PROJECT HISTORY
The challenge
A multinational bank sought a comprehensive roadmap to achieve net zero by 2030 across its 1,200-site global real estate portfolio, connecting its strategic ambition with on-the-ground implementation.
Net Zero Strategy for Multinational Bank’s Real Estate Portfolio
Leveraging digital solutions and deep asset knowledge to deliver an actionable net zero roadmap
The solution
Arcadis partnered with the client on a multi-year net zero roadmap, evaluating nearly 400 buildings and optimizing GHG reduction reduction projects.
The impact
The client is making tangible progress toward its 2030 net zero commitment, also satisfying stakeholders' expectations on sustainability efforts.
40,000+
decarbonization project combinations, across nearly 1,200 assets
120
stakeholders engaged across 21 business units and external partners
90%
GHG emissions reduction identified by 2030
The challenge
A leading multinational bank had committed to achieving net zero across its global operations by 2030. Recognizing that its extensive real estate portfolio, comprising of 1,200 sites, significantly contributed to its carbon footprint, the client saw the need to develop a step-by-step strategy and approach to drive action.
Despite already seeing a 50% reduction in emissions since 2010, through a GHG reduction program already in place, further progress was essential to meet their ambitious target. The challenge therefore was to develop a comprehensive and actionable net zero roadmap that integrated existing efforts and also identified new, optimized decarbonization opportunities. This called for a strategic approach to balance financial viability, technical feasibility and new innovations, ensuring a clear path to operational net zero by 2030.
The solution
The Arcadis team partnered with the client to create a tailored and actionable net zero roadmap by combining our deep sustainability expertise with Arcadis-developed digital solutions. This included modeling nearly 400 buildings (including offices, retail outlets, data centers and other critical facilities) covering approximately 70% of the client’s global real estate portfolio, and then extrapolating results to their entire portfolio, across 90 countries.
The team initiated the process by first reviewing and validating existing emissions data, establishing a strong baseline for future reductions. Using our Cost Optimal Sustainable Investment Solution (COSIS), we were able to analyze key building characteristics across the clients’ portfolio – like size, location, heating systems, insulation levels and window types – to identify cost effective carbon reduction measures. Simultaneously, our Enterprise Decision Analytics (EDA) digital solution processed and evaluated over 40,000 potential project combinations, optimizing for the lowest capital expenditure (CAPEX) and highest technical feasibility to maximize GHG reductions.
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This comprehensive modeling exercise included offices, retail outlets and data centers, with findings extrapolated to the client’s entire portfolio, across 90 countries. This scenario development process, spanning approximately one month, enabled the client to better understand opportunities in their global portfolio and enable agile, data-driven decisions for decarbonization options and investment strategies that considered both cost and impact.
The resulting roadmap details a structured decarbonization plan that outlined short-, mid-, and long-term steps to achieve net zero; including an investment strategy, change management framework, and a structured implementation plan. The plan integrates net zero principles into asset lifecycle and portfolio decisions, with solutions ranging from quick wins like window film and sealing gaps to more complex capital projects like heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), electrification and heat recovery systems. The strategy also established measurable KPIs for Energy Use Intensity, electrification, new building design, use of offsets, renewable electricity sourcing, and on-site renewable energy, to ensure accountability, progress tracking and leadership among peers.
A pivotal moment in the project was engaging 120 stakeholders across 21 business units and external partners, seeking input and eventually gaining buy-in for this ambitious plan - from asset managers to executive leadership. This collaborative effort helped identify potential gaps and roadblocks upfront; facilitating the development of a robust execution plan including a multi-year roadmap, roles, responsibilities and KPIs by team, and a structured implementation framework built on existing business processes. The plan included a capital plan with a profit and loss summary through 2035 so that leadership could confidently approve the strategy. Arcadis continues to support this client by providing program management and implementation services, as well as ongoing strategic sustainability advice.
Our multidisciplinary team of strategists, building engineers, data analysts, and sustainability specialists, delivered a detailed, actionable plan that provides our client with a clear and achievable path to net zero across its global real estate portfolio. We look forward to continuing our collaboration, partnering with the client to successfully realize next steps.
The impact
Our comprehensive roadmap has developed a path for the client to achieve a 90% reduction in market-based GHG emissions by 2030, including a 30% reduction in location-based emissions (on top of the 50% reduction already achieved). Our work has helped the client with actionable next steps that guide their journey toward net zero, while also strengthening their transparency, accountability and reputation with external stakeholders, regulators and investors.
The client has successfully started implementing the priority initiatives that have been identified, embedding sustainability into its long-term strategy.
Used capabilities
