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What are your expectations regarding
sustainability for a real estate
partner such as Cofinimmo? In the
environmental and social field? Do you
have specific SDG
1
in mind?
H. V.
Cofinimmo owns our sales
network. It is a partner who meets the
sustainability conditions we set for our
partners.
Cofinimmo wants to maximise the
return on its real estate. There is nothing
wrong with that. That's why the network
of pubs is well maintained, refurbished
and vacancy is managed to give spaces
a second life as residential spaces e.g.
Pubstone provides in the Netherlands, for
example, vacant ground floor retail spaces
for temporary accommodation and
converted them in Mons/Bergen (BE) into
apartments. The AB InBev distribution
network, managed by Cofinimmo, totals
about 350,000 m², nearly 43 % of our
direct points of sale. Each effort made
to reduce the pub managers’ energy
consumption and convert vacant space
into useful spaces, brings us a step
closer to a more sustainable today's and
tomorrow's living environment.
What role should or could Cofinimmo,
as a real estate provider, play in
AB InBev's sustainable development
strategy?
H. V.
AB InBev goes for a world in
which there is room for growth and
attention for environment and health.
Cofinimmo, as owner and manager of our
distribution network, is a fully committed
partner to this vision.
Our pubs are primarily places where
people meet each other.
As we strive for sustainability within the
brewery, it is also important to have
sustainable sales properties: e.g. energy-
efficient, well insulated, well maintained
and optimally used.
Cofinimmo is first and foremost
a provider of properties where we
sell our beers. Its role could, however,
evolve towards an organisation which,
together with our pub managers, raises
sustainability awareness and optimises
the use of these properties via energy
savings and by re-assigning the unused
accommodation. Cofinimmo would be a
‘consultant’ in smart energy consumption
and a partner in creating housing. This
would make unused space useful.
A good example is the restoration of
the Cheval Marin in Brussels city centre.
This historical building was entirely
refurbished. All technical equipment
was provided and construction materials
were reused whenever possible to make
it functional and comply with current
comfort and safety standards. In this way,
Cofinimmo contributes to the upgrade
of certain areas and to the reappraisal of
the urban cohesion. In addition to the
ground floor's retail function that was
restored, two high-quality residential units
were created on the upper floors. In this
way, this restoration fits perfectly with
the revitalisation of this neighbourhood
of the city centre, located between the
Grand'Place and Canal areas. By being
inspiring and facilitating and establishing
a connection between housing and real
estate, the triple win relation 'Profit-
People-Planet' can be redefined.
“ COFINIMMO
CONTRIBUTES TO THE
UPGRADE OF CERTAIN
DISTRICTS AND THE
REAPPRAISAL OF THE
URBAN COHESION.”
Pub/Restaurant Cheval Marin –
Brussels Centre (BE)
1
Sustainable Development Goals.