Aberdeen Standard European Logistics Income has doubled its real estate sustainability rating over the past year.
The logistics investment trust said it had achieved four stars out of five on this year’s Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, after scoring just two stars in 2019.
The firm said the latest score followed a concerted environmental, social and governance push in the past 12 months, which included solar panel projects, tenant satisfaction surveys and light sustainability audits.
The portfolio’s GRESB score of 79/100 compares with the 68/100 average score for its Western Europe industrial distribution warehouse peer group, which contains 18 other funds. ASLI said it hoped to further enhance its ESG credentials over the coming years.
Evert Castelein, fund manager for ASLI, said the rating “underscores our desire to put ESG at the heart of everything that we do”.
ESG benchmarking group GRESB covered 1,229 portfolios this year, valued at more than $4.8bn (£3.5bn).
Participation in the benchmark soared by 22% this year, and data was reported at asset level for more than 96,000 properties in 64 countries.
ASLI also said it was set to buy a new warehouse in Poland valued at approximately €26m (£23.6m), after signing a letter of intent on the deal.
The 34,000 sq m warehouse is expected to provide a net initial yield of 5.5%, with the deal set to close in the first quarter of next year.
