Since 2008, every new Prologis warehouse delivered in the UK has been net zero carbon in construction carbon framework) and is designed to deliver long-lasting environmental benefits through our unique approach to the mitigation of carbon involved in the construction process. It’s an achievement we’re proud of and it’s made possible thanks to collaboration with our trusted external partners and supply chain.

Through our partnership with Planet Mark and climate action charity, Cool Earth, we were the first property company in the UK to measure and reduce each new building’s whole life carbon footprint and mitigate 5 times the unavoidable embodied carbon emissions (carbon associated with the construction of the building) by protecting vital areas of rainforest.

Now, by extending this collaborative approach to the carbon emitted during the day-to-day operation of our buildings (operational carbon) we have delivered the first UK logistics property to go beyond net zero in both its construction and operation by working closely with the customer. This building, located on Prologis Apex Park, near Daventry in the East Midlands, will deliver a net benefit for the environment over its lifetime and has set a new sustainability standard for UK logistics buildings.

In a first for the world of industrial logistics property, we worked with the customer to deliver an industrial logistics warehouse, which pushes the boundaries of sustainable construction. The building includes the installation of bespoke energy saving technology to mitigate the impact of energy-intensive processes. In addition to the standard sustainability measures provided by Prologis for all its buildings, including rainwater harvesting and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, a bespoke solar smart PV system has also been installed, resulting in a building which will return more energy to the grid than it uses. The surplus energy it generates will help to power other homes and businesses.

Now completed, the new unit at Apex Park has an industry-leading EPC rating of A+, is BREEAM rated ‘Outstanding’ and meets the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Framework Definition of being net zero carbon in both its construction and operational energy. Through Prologis’ partnership with climate change charity, Cool Earth, 310 acres of Papua New Guinea rainforest have been protected based on a whole lifetime assessment of the building’s carbon impact.

This is a milestone for both our customer and Prologis and shows what can be achieved when like-minded businesses work together to realise their vision for a building that delivers a net benefit for the environment.

The dialogue around net zero is progressing rapidly and businesses are beginning to look beyond ‘operational carbon’ to find other ways to make their buildings more sustainable. Reducing the embodied carbon of new buildings requires intense collaboration across the supply chain, from engineers and architects to material and product suppliers, plant hire firms and contractors. Moving as a country towards being net zero by 2050, we look forward to seeing many more logistics projects that are net-positive for the environment, and we’re extremely proud to be leading the way.