Sustainability
We base our sustainability work on internationally recognised frameworks and standards, best practices and expectations from our owner, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. Dialogue and cooperation with our stakeholders are important for reducing risk and creating value over time.
Sustainability at Allstad encompasses environmental, social and governance matters. To work effectively, we have prioritised the topics of climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, workers in the value chain, affected local communities and corporate governance.
Biodiversity and ecosystems
As one of Norway’s largest landowners, we have a particular responsibility to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems. Allstad’s sustainability policy and land-use procedures state that we shall apply the mitigation hierarchy in all projects and measures. The procedures also apply to land leased out by Allstad. Work to increase carbon storage and preserve significant natural values and cultivated land is central.
We have defined habitat types and natural values that we shall avoid. These include, among other things, bogs and wetlands, cultivated land and forests with significant natural value. Forest management is carried out in accordance with the Norwegian PEFC Forest Standard. To achieve the goal of no net loss of natural values, we have effective systems and procedures for mapping natural values in relevant areas.
To ensure targeted and continuous work on biodiversity and ecosystems, we have established land and nature accounts. These are published in the annual and sustainability report.
Greenhouse gas reductions
We implement measures to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. This includes, among other things, setting climate requirements when purchasing products with high emissions, obtaining BREEAM certification for commercial buildings and investing in funds with low emissions intensity. The climate measures are described in our procurement policy, guidelines for responsible and sustainable asset management and sustainability strategy for property development.
In the rehabilitation and maintenance of our building stock, we have effective systems for reusing materials and furnishings, which both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and preserve cultural heritage.
Nature and climate risk
Allstad has carried out nature and climate risk analyses in accordance with the TNFD and TCFD frameworks. The risks identified and measures to manage them are described in the annual report.
Climate change, such as extreme precipitation and rising temperatures, makes our properties more vulnerable to damage. Even today, we are experiencing increased maintenance costs for old vicarages and infrastructure. Climate change also increases the risk of disease and pests in forests, which may have financial consequences. Allstad is adapting to climate change, including by analysing climate risk in new property projects and carrying out extensive mapping of the actual need for repairs in older vicarages. This means that maintenance requires a larger budget, but contributes to more sustainable and secure management of Allstad’s properties.
Human and labour rights
When managing our properties, we shall safeguard affected stakeholders, ensure decent working conditions and create value for affected local communities.
To safeguard human and labour rights, we conduct due diligence assessments in accordance with the requirements of the Transparency Act. We base all our work on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the ILO core conventions and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Together with Allstad’s sustainability policy, these conventions and standards form the basis for our ethical guidelines and our ethical guidelines for suppliers.
Allstad wishes to cooperate with our suppliers and partners on business practices that respect people, society and the environment. We expect our suppliers and business partners to work systematically and purposefully to comply with our ethical guidelines for suppliers. This includes, among other things, carrying out their own risk assessments of adverse impacts on people, society and the environment, and stopping, preventing and reducing such impacts. We will terminate business relationships or other cooperation if our supplier or partner does not meet our expectations for responsible and sustainable business practices.
Everyone who works at and for Allstad can use our whistleblowing channel, where it is possible to report unacceptable conditions anonymously. Here is a link to our whistleblowing channel. We also expect our suppliers to have a system for handling complaints relating to human rights, labour rights, the environment and corruption.
Affected local communities
Preserving cultural heritage sites and the history of the vicarages is part of Allstad’s social mission. The vicarages are, among other things, leased to alternative schools for children with various challenges, research into sustainable agriculture, services for people with substance abuse and psychiatric challenges, and tenant farming. Much agricultural land is leased out, which contributes to food security and provides a secure framework for local farmers.
Several vicarages are buildings of cultural and historical value. Allstad is responsible for managing these buildings and their cultural history. For the affected local communities, high-quality cultural heritage management can contribute to strengthened identity and value.
The right of public access applies to Allstad’s properties, and we lease out hunting and fishing rights. This takes place, among other ways, through the iNatur website.
Allstad engages with stakeholders locally and centrally through dialogue and meetings. In development projects, participation activities are carried out, such as public meetings, open office days, meetings with local politicians and other forms of participation adapted to the type of project and applicable legislation.
Governance and documentation
In recent years, Allstad has systematised its sustainability work based on the expectations of our owner, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, CSRD. We are not legally required to report on sustainability under CSRD, but have chosen to refer to the CSRD framework and associated reporting standards in our reporting from the 2024 financial year onwards.
We participate in networks and develop our expertise in cooperation with external professional communities. We are members of Ethical Trade Norway, the Green Building Alliance, the Reuse Hub Network and the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, and are a professional partner of the environmental foundation Zero.
The sustainability policy provides the framework for our work, together with other governing documents. We work continuously to implement these in our procedures. The documents below are particularly relevant to our sustainability work: