Agenda for the sustainable city
Castellum commits to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by 2040. Castellum’s sustainability strategy, “The sustainable city”, consists of three areas of focus: Future-proofed assets, Sustainable workplaces and Sound business. This strategy will ensure that the sustainability goals are achieved and that the company is both successful and relevant – not just today, but for a long time.
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We create the sustainable cities of the future
Castellum has a strong focus on sustainability. We are reducing our environmental impact, we work on energy efficiency, and we certify our properties for sustainability. We are a long-term community developer. Sustainability is integrated into everything we do. And in all of our investments. We regard laws and regulations as minimum requirements and strive for continual improvements. Castellum is a responsible community developer, and we drive development forward. “The sustainable city” consists of three areas of focus: Future-proofed assets, Sustainable workplaces and Sound business. Based on these areas of focus, Castellum conducts its operations responsibly and creates long-term solutions from an economic, ecological and social perspective. By 2040, Castellum will have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. In 2017, the Board of Directors adopted a concrete sustainability strategy – The sustainable city – with approximately 20 measurable targets that are revised and updated annually. The majority of the targets are monitored and reported quarterly. The climate-related goals that Castellum has adopted have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Focus areas
Future-proofed assets
We will responsibly reduce our impact on the climate and biodiversity while increasing resource efficiency, promoting the circular transition, and developing a sustainable and future-proofed property portfolio in a changing world.
Sustainable workplaces
We will develop sustainable, attractive, and inclusive workplaces that promote the health and well-being of our employees and customers.
Sound business
We will conduct our business responsibly towards our society and stakeholders by setting clear requirements for our supply chain.

Agenda for the sustainable city
Ongoing goals
- 2.5 per cent energy efficiency enhancements per year*
- Initiatives for increased biodiversity in the property portfolio must be promoted and net positive increase of ecosystem services in larger projects
- No employment injuries and work-related injuries among employees and suppliers
- On an annual basis, Castellum shall offer internship placements equivalent to 10% of the number of employees
- Customer satisfaction (CSI) index higher than the external benchmark in the long term
- Engagement index (EEI) higher than the external benchmark in the long term
- Major and critical suppliers undergo screening of material business and sustainability risks
* In the like-for-like portfolio
Goal 2025
- 11 decrease in energy consumption compared with 2021*
- 70 per cent of Castellum’s properties must have an energy performance lower than 100 kWh/sq. m. per year
- 40 to 60 per cent equality among all occupational categories
- 20 per cent of Castellum’s employees will have international backgrounds
Goal 2030
- Castellum commits to reduce greenhous gas emissions by 2030 (validated by SBTi, from a 2023 base year):
- Scope 1, 2 and 3 in-use operational emissions of owned and leased buildings, covering downstream leased assets, 46 per cent per sq. m. of total portfolio area.
- Upfront embodied scope 3 emissions of new buildings, covering capital goods, 45.4 percent per sq. m. built area.
- Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services 51.6 per cent per sq. m. of total portfolio area.
- Castellum commits to install no new fossil fuel equipment that are owned or financially controlled by the company in its property portfolio from May 1, 2025.
- 200 solar PV systems in “100 on Solar”
- 75 per cent of the portfolio is to be sustainability certified
Goal 2040
- Castellum commits to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by 2040 (validated by SBTi, from a 2023 base year):
- Scope 1, 2 and 3 in-use operational emissions of owned and leased buildings, covering downstream leased assets, 77.9 per cent per sq. m. of total portfolio area.
- Upfront embodied scope 3 emissions of new buildings 96.6 per cent, covering capital goods, per sq. m. built area.
- All other scope 3 emissions 97 per cent per sq. m. of total portfolio area.
