Low-carbon transition and preservation of resources

Icade is taking action to promote environmental transition and is making the fight to stop climate change and preserve natural resources its priority. A pioneering figure in sustainable property, Icade implements innovative solutions to reduce all of its assets’ energy consumption, resource requirements and impact on biodiversity.

Reduction in CO₂ emissions for the Office Property Investment Division between 2015 and 2021

-30 %

Proportion of new construction projects of the Healthcare Property Investment Division with a floor area of over 4,000 sq.m having obtained environmental certification with a minimum rating of Very Good or its equivalent

100 %

Proportion of business parks with a net positive impact on biodiversity

100 %

Our commitments

Transitioning to a low-carbon pathway

Icade is actively involved in reducing its CO₂ emissions and has made it a priority. For example, it has made new commitments for its three divisions to achieve a 1.5°C pathway. To support this goal, Icade has put in place a medium-term investment plan totalling €150 million. To learn more, see the infographic.
Promoting biodiversity and nature in cities

Icade works to protect biodiversity using a range of measures designed to reintegrate nature into cities via its Service Properties, Healthcare Properties and Development divisions. This proactive approach meets both the requirements of local authorities and the expectations of its customers in terms of making tangible improvements to their surroundings.
For example, Icade manages biodiversity in its business parks through biodiversity performance contracts signed with CDC Biodiversité. Under these contracts, indicators have been created to best monitor animal and plant life, landscape maintenance, etc. in the business parks. In addition, property development projects are assessed both pre-project and post-project in order to improve their impact on biodiversity. Lastly, Icade Promotion’s At Home Naturally housing solution incorporates both the notion of promoting nature in cities and meeting the challenges of revitalising urban biodiversity, through two concepts: Jardin by Icade which promotes well-being and social interaction while preserving the occupants’ privacy and Symbiose by Icade which provides each prospective homeowner with access to a private green space.
Integrating the principles of a circular economy into products and services

Icade has partnered with Egis to launch Cycle Up, the first digital platform dedicated to the reuse of building materials available to participants from across the construction industry.
For its existing assets, Icade has also put in place waste sorting units, a collection scheme for used objects and solutions to reduce and better manage water consumption. The different divisions are committed to the reuse of building materials for demolitions, renovations and refurbishments. Lastly, Icade educates and informs its customers about best practices with respect to waste management and water consumption through green lease committees that it was the first to introduce.
To further reduce consumption, Vertuo—created in 2018 at Urban Odyssey, Icade’s start-up studio—has designed street furniture combined with planters featuring an autonomous rainwater collection system.
Developing eco-mobility solutions

In France, 70% of commuter journeys are made by car. A key player in service and residential properties, Icade has chosen to make sustainable mobility into an asset for its customers. Its buildings are located near public transport networks, and it rolls out innovative sustainable mobility solutions that improve users’ comfort: privately-owned public transport (a private fleet of 100% electric buses and electric river shuttles in business parks), charging points for electric vehicles, car-sharing, car-pooling and bike-sharing solutions, and more.
In 2021, Icade launched the “Bycycle Initiative, the Bicycle Booster” designed to promote bike commuting in cities by creating suitable parking facilities both in the offices it operates and in the housing it builds.

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The Athletes Village: a project with stringent environmental requirements

Icade, Caisse des Dépôts and CDC Habitat were awarded the contract to build the Athletes Village project in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, with a capacity to house 3,000 athletes from all over the world. This project is aiming for high environmental performance through a bioclimatic building design and an urban forest composed of 3,000 sq.m of rooftop gardens. It is also committed to obtaining the BiodiverCity and E+C- labels. After 2024, this village will become a genuine, vibrant neighbourhood with housing units for families and students, offices, businesses, etc.

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Nature 2050: restoring the most fragile ecosystems

Based on protecting and adapting particularly vulnerable ecosystems and natural habitats to climate change, this programme currently supports 41 projects covering over 570 hectares. Icade has demonstrated its commitment to Nature 2050 by funding the restoration and preservation of one sq.m of natural habitat for each sq.m of land developed. As a result, it has funded the restoration and preservation of over 170,000 sq.m of natural habitat since 2016.

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Cycle Up: a digital platform dedicated to the reuse of building materials

Launched by Icade and Egis, this platform dedicated to the reuse of building materials involves participants from across the industry. Since its launch in 2018, CYCLE UP’s 451 transactions have made it possible to avoid more than 650 tonnes of waste (including 67 tonnes from projects led by Icade), cut CO₂ emissions by 4,499 tonnes and save buyers €6.1 million. Cycle Up also promotes professional integration through its partnership with Ares, a professional integration specialist responsible for transporting, selectively removing and warehousing building materials.

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AfterWork by Icade, turning old into new

“AfterWork, by Icade” is a redevelopment solution for office assets spearheaded by a dedicated team at Icade Promotion. It is intended for owners, investors and local authorities. It benefits from across-the-board expertise and interactive decision-making tools that enable it to assess all the conversion scenarios, taking into account the carbon footprint and the ambitious objectives of Éco-énergie tertiaire, France’s energy efficiency initiative for service sector properties.

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Fontanot-West Park 4, a refurbishment showcase

The Fontanot-West Park 4 building, with a floor area of roughly 16,000 sq.m, has undergone a major overhaul. This overhaul created close to 2,000 sq.m of additional space. The project aims to obtain HQE certification for renovation with an “Excellent” rating, the BREEAM certification with a “Very Good” rating and the BBC Effinergie label for renovation.

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Commitment to sustainable finance

As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding amount of Icade’s sustainable finance instruments stood at €1,650 billion, including a Green Bond for the Office Property Investment Division, a Social Bond for Icade Santé and two Revolving Credit Facilities.
In 2021, Icade furthered its commitment to sustainable finance by updating its Green Financing Framework with more stringent requirements in terms of its carbon footprint. It then reclassified the €600 million bond issued in January 2021 as a green bond after obtaining bondholder approval. This bond provides funding for a portfolio of €2.5 billion of eligible assets. As of December 31, 2021, the proportion of the Group’s sustainable financing stood at 30%.