Key Sustainability Topics

The Investis Group is among the largest real estate companies in Switzerland, with a strong focus on residential properties. Its portfolio consists primarily of mid-range apartments in the Lake Geneva region. Further details on the business model are provided in the respective chapter of this Annual Report.

Investis pursues a consistent strategy of renovating its properties. In line with its environmental responsibility, these renovations aim to improve tenant wellbeing, reduce CO₂ emissions and enhance the overall energy efficiency of the portfolio.

The Group is committed to ethical business practices and respect for human rights. It does not tolerate child labour, corruption or the trade in rare earth minerals. Investis operates exclusively in Switzerland, with no activities abroad and no supply chains in high-risk countries. As a result,  these risks are not material to its operations. The Company emphasises transparency, integrity and accountability. Through its materiality assessment, Investis reaffirms its commitment to financial performance, environmental responsibility and high ethical standards.

Understanding and managing sustainability impacts is a key priority for Investis. To address this, the Company has developed a structured methodology to identify, assess and respond to its most material sustainability challenges and opportunities.

Using a double materiality assessment, Investis identifies and prioritises topics that are significant both in terms of their actual and potential economic, environmental and social impacts across the value chain and in terms of their influence on long-term value creation. The process places particular emphasis on reducing emissions and minimising environmental harm. Insights gained in the areas of strategic planning, risk management and sustainability reporting ensure that Investis adapts to emerging trends and regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations. This structured approach strengthens transparency and ensures that Investis’ sustainability strategy remains relevant by addressing both the organisation’s contribution to sustainable development and the ways in which sustainability issues affect its long-term.

The process follows a systematic four-phase approach to determine its material topics:

1. Desk research – industry trends, peer benchmarking and leading sustainability frameworks were analysed, alongside internal strategy documents, risk assessments and previous materiality reviews. This produced an initial list of issues most relevant to the real estate sector.
2. Stakeholder engagement – input was gathered through structured interviews, surveys and consultations with external experts, including sustainability consultants and industry specialists as well as key stakeholders such as investors, tenants and local communities. Their concerns, expectations and priorities were carefully documented.
3. Double materiality assessment – each topic was evaluated for impact materiality (the organisation’s economic, environmental and social impact) – and financial materiality (the effect on enterprise value). The results were visualised in a materiality matrix, mapping the significance of issues for stakeholders and the environment against their impact on Investis.
4. Validation and implementation – senior management and the Board of Directors reviewed the findings, which were integrated into strategic planning and target-setting. Action plans and KPIs were defined for priority topics, with regular monitoring, reporting and an annual review cycle established to ensure ongoing relevance.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are fully embedded in Investis’ risk management framework, underscoring the Group’s commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices. Through systematic property impact reviews, detailed climate change vulnerability analyses and targeted energy efficiency initiatives, the Group has reinforced its approach to managing environmental risk. By integrating ESG considerations into the broader risk management process, Investis gains a more holistic view of both current and emerging challenges in the real estate sector.

The framework is built on clear lines of accountability and standardised procedures, ensuring that sustainability and risk considerations are incorporated into all levels of decision-making. Regular monitoring and evaluation processes help assess the effectiveness of implemented measures. In addition, the Group continuously reviews its risk landscape in light of changing regulations, market dynamics and stakeholder expectations. This proactive and adaptive approach strengthens resilience while allowing the Group to redefine its risk mitigation in a changing environment. Ongoing stakeholder engagement and continuous enhancement of risk management processes further enable Investis to identify, assess and address risks while driving process on its sustainability agenda.

To ensure transparency,  Investis has developed a comprehensive ESG risk management matrix that links material issues with their associated risks, mitigation measures and key performance indicators (KPIs). This structured overview provide stakeholders with insight into how the Group manages sustainability challenges and monitors progress. The following table outlines the key material issues identified through the stakeholder engagement, the risk they present to the business, the actions taken in response and the KPIs used to measure effectiveness.

Decarbonisation represents a critical challenge. The primary concern is the rising global temperature due to greenhouse gas emissions, which could affect tenants’ comfort or trigger stricter regulations and impact property values. The Group’s decarbonisation strategy focuses specifically on the transition away from fossil fuel dependency. Key measures include a systematic assessment of heating system replacements, with priority given to buildings with fossil fuel installations and the development of a clear roadmap for the integration of renewable energies. Technical feasibility studies are conducted on prioritised properties to determine the most appropriate renewable energy solutions, taking into account factors such as geothermal potential, solar capacity and district heating availability. Success is measured through targeted KPIs that track CO₂ emission levels, the percentage of renewable energy in the total energy mix and the number of heating systems successfully converted.

Managing energy and water resources poses distinct operational challenges, particularly given the key risks of limited availability, potential waste and rising utility costs. To address these, the Group focuses on optimising consumption through targeted infrastructure upgrades.

Key actions include installing water flow reducers in taps and showers as well as replacing outdated appliances with energy-efficient alternatives. These improvements are prioritised based on consumption data analysis and the age of existing equipment.

Performance is monitored through defined KPIs, such as water use per square metre and electricity consumption in common areas. Comparative data analysis ensures ongoing measurement of effectiveness, enabling swift action if efficiency declines and supporting the Group’s long-term resource conservation objectives.

Energy efficiency is a key driver of Investis’ operational performance and sustainability impact, spanning both internal operations and its broader value chain. Within its direct control, energy consumption is largely linked to building operations, particularly heating and electricity consumption in common areas. Beyond this, external impacts arise through partnerships with energy service providers and contractors, extending the scope of responsibility across the value chain.

The principal risks include reduced property attractiveness, potential rental income loss from poor energy performance, and rising regulatory compliance costs. To mitigate these risks, Investis applies a comprehensive set of measures, including monitoring building efficiency through energy tracking systems and conducting feasibility studies for renovation projects.

Progress is measured using defined KPIs such as the number of CECBs (cantonal energy certificates for buildings) commissioned, energy consumption per square metre and the completion rate of planned energy efficiency improvements.

Stakeholder engagement plays an important role: tenant awareness promotes energy-saving behaviour, collaborations with energy suppliers strengthen consumption monitoring, while partnerships with technical experts provide insights for optimisation and energy audits.

This structured approach enables continuous improvement in building energy performance while safeguarding property value and enhancing tenant satisfaction.

Investis participates in the Swiss Sustainable Real Estate Index (SSREI), using it as a benchmark to  compare its sustainability performance against industry standards. This engagement enables the Group to track progress transparently while fostering continuous improvement in the sustainability practices.

Through its involvement in the SSREI, Investis reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development and ensures its objectives remain aligned with broader industry benchmarks, contributing to the advancement of a more sustainable real estate market in Switzerland.