Green Astri Astri Group's responsible business strategy.
Electric car chargers
Solar parks
Bicycle parking spaces
Astri green initiatives
The principles of responsible entrepreneurship have been agreed upon at both the supervisory board and management board levels. In reducing our environmental footprint, we follow the Paris Agreement, and our business practices are aligned with the UN Global Compact (see also our 10 operating principles).
Reducing the environmental footprint is a long-term plan and a sign of respect for future generations. It is a responsible, wise, and practical choice today that, in the long run, helps save both money and resources.
In fact, the entire Europe has set a clear course towards a green transition. Estonia also plans to be carbon neutral by 2050. When talking about companies and environmental sustainability, environmental footprint, sustainable development, climate neutrality, or the green transition, it usually refers to bringing the total amount of carbon dioxide[2]—that is, CO2 emissions resulting from all company activities—to zero (This is a greenhouse gas that increasingly accumulates in the atmosphere due to human activity and affects the climate).
As Astri Grupp is a large company with a significant environmental footprint, it is only logical that this must be reduced and eventually brought to zero. “We see great potential in environmentally sustainable activities. In the long term, this provides a competitive advantage,” believes Silver Hage, a member of the Astri Grupp supervisory board, adding that environmentally sustainable activities offer new business directions (e.g., electricity production), cost savings (e.g., more energy-efficient buildings or remote work), as well as conveniences for customers (e.g., bicycle parking or waste sorting opportunities).
Three directions
Astri Group has over a thousand partners in Estonia, and the company’s various centers, markets, and online platforms are visited more than 27 million times a year. “We have divided our so-called green activities into three main areas – buildings and energy, transport and urban space, and circular economy and responsible consumption – which cover the entire chain of the enterprise,” says Hage.
The biggest change being implemented at Astri Group is the criterion to consider reducing the environmental footprint when making decisions. And this applies at every level. In other words: if there are several options to choose from and the environmentally friendly choice is even somewhat reasonable from a business perspective, it is preferred. “We see that this approach is often the key, because people are frequently used to thinking, ‘this is how we have always done it’, and do not even consider new, more environmentally friendly, and often also more commercially beneficial alternatives.”
Objectives and Measurement
At Astri Group, we aim to reduce our footprint both in building construction and operations, and to encourage our partners to minimize their own footprint as well.
When calculating our environmental footprint, we follow the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
We are currently in the phase of measuring our climate impact (scope 1-3), based on which we will set both group-wide and unit-specific goals and metrics.
Each unit’s annual report includes a separate chapter titled "Green Astri," which outlines the unit’s sustainability activities to date and future plans.
Starting from 2024, we also plan to participate in the Responsible Business Forum’s (VEF) Responsible Business Index.
Everyone has their own role
Although Astri Grupp is already moving towards a better future, Hage says that these are just the first small steps in reducing the environmental footprint of the entire group. “We are well aware that we are still far from being ‘green’.” We consciously avoid making a big deal out of our previous actions, as we see too much so-called greenwashing—excessive marketing of activities with minor environmental impact, which ultimately misleads people.”
He notes that everyone has an important role to play in solving climate issues. “Although the media tends to overemphasize the reduction of individuals’ environmental footprints, it still plays a significant role. However, in addition to changes in consumer behavior, we also need changes from companies, as well as legislative amendments and investments from the state.”
Read more about Astri Grupp’s green transition initiatives.
Buildings and Energy
Use of energy sources
- We produce our own green electricity. The energy company Roheline Astri OÜ, established in 2020, has built solar power plants with a total capacity of 1.3 MW.
- The goal for new developments is to maximize the east-west capacity of solar power plants (SPP) on rooftops.
- Where possible, we have switched to district heating and cooling.
- We reduce energy consumption with building automation: Enerbrain, R8.
- Where possible, we participate in the building ventilation flexibility market with a so-called virtual power plant (VPP), provided by Fusebox and R8.
- We use the waste heat from the cooling units of Balti Jaama Turg, Lõunakeskus, and Fama for heating the building and for heating cold water in summer.
More efficient use of light sources
- We are switching completely to LED lighting, and currently about 95% of the general lighting in our units is LED. We are gradually replacing the remaining general area lights with LEDs and encouraging our partners to fully transition to LEDs as well.
- Where practical, we are introducing lighting automation (for example, in goods corridors).
