Article from Reforma. Industrial Real Estate Development in Mexico.
Nowadays, sustainability is at the core of business strategy and therefore both national and international corporations are demanding industrial parks to help them meet their sustainability goals, reveals a recent study by FINSA, an industrial park developer.
Sustainability will be mandatory for company operations as will be certifications like LEED Gold, reveals a recent analysis by FINSA, an industrial park developer in Mexico.
In 1987, the UN Brundtland Commission defined sustainable as “the ability to satisfy our current needs without compromising the needs of future generations.”
FINSA is working hard to achieve sustainability in Mexico and today 40% of the properties in their inventory are green certified which has contributed to cut down 2,200 tons of CO2 emissions, reduce 3,800 megawatts (MWh) in electricity consumption and save 16,900 cubic meters of water.
“We are living a paradigm shift. Companies today have a holistic view where they seek productivity and profitability but, with a green and social conscience,” points out Mr.Sergio Argüelles, president and CEO of FINSA.
The new generation of green industrial parks seeks to create value in the long term as well as to help companies meet their sustainability goals through strategies to counteract climate change and reduce their carbon footprint.
Companies in the United States have set the goal to be carbon-free by 2050 and therefore their operations elsewhere have to be in line with this objective, which includes the use of clean energies and the implementation of green practices in their processes.
Likewise, in the case of North America, green industrial parks in Mexico comply with one of the most innovative aspects of the T-MEC which involves commitments and obligations for trade and the environment and contemplate sanctions in case of violation.
Green and intelligent industrial parks
The Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks (AMPIP) of which FINSA is part, has joined the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable for best practices in sustainability, social and governance as addressed in the ‘Route Map’ for the creation of a new generation of green industrial parks.
“The industrial real estate market supports green industries and that is why the 2030 Route Map for the creation of green industrial parks has been put in place. The Route Map addresses topics such as energy consumption, water use, waste management, global warming and ecosystems to establish best practices,” says Mr. Sergio Argüelles.
The Route Map highlights the following as best practices: create circular economies to minimize waste, cut down on carbon emissions, efficiencies in energy, water and soil use, improvements on the lifestyle of park workers and their relationship with the community.
The Route Map looks at the trends and global standards that are revolutionizing the way to operate a successful business, starting with a deep analysis of the current status of the real estate sector in Mexico and also looking ahead. The Route Map ends with a concrete proposal on how to achieve the long-term goals.