Steen & Strøm’s goal is to certify all Norwegian centres through the schemes Eco-Lighthouse and all Danish centres trough the schemes Key-2Green in Denmark within 2011.
Both certification programmes are specially adapted to small and medium-sized enterprises. In Norway, 29 out of thirty centres have already become Eco-Lighthouses. The certification process is well underway in the remaining centres in Denmark.
Torvbyen in Fredrikstad became Norway’s first certified Eco-Lighthouse shopping centre in 2001. When the Vinterbro centre was certified as an Eco-Lighthouse in 2007, the programme was applied to all Steen & Strøm centres in Norway. This made Steen & Strøm the first shopping centre chain in Norway with such a far-reaching standard for environmental responsibility.
The experience from Vinterbro formed the basis for developing high-quality methodology and the necessary tools. Since then, ten more centres have followed suit, and the certification work is in full progress at the remaining centres.
Many requirements
The certification provides the shopping centre with a simple system for environmental management and specific environmental requirements adapted to the specific business sector. The programme mainly revolves around routines, reporting and action plans that specify new environmental goals. For example, energy consumption must be registered and an energy economy analysis has to be carried out. Consumption must be registered each week. This leads to a focus and awareness that uncovers possibilities for improvements as well as any operational deviations.
Only one of the requirements involves a specific limit, and that is that 75 per cent of all waste is included in the waste management scheme.
The certification work as an extension of the regulations stipulated by Norwegian legislation concerning internal control and HSE measures, but with stricter requirements for the environmental work. The general and the sector specific requirements have the same core areas: working environment, purchases and material consumption, energy, transportation, waste and any water or air pollution, as well as maintenance requirements and aesthetic considerations. “The programme encourages continuous improvements.”
Demanding process
The first step in the process is to carry out an environmental analysis in cooperation with an approved consultant. The analysis encompasses both the physical and psychosocial environment, which covers the following areas:
• Internal control HSE
• Working environment
• Energy consumption
• Purchases and material consumption
• Waste and emission management
• Transport and climate accounts
Together, the business and consultant develop an action plan with solutions and measures, which ensures that the business meets the requirements to becoming an Eco-Lighthouse. When the businesses have fulfilled the sector-specific requirements, they are approved by a public certifier and is awarded a logo and a certificate that is valid for three years.
About Eco-Lighthouse
Eco-Lighthouse is a certification scheme for both the public and private sector, and in May 2009 there were more than 1,700 certified Eco-Lighthouses in Norway, of which 20 has been awarded to shopping centres. Normally, the municipalities certify the companies. In order for a centre to be certified, a minimum of 15 per cent of the tenants must also go through the same process. In addition, a number of suppliers are encouraged to take part. The greatest challenges are related to complying with two sets of certification requirements; general requirements and sector-specific requirements. The actual certification process should also be climate neutral. This means as little travelling and material consumption as possible, and that all documentation should be electronic.
About Key2Green
Is an joint umbrella organisation for the regional environmental networks in Denmark. In total, the regional environmental networks manage approximately 800 small and medium-sized enterprises. Key2Green is a partnership between the authorities and businesses regarding environmental improvements beyond the minimum legal requirements. By following the manual, the company is able to develop an environmental report and go through the phases of a simplified environmental management system. Cooperating with the local authorities enables even small enterprises to introduce environmental management and increase their skill set.