- At night, we turn off advertising screens and outdoor advertisements.
MAXIMUM REUSE
- Whenever possible, we use our own construction waste, for example, the partition walls in the Astri Tallinn office are built from the old facade glass of Astri Keskus, the walls of the Mileedi/Asko building from old wall panels of Lõunakeskus, etc.
LET'S RENOVATE SMARTLY
- During upgrades/renovations, we are gradually switching to more energy-efficient solutions: more efficient refrigeration equipment, replacing the roof covering with a lighter one, window tinting, etc.
ANALYTICS AND CALCULATIONS
- We conduct voluntary carbon footprint calculations (so-called LCA) for new developments to reduce the environmental impact of constructing and maintaining new buildings.
- We study the heating and cooling of buildings with heat pumps, stormwater infiltration and utilization, reducing environmental impact through the purchase of carbon credits, and more.
Transport and Urban Space
CONTRIBUTION TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT
- We brought the Lux Express bus stop to Fama.
- We operate a free electric bus line in Tartu called Lõunakeskus Express.
- Balti Jaama Market and Central Market will become car-free zones on the ground level, with parking relocated underground (except for taxi, tourist bus, and courier stops).
PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS AND SCOOTER RIDERS
- We are investing in infrastructure for pedestrians, bicycles (including BiKeep, Rattaringlus), and e-scooters (including Bolt charging stations), taking into account even basic needs such as smooth access from the curb to the sidewalk with an electric scooter.
- There are also Bolt electric scooter charging stations at Balti Jaama Market and Central Market.
- Lõunakeskus also has a separate bicycle parking area for partners, which reduces the number of employees commuting by car.
- We are investing in pedestrian safety, including building new raised crosswalks.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT
- We support the transition to electric cars, as electric vehicles are a more environmentally friendly choice than internal combustion engine cars. In all four cities, there are over 70 charging locations from operators such as Eleport, Elektrum Drive, Enefit Volt, and others near our units. We are also analyzing the issue of charging infrastructure in residential buildings, apartments, and commercial areas.
- Astri Group employees have the opportunity to charge their electric cars or plug-in hybrids for free in the office parking lot.
- At Balti Jaama Market, waste and other materials are transported using an electric vehicle.
- At Balti Jaama Market, cleaning is performed with an electric vacuum, which replaces fossil fuel-powered blowers. We are exploring opportunities to electrify maintenance machines in all units.
- In the common areas of our centers, the marketing fee for electric and hybrid cars is lower than for regular internal combustion engine cars.
Biodiversity of green areas
- We are exploring ways to bring biodiversity to our green areas.
- In new developments, we take climate change adaptation into account, for example, addressing stormwater and urban heat islands in parking lots.
- At Lõunakeskus, in collaboration with LõunaTERA School, we established a community garden where school and kindergarten children can plant trees and shrubs, sow seeds, and study insects living in the soil.
Circular Economy and Responsible Consumption
PROMOTING REUSE
- We help to promote recycling. We do this through various collaborations (for example, collection houses in Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, and Pärnu in cooperation with Uuskasutuskeskus), events (such as Basaar flea markets), as well as physical stores (for example, Sõbralt Sõbrale, Basaar, Sveta Vintage, and Fankadelik).
- At Lõunakeskus, there are free book exchange points where customers can bring books they no longer need at home and take books of interest for free.
- We have compiled information on what and where customers can bring unused products from home (such as clothes, electronics, medicines).
WASTE SORTING
- Partners are required to sort waste into up to eight categories.
- In centers and markets, it is possible to sort waste into up to five categories in common areas.
- Balti Jaama Market cooperates with the circular economy company Nutriloop to collect food waste from the market and direct it to organic farming.
SOLUTIONS TO PACKAGING PROBLEMS
- At markets, food vendors are required to offer a biodegradable bag in addition to the regular plastic bag.
- At Balti Jaama Market, we offer customers leftover cardboard boxes from vendors for food purchases. Cardboard boxes can be found in the wind corridors of the vegetable street.
- In cooperation with Ringo, we are testing reusable food containers.
- The popular Astri gift card envelope is made from recycled paper.
- We have connected food outlets in our centers and markets with a company producing biodegradable food packaging to reduce the use of foam plastic.
The Halloween decorations at the Balti Jaam Market focus on overconsumption
"Ringvaade" host Hannes Hermaküla visited the Baltic Station Market to check out the Halloween decorations, which on one hand are frightening, but on the other hand make you reflect more deeply on our living environment.
