Frasers Centrepoint Limited (“FCL”) is an international real estate company listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange (SGX) with total assets of approximately S$25 billion as at 30 June 2017. The company is involved in the development, ownership and/or management of residential, commercial, retail and industrial properties in Singapore, Australia, China, Southeast Asia, and Europe. FCL also has a hospitality business spanning more than 80 cities across Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Middle-East.
As one of Singapore’s top property companies, FCL keeps a close tab on the pulse of the market. Sustainability consistently comes up as both a key risk and an opportunity for the company during its regular review of the current and future business landscape, as well as during its engagement with stakeholders. It is not surprising then, that sustainability is core to every aspect of FCL’s business. Looking into the ways in which the space the company provides can enhance wellbeing, productivity and enjoyment for users, in a manner that is friendly to the environment and local communities, is at the heart of what FCL does.
In particular, the environment is an area in which FCL places a strong emphasis. The built environment accounts for 40 percent of the world’s total energy consumption and 24 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. As a multi-national property owner and manager, FCL is well-placed to create a positive change. To achieve its resource usage reduction goals, the company has adopted a two-pronged approach – greening the hardware (buildings) and software (mindsets).
From its first BCA Green Mark building award in 2006, FCL’s efforts at greening the hardware have gathered momentum year-on-year. The company invests much effort and capital into developing green buildings, such as ensuring that energy efficiency measures are incorporated into the building designs, and using renewable energy sources where feasible. Today, the company’s buildings in Singapore are consistently ranked among the BCA Top 10 energy efficient buildings. In Australia, the company manages the largest portfolio of Green Star-certified spaces.
FCL’s Central Park Sydney mixed-use development is a stellar example of the company’s commitment to the environment. Central Park Sydney houses its own tri-generation, low-carbon natural gas power plant as well as its own recycled water network. The development also boasts the largest green façade ever undertaken on a residential tower in Australia, and the first light-reflecting heliostat system installed on a residential building. With the unique features, One Central Park, a residential tower within the development has been declared the Best Tall Building Worldwide in 2014 by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
Beyond greening the hardware, the company also recognises its role in influencing its stakeholders to embrace green practices. Through its expertise, FCL aims to design spaces that encourage green behaviour and interaction with nature. FCL’s latest office development in Singapore, Frasers Tower, as well as its upcoming mega development in Thailand, One Bangkok, are prime examples of this. Nestled in a park of its own, Frasers Tower is designed to provide a unique blend of workspace and nature, while One Bangkok is the first development in Thailand to target LEED Platinum certification for Neighbourhood Development.
In addition, FCL organises regular events to engage with various stakeholders, and collaborates with relevant bodies to raise awareness on sustainability. For example, FCL’s hospitality arm, Frasers Hospitality, has partnered with WWF to raise global environmental awareness by pioneering the ‘Just One’ hotels programme in 2016 which targets to raise at least $3 million for WWF by 2020.
Although green practices cost money to implement, to FCL, this is a worthwhile investment and is part of the company’s commitment as a responsible corporate citizen.
