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SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES

Sustainability Initiatives

5 STARS FOR ENERGY

MarketPlace Leichhardt, owned by Active Super, has achieved a 5 Star NABERS Energy rating (the Centre uses 100% GreenPower) and a 4 Star NABERS rating for water consumption.

MarketPlace Leichhardt began its quest to attain NABERS accreditation in 2007, systematically introducing energy and water saving initiatives – of which have cumulatively reduced energy consumption by 54.20%.

 

NABERS ratings are based on 12 months of operational water and energy usage. Although application for a NABERS Rating is voluntary, Active Super viewed this as a vital step to properly measure and benchmark the Centre’s environmental achievements, and to continually strive for improvements. NABERS is a national initiative for the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and is managed by the Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The star rating is indicative of better energy and water performance and lower emission of greenhouse gases, with 5 stars being the highest achievement:

  • 5 Stars: Excellent performance
  • 4 Stars: Strong performance
  • 3 Stars: Above average performance
  • 2 Stars: Below average performance
  • 1 Star: Poor performance

So how did MarketPlace Leichhardt reach this achievement? Being a shopping centre that is almost 50 years old meant that we didn’t have the energy or water saving features that a new shopping centre would take for granted. To reduce our energy and water consumption an extensive Centre retrofit program was executed, and from this point continual developments and best practices have since been implemented, such as:

  • Installing energy efficient lights through the common malls and fitting all plant and equipment with energy efficient motors and drives.
  • Solar panels on the Centre’s rooftop supply energy to our community amenities and parents’ rooms.
  • 6 Star Greenstar Performance Rating representing World Leadership in building operations as assessed by the Green Building Council of Australia.
  • Electrical and water metre tracking has influenced a reduction in retailer usage, as well as encouraging high-consuming retailers to invest in sustainable appliance alternatives.
  • Efficiently sorting all Centre waste to ensure that recyclable materials are actually recycled, preventing unnecessary landfill.
  • Recycling the cooking oil from food retailers for reuse in products such as soaps, spay adjuvants and lubricants (almost 90% of MarketPlace Leichhardt’s discarded oil is able to be reused).
  • Purchasing 100% GreenPower since 2007.
  • Implementing ‘Green Leases’ to regulate new and renewing retailers to purchase 100% GreenPower and ensure fitouts comply with best practice standards for recycling, lighting, power, water and waste management.
  • Engaging and educating our community on new green ideas and ‘at home’ practices through our annual Enviro Expos.
  • Rewarding shoppers for recycling by trading re-usable calico shopping bags for 10 plastic grocery bags (to be recycled).

Active Super believes its investments, like MarketPlace Leichhardt, should show a commitment to our community and the environment. Through investing in ‘green buildings’, renewable energy and alternative investments based on clean technology, Active Super is helping to offset the risk of its carbon footprint.

CARBON NEUTRALITY

Active Super gained Carbon Neutrality status for their portfolio in April 2019, making them one of the first property portfolios in Australia to undertake this achievement.

Climate Active certification is awarded to businesses that have met rigorous requirements to achieve net zero carbon emissions. Active Super have credibly reduced their greenhouse gas emissions and then offset any remaining emissions through the purchase of carbon offsets that benefit the environment.

RETURN & EARN WITH US

As part of our litter reduction and sustainability initiatives, MarketPlace Leichhardt has a Reverse Vending Machine to collect eligible containers. Better still, once you’ve inserted your empty containers, you then select your preferred method of payment!

You can choose to:

  1. Get a refund
  2. Earn Woolworths cash refund
  3. Choose a charity to donate your refund to

The Return & Earn machine can be found at Foster Lane, Leichhardt. Recycling bay parking is available.

The Tomra return and earn system was commissioned at MarketPlace Leichhardt in August 2019, being the third system installed in the Inner West. Within weeks of the system being commissioned the larger Inner West community has taken to the return and earn very quickly with the first month’s recycling figures being 35,000, the popularity grew rapidly. In the 11 months to June 2020, we saw a total of 2,557,165 containers recycled, this was beyond the expectations of both Tomra and MarketPlace Leichhardt

In the next 4 years to April 2024, the system recycled a further 20,332,375 containers with a record month of 632,991 in October 2021, we have now seen a total of 22,889,540 containers recycled since 2019 – These outstanding results have seen the system at MarketPlace consistently noted as a high performing asset in the Tomra Network. Based on the number of containers recycled to date, this has generated approximately $2,288,957 in refunds/donations which is split between Paypal/Cash, Woolworths vouchers and charity donations.