READ MORE ON THE ERR PORTAL
INCREASING AWARENESS
- We promote increasingly popular sustainable consumption habits: shopping with your own packaging or bag; availability of vegetarian food; installation of drinking water taps in centers and markets; using potted or artificial Christmas trees during the holidays.
- Digital services also have a small environmental footprint, and to reduce it, we participate in the annual digital cleanup day to critically review the digital services used by our team members and company (emails, cloud backups, software, etc.).
- At Balti Jaama Market, we created a Halloween display focused on overconsumption.
- We promote increasingly popular sustainable consumption habits:
- shopping with your own packaging or bag;
- availability of vegetarian food;
- installation of drinking water taps in centers and markets;
- using potted or artificial Christmas trees during the holidays.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
- In marketing, we prefer digital solutions over physical ones and recycled paper over new.
- In our offices and common areas, we use recycled paper for toilet and printing paper.
- We have stopped selling fireworks at the Baltic Station Market.
- We have minimized the production of merchandise (mugs, pens, etc.), keeping only practical items that people are happy to use (such as Balta hoodies, market bags).
- In the common areas of our centers, the marketing fee for electric and hybrid cars is lower than for conventional internal combustion engine cars.
- Digital services also have a small environmental footprint, and to reduce it, we participate in the annual Digital Cleanup Day to critically review the digital services used by our team members and company (emails, cloud backups, software, etc.).
Sustainability Activities: The Example of the New Building in Lõunakeskus Commercial Park
Astri Grupp has constructed a new standalone building in the Lõunakeskus retail park at Räni Rahnu tee 21, intended for the IKEA planning and ordering point, Masku furniture store, the University of Tartu Hospital Radiology Clinic and Laboratory, and the Pristis office.
Since Estonia's remaining energy mix is one of the most polluting in Europe, the most effective way to reduce the new building's carbon emissions is to invest in energy production and efficiency. Roheline Astri OÜ installed a 350 kW solar park on the building's roof, which generates more electricity than the building itself consumes. The surplus electricity is directed to the Lõunakeskus retail park via the local distribution network.
Räni Rahnu tee 21 is connected to Gren's district heating and cooling network to reduce environmental impact. The new building also uses the Estonian-developed R8 software, which uses artificial intelligence to reduce overall energy consumption and provides network services via a virtual power plant (VPP). Naturally, the building has received an A energy class rating, with an energy use indicator of 33 kWh/m²a – several times better than the required level.
Astri Grupp was one of the first in Estonia to voluntarily calculate the climate impact of new buildings based on life cycle assessment (LCA), and a similar analysis was carried out for the building at Räni Rahnu tee 21. In cooperation with OneClickLCA, it was found that the building’s 50-year climate impact is 3,404 tons of CO₂ equivalent, with an intensity of 16.8 kg CO₂-eq/m²a.
The parking lot is prepared for the installation of up to 30 electric car charging points, with the first phase including two 50 kW and two 150 kW chargers operated by Elektrum Drive.
Räni Rahnu tee 21 is connected by bicycle paths to the rest of the Lõunakeskus retail park, with special attention given to bicycle parking and smooth mobility. Crossings are at the same level to ensure easy movement for bicycles, scooters, strollers, and wheelchairs.
The landscaping project, completed in cooperation with Plaan OÜ, foresees the use of up to 19 different plant species, focusing on biodiversity and adaptation to climate change (e.g., heat islands and flooding). The landscaping emphasizes multi-layered vegetation (trees, shrubs, grasses, lawns) to avoid the usual monotonous and biodiversity-poor grass-and-tree type landscaping that is common in Estonia.
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[1] In reality, alongside climate change, the biodiversity crisis is also highly relevant, but it is discussed significantly less.
[2] Carbon dioxide, or CO₂, is not the only greenhouse gas. It is also important to consider other greenhouse gases such as methane, which has a much greater short-term impact on climate change. For simplicity, different greenhouse gases are collectively referred to under the term CO₂e, or carbon dioxide equivalent.
Astri Group consolidated figures
Visits per year
Centers and markets
Partners
Citys
Job positions
Commercial space
Green Astri - taking steps towards a sustainable future
This is a responsible, smart, and practical choice today, which in the long run will help save both money and resources.
