Environmental Care and the Community

Zen garden, Apollo Heath & Wellness Centre, Auckland

ING Medical Properties Limited recognise that certain natural resources are finite and must therefore be used responsibly.

The protection of the environment has become more important. Scarce resources must be preserved for future generations. At the same time, there is a growing awareness that many environmental issues do not stand alone, but are intertwined with broader social and political developments. 

We are committed to conducting our business responsibly and environmental protection is a fundamental part of this commitment.  

As described in the ING Business Principles, which can be found on the ING corporate website, we support the belief that healthy economic growth and environmental care are two sides of the same coin. 

Paper consumption

ING Medical Properties Trust uses vast quantities of paper for its internal and external communications. To limit our impact on the environment ING aims to reduce paper consumption, by making greater use of electronic communications like the internet, intranet and document imaging. ING Medical Properties Trust’s website allows unitholders and potential investors to read various communications via the web, which further minimises the amount of paper used. As outlined in the Chairman's report, in the near future, unitholders will be able to elect to receive publications from the Trust as a web link, via email notification, reducing paper, printing, production and postage costs.

Where printing is required, INGNZ encourages business units to use environmentally friendly paper that is non-bleached (ECF and TCF) and originates from sustainable sources. ING Medical Properties Limited uses a range of environmentally responsible paper stock for all printed unitholder publications. The range, called Novatech, is manufactured using Elemental Chlorine Free pulp sourced from sustainable, well-managed forests. Oxygen bleached, dioxin and acid free, Novatech is produced by Nordland Papier, a company certified under ISO 14001 environmental management systems and registered under the European Union’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.  

Our building management policy

ING Medical Properties Limited, as a responsible manager, wants to ensure that where possible each of the Trust’s investments has initiatives to achieve environmentally sustainable features in the individual building strategic plans. We consider the initiative to produce and maintain environmentally responsible developments a fundamental requirement of any project, be it a new development or a refurbishment.

This view is supported by tenant demand for environmentally sustainable accommodation that:

•  Provides a reduction in operating costs;
•  Provides an improved environment for the occupants;
•  Mitigates the functional obsolescence of an investment; and
•  Results in increased tenant demand for the Trust’s assets, and an enhanced property value.

The Manager is committed to finding new and innovative ways of making the Trust’s new and existing buildings more environmentally sound and sustainable. ING (NZ) Limited is a member of the New Zealand Green Building Council, the non-government organisation comprising industry leaders who are committed to developing market based solutions that help deliver efficient, healthier, innovative and environmentally sustainable buildings for New Zealand. 

To date, the primary application has been with the development of Ascot Central, where a number of green building design initiatives formed part of the development. Ascot Central was awarded a Green Star New Zealand – Office Design four star rating in April 2009. In order to achieve this, a number of innovative sustainable building strategies were considered and selected for this project and materials were chosen for durability, recycled content and low or zero air emissions. 

Ascot Central’s design initiatives include:

• Rainwater harvesting
• Bicycle racks
• Sensor lighting
• Waste recycling
• Building materials
• Efficient and effective services