IULIUS Group, one of the largest developers of mixed-use urban regeneration projects in Romania reveals the results of its 2023 sustainability report. IULIUS has developed over 310,000 square meters of retail, in two mixed projects (Palas Iași and Iulius Town Timișoara), the national network of regional shopping malls (Iulius Mall – Iași, Cluj-Napoca and Suceava) and the Family Market projects in Iași and 242,000 square meters of office space, in 15 class A buildings located in Iaşi, Timişoara and Cluj-Napoca.
The report highlights a 24 percent decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a 26 percent decrease in total energy consumption and 19 percent less landfilled waste (compared to 2019 figures).
“Through its urban regeneration projects, IULIUS has created community hubs and poles of regional economic development. Our approach seeks to restore the connection between the communities and their cities through our investments. We create spaces that cater to the current needs of the community, while also designing them to ease the transition to a more sustainable future. To this effect, last year we completed our carbon emission reduction strategy in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation and continued to invest in the communities where we are present,” said Dan-Adrian Chelaru, IULIUS Group Sustainability Officer.
One of the strategic goals is to reduce its environmental footprint in line with the global initiatives regarding climate change. The entire IULIUS portfolio holds green certifications or is pending certification. More than 500,000 square meters are certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
IULIUS is also one of the largest creators of urban gardens turned community anchors. The portfolio includes 3 gardens in Palas Iași, Iulius Town Timișoara and Iulius Mall Cluj, with a total area of 130,000 square meters and requiring 18 million Euro in investments. The gardens include 80,000 mature trees and shrubs and have become the scene for the most important events, accommodating more than 1,000 events every year.
In terms of efficient waste management, in 2023 IULIUS achieved a 19 percent reduction in household waste generated compared to 2019, and the goal for 2025 is to increase the recycling rate by 50 percent. As for the management of water resources, water consumption dropped by 24 percent in 2023 compared to 2019.
