Supporting the
environmental
transition

Discover the Better Places Certification - a transparent rating of the sustainability of all our centres

Creating Sustainable Places

At Westfield we are committed to the environmental transition of cities and the sustainable evolution of retail. To evaluate and monitor our progress, we developed the Better Places Certification, a tool that helps our destinations stay committed to reducing environmental impact and creating positive social change. The Certification assesses our destinations based on 96 criteria, measuring a wide variety of indicators from the amount of water used to the number of jobs created locally. This framework is a starting point, enabling us to monitor our performance so we can keep improving the environmental and social impact of all our centres. All our shopping destinations will be graded from A to E, then challenged to improve their grade, creating a virtuous circle of sustainable change and progress.

Westfield Stratford City shopping centre commitments

ONGOING INITIATIVES

Our dedication to sustainability has been rewarded with an 'Excellent’ BREEAM rating due to our efforts to improve, innovate and make effective use of resources, with an 'Excellent' rating in asset management. Westfield Stratford City has maintained an ISO14001 certification to standard for over a decade in recognition of our effective environmental management system and commitment to mitigating our impacts on the environment.

FUTURE INITIATIVES

We aim to improve our Energy Performance Certificates to as high a rating as possible.

ONGOING INITIATIVES

One of the ways in which we’ve been able to reduce our carbon footprint is by procuring 100% renewable energy, a combination of wind, hydro and solar power. We have further improved energy efficiency through low-energy LED lighting, passive infrared sensor (PIR) lighting, and advanced Building Management Systems for energy optimisation and control.

FUTURE INITIATIVES

At the forefront of our environmental transition is our ambition to contribute to global carbon neutrality. Guided by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approved net-zero goals, we are committed to significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all scopes.

We aim to cut GHG emissions by 90% for Scope 1 and 2, and by 50% across Scope 1, 2, and 3 by 2030, progressing toward a 90% reduction across all scopes by 2050.*¹

ONGOING INITIATIVES

We continue to reduce water consumption through low-flow tap aerators, waterless urinals, and energy-efficient boosted cold-water pumps – cutting usage by 87% since 2019. Rainwater is also harvested from rooftop tanks for toilet flushing, while Virgin Pure refill stations across Westfield Stratford City help minimise single-use plastic bottle waste.

FUTURE INITIATIVES

We are committed to further improving our water efficiency, with a goal to reduce water consumption intensity by 20% per footfall by 2030.*²

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

We promote urban biodiversity through green roofs planted with sedum and wildflowers, which support pollinators, provide natural cooling, and reduce stormwater runoff. Pocket parks and living walls enhance air quality and create welcoming green spaces, with over 11,000 plants at Westfield Stratford City alone.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

By 2030, we aim for 100% of our portfolio to implement renaturation projects,³ restoring natural habitats and enhancing ecosystem resilience. We are also committed to achieving biodiversity net gain⁴ across all development projects, ensuring that every new initiative contributes positively to the environment.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

Since 2021, 832,942 kg of food waste from Westfield Stratford City retailers has been processed through an on-site food waste digester and converted into renewable energy – avoiding 487 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and generating enough energy to power over 58,000 homes. In 2024, 218,000 coffee cups were upcycled into new products through our recycling programme. Since October 2022 TRAID has carried out 111 collections from Westfield London, that helped managing to divert 25,067 kgs of unwanted clothes and shoes from landfill, reducing carbon emissions (CO2) by 213 tonnes and water savings of 40,107 m3.

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

By 2030, we aim to engage tenants to reduce waste by 15%⁵ and achieve a 70% recycling rate. We pursue comprehensive on-site waste segregation and ensure materials are recycled locally or sent for energy recovery instead of disposal. We have been zero waste to landfill since opening.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

We offer ticketless parking, minimising the amount of paper used by our car parks, which are equipped with ample secure bike storage and electric car charging points.

Accreditations:

Safer Parking Scheme.

The Safer Parking Scheme is managed by the BPA on behalf of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives Ltd, a subsidiary of the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). The Safer Parking Scheme, established in 2004, is a UK-wide initiative aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime in parking facilities.

Park Access® is the UK’s biggest accreditation for accessible parking, auditing and certifying car parks and EV charging facilities as accessible and inclusive.

Park Mark Plus is a new and comprehensive assessment to demonstrate the highest quality of today's modern car parks in services, operations, design and build. To achieve the award car parks must demonstrate a wide range of responsibilities:

  • Low crime and measures in place to ensure the safety of people and vehicles

  • Meet Park Access criteria for disabled parking bays

  • Structural integrity

  • Environmental credentials

  • Good management and operations

  • Exemplary customer experience

FUTURE INITIATIVES:

Bay Guidance Technology

The introduction of upgraded bay guidance technology will support customers in locating available parking spaces more efficiently, while also improving internal traffic flow, reducing congestion and enhancing the overall parking experience.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

We require our retailers to adhere to environmental guidelines when fitting out and running their stores including using recycled materials, limiting single-use plastics and restricting energy usage outside trading hours.

ONGOING INITIATIVES:

Since 2021, our teams have dedicated 2,744 volunteering hours to local causes, raising over £21,000 for Spread a Smile, donating 45,000 meals to The Felix Project, and supporting charities like LandAid and Caritas Anchor House. The Westfield Stratford City Student Fund has helped 80 disadvantaged students gain qualifications and access further education or employment. In partnership with the NHS, we supported the community through a plasma donor centre and two vaccination hubs, enabling over 350,000 COVID-19 and 1,000 polio vaccines to be administered, alongside 28,000 plasma donations. The Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund has supported creative jobs, awarding over £2.6M to 73 community projects in three years.

(1) In absolute value, from a 2015 baseline

(2) In L/visit from a 2019 baseline

(3) Renaturation projects are defined as any project related to the improvement of biodiversity and biophilia in and outside the shopping centres

(4) The Biodiversity Net gain calculation will be done using the Biodiversity metric released by DEFRA

(5) From a 2019 baseline, including waste from common and private areas of the shopping centres