Jones Lang LaSalle Illustrates Commitment to Responsible Business in Latest Sustainability Report

Jones Lang LaSalle last week released its 2012 Sustainability Report, “Moving toward a more sustainable enterprise,” which details the company’s services, operations and client-focused strategies to achieve long-term sustainable solutions across five sustainability categories: energy and resources; client service excellence; green buildings; community and supply chain; and workplace, well-being and diversity.

By Jennifer Elks | Published 11 years ago | About a 2 minute read

“Jones Lang LaSalle has a long history of providing innovative sustainability services for our clients’ real estate and our own offices,” said CEO Colin Dyer. “We create value for clients, shareholders and employees by focusing on environmental and health and safety issues, and by fostering diversity and community engagement.”

The report outlines practices implemented by JLL and its clients, revealing an increased focus to integrate sustainability into all real estate decisions, and demonstrates how the firm mirrors the services it provides to clients internally, taking steps to becoming a fully sustainable enterprise. The firm’s 2012 highlights include:

Buildings: In 2012, JLL’s clients achieved 59 green building certifications, including 31 to LEED and 26 to Green Globes standards.
Energy and resources: Clients in the firm’s U.S.-managed portfolio achieved emissions reductions equivalent to removing 190,000 cars from the road, resulting in $176 million in savings, up from $105 million in 2011. By implementing energy-savings practices across the globe, clients reduced their GHG emissions by 913,000 metric tons, an increase of 326,000 in one year. The firm itself demonstrated a 4 percent reduction in building GHG emissions per employee from 2011-2012.
Client service excellence through partnerships: JLL says it seeks high-impact, global partnerships to position itself at the forefront of emerging trends, and to serve as a sustainability-focused connection point to clients. These include:
- Signing the United Nations Global Compact, a strategic initiative for global businesses that are committed to aligning practices on shared sustainability values.
- Becoming lead sponsor for the CDP Cities program.
- Joining the International Integrated Reporting Council’s Pilot Programme, which is developing a global reporting standard to integrate sustainability into long-term decision-making for businesses.

The report also reiterates the real estate giant’s commitment to corporate citizenship and responsibility through its ethical business model and through the value it delivers in the global community. The firm’s 2012 highlights include:

Community and supply chain: Recorded charitable contributions of at least USD 3.8 million; employees dedicated at least 1,750 days to volunteering in local communities; and partnered with Ethisphere Institute to develop a survey for more than 8,000 suppliers globally to rate ethical character and quality, ultimately improving supply chain transparency.
Workplace well-being and diversity: Managed approximately 185 health, well-being and safety initiatives in 2012, nearly 80 more than in 2011; reported 25 percent female representation at the Director-level; and nearly 80 programs dedicated to driving diversity and inclusion across the world.

The sustainability-focused expertise Jones Lang LaSalle provides to clients resonated internally, as the firm set an energy and GHG emissions target for its own global portfolio by committing to a 10 percent reduction by end of 2017 against base year 2012.