks like and talking to key stakeholders. We measure social value alongside our industry’s traditional metrics of cost, time and quality; understanding the connection with conventional sustainability and the need to avoid unintended negative consequences.
With calls for real change coming in thick and fast, businesses across the board are going to have to learn to adapt if they want to survive. Nowhere is that truer than in the built environment.
People: Inspiring our people and our communities
As a responsible business, Gleeds is committed to creating a fair and inclusive working environment which celebrates everyone’s unique talents. We focus on wellbeing and health and safety, fairness, inclusion and respect and economic inequality; creating policies, resources and focus groups to embed these issues in our culture.
We respect and support the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and continually seek to inspire and strengthen the communities in which we live and work. We’re proud to be acknowledged as a “Great Place to Work” and a member of the Women’s Empowerment Principles.
Project: Supporting our clients’ sustainability goals
We have a tremendous opportunity to make a positive impact through the projects we deliver, helping our clients to achieve their sustainability goals and their vision for social value. Embedding sustainable practices from planning to operation, we advise on Net Zero carbon strategies, renewable solutions, energy management, sustainable procurement, whole life value and lifecycle costing.
At the start of every project, we work with the client to establish their key social drivers, build them into the project plan, and action them throughout delivery.
Planet: Making a meaningful difference locally and globally
Gleeds recognises the importance of following responsible and sustainable practices to minimise our impact on the environment, protecting and enhancing the planet for future generations.
We will continue to set ambitious targets, push the boundaries and collaborate for climate justice. Our influence lies in three areas:
- Carbon emissions (primarily from our offices and business travel)
- Energy use
- The impact we make through our clients’ projects.
We disclose our environmental data to CDP annually, which helps to inform and reflect changes needed in our ESG strategy.
Supporting one of Europe’s largest, most sustainable data facilities
Sines DC – Building 02 (SIN02)
Transforming a ‘forgotten’ area of industrial Warsaw
Office House Towarowa22
Boosting regional growth through new retail hub development
Przystanek Karkonosze retail centre
Sustainable logistics hub in Warsaw’s strategic location
Panattoni Park Nadarzyn
ESG Achievements and memberships
Reports
Contact us
Michelle Regent
London, United Kingdom
Explore further
Governance
Gleeds complies with all relevant ESG legislation, as well as non-statutory guidance where appropriate. We hold ourselves to account through a rigorous system of internal and external standards and frameworks.
Gleeds Foundation
At Gleeds we believe in making a difference. It’s what we’ve been doing for over a century. It’s our heritage, our commitment and our responsibility.