Real Estate
Impact
By bringing together key actors across the real estate ecosystem, the working group strengthens awareness of the social and environmental impact of real estate investments and promotes the allocation of capital towards measurable positive impact.
Outcome
- Strengthening awareness of impact investing in the real estate sector
- Advancing practical approaches for impact-oriented real estate investments
- Building exchange and collaboration across the industry
Short description of the working group
Buildings and their use shape essential areas of life — from housing and work to health, education, and community. At the same time, the construction and operation of buildings contribute significantly to CO₂e emissions, land sealing, resource consumption, and biodiversity loss. Conversely, sustainable urban development, energy-efficient buildings, and nature-based solutions such as green infrastructure can create positive environmental and social outcomes.
The real estate sector therefore represents a major lever for sustainable transformation whose impact potential is not yet fully realised.
The Working Group on Real Estate aims to strengthen impact investing within the real estate sector, increase awareness, and develop practical approaches for integrating impact into investment and development processes. The group brings together relevant market actors to exchange experience, collect best practices, and develop shared professional perspectives.
For the industry, the working group provides practical orientation on implementing impact approaches. For BVII members, it creates a trusted space for peer learning, networking, and collaborative market development.
Activities
Core formats:
- Exchange of experience and peer-to-peer learning across the real estate ecosystem
- Collection and discussion of best-practice approaches
- Building and maintaining a network of impact-oriented real estate professionals
Concrete outputs:
- Position and discussion papers on key topics related to impact investing in real estate
- Practical guidance and recommendations for sustainable real estate practices
- Cooperation with universities and research institutions
- Awareness-building for impact-oriented real estate investments across the broader market
Meetings
The working group meets virtually approximately four to six times per year. In addition, in-person workshops and exchange formats take place on a regular basis.
Members
The working group brings together startups, investors, asset managers, project developers, and other actors from the real estate sector, as well as representatives from academia and research who are already implementing or planning impact-oriented approaches.