- 100 per cent of Castellum’s properties must have an energy performance lower than 50 kWh/sq. m. per year
- No properties are to be subject to serious climate risks
Sustainability initiatives are integrated into everything we do
Castellum should promote sustainable development, and its sustainability goals should be integrated into its operations, yielding tangible results. This work permeates the entire business. Corporate social responsibility is crucial to the company’s success and drives profitability and the development of long-term shareholder value. Key starting points for our sustainability initiatives are the ten principles of the UN Global Compact – which we support and have signed on to – as well as the Paris Agreement, and we actively promote the efforts to realise the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Historical targets and outcome
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|
Annual goals | ||||||
2.5% energy savings per square metre per year (in the like-for-like portfolio) | -3.5% | -4% | 4% | 0% | -12% | -8% |
Initiatives for increased biodiversity in the property portfolio must be promoted and net positive increase of ecosystem services in larger projects1 | Required | Required | Required | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Zero workplace injuries and work-related illnesses among employees and suppliers (implemented 2022) | 34 | 19 | 41 | - | - | - |
On an annual basis, Castellum shall offer internship placements equivalent to 10% of the number of employees4 | 7% | 9% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 5% |
Castellum's engagement index (EEI) shall be higher than the external benchmark (implemented 2024) | 8.4 | - | - | - | - | - |
Customer satisfaction (CSI) index higher than the external benchmark in the long term (implemented 2025) |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
Major and critical suppliers undergo screening of material business and sustainability risks (implemented 2024) |
Ongoing | - | - | - | - | - |
Goals 2025 | ||||||
11 per cent reduction in energy consumption per square metre compared with 20215 | -8% | -4% | -2% | -11% | -15% | -8% |
70% of Castellum’s properties must have an energy performance lower than 100 kWh/sq. m. per year | 69% | 64% | 63% | 67% | - | - |
40 to 60% gender equality among all occupational categories (see breakdown per category further down) | women 43%, men 57% | women 41%, men 59% | women 42%, men 58% | women 43%, men 57% | women 40%, men 60% | women 39%, men 61% |
20% of Castellum’s employees to have an international background | 14% | 12% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 6% |
Goals 2030 | ||||||
Castellum commits to reduce greenhous gas emissions by 2030 (validated by SBTi, from a 2023 base year)(implemented 2025): | ||||||
Scope 1, 2 and 3 in-use operational emissions of owned and leased buildings, covering downstream leased assets, 46 per cent per sq. m. of total portfolio area | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Upfront embodied scope 3 emissions of new buildings, covering capital goods, 45.4 percent per sq. m. built area. | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services 51.6 per cent per sq. m. of total portfolio area. | - | - | - | - | - | - |
75% of the property portfolio is to be sustainability certified6 | 54% | 50% | 45% | 48% | 39% | 36% |
200 solar PV systems in the “100 on Solar” programme8 | 116 | 106 | 76 | 55 | 39 | 26 |
Goals 2040 | ||||||
Castellum commits to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by 2040 (validated by SBTi, from a 2023 base year) (implemented 2025): | ||||||
Scope 1, 2 and 3 in-use operational emissions of owned and leased buildings, covering downstream leased assets, 77.9 per cent per sq. m. of total portfolio area | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Upfront embodied scope 3 emissions of new buildings 96.6 per cent, covering capital goods, per sq. m. built area | - | - | - | - | - | - |
All other scope 3 emissions 97 per cent per sq. m. of total portfolio area | - | - | - | - | - | - |
100% of Castellum’s properties must have an energy performance lower than 50 kWh/sq. m. per year9 | 27% | 27% | 28% | 31% | - | - |
No properties will have severe climate risks9 | 7% | Ongoing | - | - | - | - |
- Target edited 2025. Added target formulation: " Initiatives for increased biodiversity in the property portfolio must be promoted"
- Interns from education and interns outside the labour market.
- Target edited 2022, due to consolidation of Kungsleden. Previous target: "22% lower energy consumption cf. 2015"
- Target edited 2024. Previous target: "50% of the property portfolio is to be sustainability certified".
- Target edited 2024 (internal decision).
Equality per occupational category
2023 |
2022 |
||||
Women | Men | Women | Men | ||
Customer relations/property management | 36% | 64% | 35% | 65% | |
Project and business development | 32% | 68% | 34% | 66% | |
Support functions | 64% | 36% | 63% | 37% | |
Executives | 40% | 60% | 42% | 58% | |
Regional management groups | 39% | 61% | 44% | 56% | |
Executive management | 37% | 63% | 48% | 52% |
Work-related injuries and ill health
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
||||
Employees | Contractors | Employees | Contractors | Employees | Contractors | |
Number of work-related fatalities1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Number of workplace injuries leading to absence (LTI) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 5 |
Injury frequency rate per 200,000 hours (LTIR) | 0.2 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
Number of workplace injuries wth serious consequences2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Injury frequency rate per 200,000 hours (serious injuries) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
Total number of recorded workplace injuries | 4 | 6 | 5 | 26 | 7 | 11 |
Injury frequency rate per 200,000 hours (TRIR) | 0.7 | 0.14 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 |
Number of recorded workplace ill-health3 | 9 | not measured | 10 | not measured | 13 | not measured |
Short-term sick leave in relation to total hours worked, % | 1.0 | not measured | 1.3 | not measured | 1.1 | not measured |
Long-term sick leave in relation to total hours worked, % | 1.4 | not measured | 1.6 | not measured | 1.8 | not measured |
Total sick leave in relation to total hours worked, % | 2.4 | not measured | 2.9 | not measured | 2.9 | not measured |
Total number of hours worked | 1,157,409 | 8,513,1034 | 1,090,318 | 10,500,7144 | 840,212 | 6,712,0894 |
Terms: LTI = Lost Time Injury, LTIR = Lost Time Injury Rate and TRIR = Total Recordable Injury Rate
- No fatalities have occurred, which is why fatalities were not divided up according to workplace illness or workplace accidents, nor is any fatality rate reported.
- Serious injuries with more than six months of recovery, excluding fatalities.
- Castellum’s interpretation of GRI’s “Work-related ill health”.
- The number of hours worked for contractors is based on an assumption that 60 per cent comprises labour costs at an hourly price of SEK 500.
Data in table from Annual Report 2023 page 76. Part of Deloitte's limited assurance over Sustainability Report, see assurance report on page 87 in Annual Report.