Sustainability & Responsibility
We remain committed to further integrating and operationalizing sustainability to improve decision-making and risk management. We believe that when applied deliberately and thoughtfully, ESG initiatives strengthen our approach and outcomes as a company. We seek to drive value to our stakeholders, partners, residents, tenants, and communities by implementing sustainable solutions that create lasting impact.
Our commitment to sustainability spans our organization and strategies as well as focuses on analyzing, integrating, and reporting ESG metrics across a growing number of our portfolios and practices of our firm.
OUR FRAMEWORK
E
ENVIRONMENTAL
We seek to optimize the environmental building performance of our portfolios’ properties through careful measurement and monitoring, technology upgrades, and efficiency measures that drive cost savings and reduced carbon footprints. Through our robust data management and reporting practices, we monitor energy and water usage, waste generation, and carbon emissions across Bridge strategies where data is available.
Our Environmental Management System
Our environmental initiatives are guided by our ESG Framework and Environmental Management System (“EMS”). Our EMS Framework seeks to effectively incorporate sustainability into Bridge’s structure, culture, and business strategy and guides our approach to assessing existing conditions, developing goals, implementing strategies to meet such goals, analyzing performance against targets, and repeating the process to create a continual cycle of improvement.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Impact Reports Library
Bridge publishes annual impact reports for our ESG Program, Climate Program, WFAH strategy, and Qualified Opportunity Zone strategy. We are committed to measuring and reporting on our progress. Recent versions of these reports can be found here:
climate
At Bridge, we acknowledge that climate change poses both risks and opportunities to our business and the broader society we live and operate in. To this end, we seek to apply a proactive approach to assessing and mitigating risks to address the long-term sustainability of our properties and our business at large. We are actively incorporating recommendations from the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures into our climate resiliency strategy and corporate transparency efforts. In recent years, we have developed a Climate Risk Management Process to assist with the identification, analysis, and management/mitigation of acute and chronic climate risks.
Case studies
LLS LIGHT THE NIGHT
To pay tribute and bring hope to adults and children battling cancer, Bridge has nationally partnered with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (“LLS”) supporting ongoing initiatives around cancer research, education, and service while supporting LLS fundraising campaigns and events. Bridge’s employees continue to participate in and support the LLS Light the Night event in multiple locations around the country, even leading as the top sponsor in Atlanta from 2020-2023. In 2022, our teams raised $195,609 nationally, with over $270,609 in overall impact when Bridge’s corporate contribution is included.
2022 ESG Highlights
$2.4 Million given through Bridge Gives
Won UN PRI Real-World Impact Initiative of the Year for WFAH
2000+ Volunteer Hours
from Bridge Employees, Tenants, and Residents
Launched Bridge Renewable Energy Strategy
Awarded a
“Top Place to Work”
by the Salt Lake Tribune
39 Office Properties Achieved Energy Star Certifications
ESG Steering Committee & CCTF & DEI+B Committee
Our firm-wide and multi-disciplinary ESG Steering Committee oversees the adoption and implementation of our ESG initiatives and best practices in line with Bridge’s ESG & Responsible Investing Policy. The committee is responsible for promoting firm-wide engagement, commitment, and dedication to ESG principles and best practices and global industry association and collaboration.
Additionally, our Climate Change Task Force works to increase awareness of climate risks and opportunities at all levels of the organization and utilizes the recommendations of the TCFD pillars.
Our DEI+B Committee oversees our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging corporate initiatives and programming and seeks to cultivate an inclusive and equitable work environment where all our people can thrive and be authentically themselves.
Our accomplishments*
2022 United Nations Principles For Responsible Investment, Real-World Impact of the Year, Winner: This award is given to a signatory for "aligning investments with global goals across its portfolio". It recognizes "an approach that is/can be applied to a large portfolio" and is "broader than traditional impact investing". The UN PRI presented the Real-World Impact of the Year award to Bridge's Workforce and Affordable Housing Strategy. Read more here.
2022 Freddie Mac Impact Sponsor: The Impact Sponsor accolade shines a light on a sponsor "that has based their business model on building communities and enriching lives." The Impact Sponsor Cohort "created purposeful strategies to increase equity and opportunity for their renters, and are executing those strategies with great results." Read more here.
2022 and 2021 Environmental Finance Sustainable Investment Awards: The Bridge Workforce and Affordable Housing Fund I (BWAHF) won Social fund of the year (North America, 2022) for building affordable housing communities "to meet the needs of the growing and priced-out 'missing middle.'" Read more here.
2023-2021 ESG Investing Awards: BWAHF was announced the winner for the Best ESG Investment Fund: Private Equity category and runner-up for the Best ESG Investment Fund: Real Estate/Property category in 2021. BWAHF was also the winner for Best ESG Investment Fund: Impact Private Markets category in 2023. Read more here.
*These awards generally require an application process that includes the use of self-reported data. The application process for these awards do not require payment of any fees. If an award is granted, certain fees may apply, including fees in connection with award announcements, printing costs and licensing of award logos. For additional information on the application process, criteria, and selection process for these awards, please see www.esginvesting.co.uk, www.environmental-finance.com, www.unpri.org, and www.iamanagementawards.com.