About This Report
Company Profile
Oxford is the real estate arm of OMERS. With over 2,000 employees, Oxford is divided into three geographic regions: Canada, the US and Europe.
About This Report
Oxford’s annual Sustainability Report provides information related to the environmental, social and governance aspects of the organization and outlines how the organization engages with its stakeholders. Since 2011, Oxford has been externally reporting on its qualitative and quantitative sustainability performance. The period covered by this report is January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, except where otherwise noted for Oxford and its operational control assets in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. The report provides an overview of our framework, priorities and select initiatives for 2016. This report was prepared in accordance with the Core option under the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 framework , as well as with the GRI Construction and Real Estate Sector Supplement (CRESS). This report was not externally assured.
Material Aspects
We focus on the sustainability issues that matter most to our customers, employees, shareholders and co-owners.
We conducted a formal materiality analysis in 2016 to identify, prioritize, validate and review the evolving environmental, social and governance issues for Oxford. This process involved best practice research, competitive analysis, internal and external stakeholder surveys, stakeholder consultations and internal sustainability discussions, all of which led to the collection of our material topics.
In 2016 we engaged with a range of internal and external stakeholders in a sustainability strategy session. In this session we discussed a variety of key issues, commitments and targets.
The findings drive our sustainability strategy and initiatives, and the information we provide in this report. Report contents are aligned to material topics as identified by key stakeholders.
Material to the Organization as Identified through Stakeholder Engagement
The materiality matrix provides an overview of how we have assessed the relative importance of sustainability issues in collaboration with our stakeholders. The matrix is used to guide our target setting and reporting and to drive results in the areas where we can have the greatest impact.
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Satisfaction

Energy

Buildings

and Wellbeing

Engagement




Opportunities


and Anti-Corruption
Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions | |
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Material Topics | Energy and greenhouse gas emission impacts on the environment |
GRI Aspects |
Economic Performance Energy |
Boundaries | Material for Oxford employees, customers, stakeholders and suppliers |
Approach |
We pursue credible, best in class green building certification programs across our different asset classes to meet the expectations of our stakeholders and drive performance improvements in our buildings. Learn more |
Accountability | Real Estate Management and Development Teams within Oxford |
Measurement |
Environmental impacts of our operations Annual targets for:
|
Evaluation | Oxford reviews its targets and achievements annually and sets new targets to continually improve its energy use. There are currently no plans to adjust the management approach for these Aspects. |
Water, Effluents and Waste, and Materials | |
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Material Topics | Impact of operations on the environment |
GRI Aspects |
Water Effluents and Waste Materials |
Boundaries | Material inside and outside Oxford for employees, customers, stakeholders and suppliers |
Approach |
We pursue ongoing equipment and infrastructure upgrades across our different asset classes to meet the expectations of our stakeholders and drive performance improvements in our buildings. Learn more |
Accountability | Real Estate Management and Development Teams within Oxford |
Measurement |
Environmental impacts of our operations Annual targets for:
|
Evaluation | Oxford reviews its targets and achievements annually and sets new targets to continually improve waste diversion, water use and use of recycled input materials, where available. There are currently no plans to adjust the management approach for these Aspects. |
Social – Labour Practice and Decent Work | |
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Material Topics | Employee health, safety and wellness |
GRI Aspects |
Training and Education Occupational Health and Safety |
Boundaries | Material for all Oxford employees, and externally for contractors |
Approach |
Oxford is committed to operating our business in a safe and effective manner by promoting practices that respect the environment. It is our goal to promote and foster a workplace that upholds high standards of health and safety for the benefit of our employees as well as our tenants, customers and visitors to the property. Learn more |
Accountability | Human Resources, Real Estate Management and Development Teams, and Oxford contractors and service providers |
Measurement |
Accidents Lost days Lost-time accidents |
Evaluation |
All employees are required to conduct their work in a safe manner pursuant to all legislative requirements and corporate safe work policies and procedures. All employees are expected to sign off on Oxford’s policies annually, maintain a safe workplace and report any known unsafe conditions or practices immediately. They are held accountable for workplace health and safety. There are currently no plans to adjust the management approach for these Aspects. |
Product and Service Labelling | |
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Material Topics | Green building certifications |
GRI Aspects |
Product and Service Labelling Construction and Real Estate Supplement Disclosures |
Boundaries | Material for all Oxford employees, customers, stakeholders and suppliers |
Approach |
We pursue credible, best in class green building certification programs across our different asset classes to meet the expectations of our stakeholders and drive performance improvements in our buildings. Learn more |
Accountability | Real Estate Management Team (all asset classes) |
Measurement |
LEED, BREEAM, Green Keys and BOMA BESt certifications |
Evaluation | Oxford reviews its targets and achievements annually and sets new targets to continually improve its green building certifications. There are currently no plans to adjust the management approach for these Aspects. |
Product and Service Labelling | |
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Material Topics | Customer service |
GRI Aspects |
Product and Service Labelling Construction and Real Estate Supplement Disclosures |
Boundaries | Material for all Oxford employees, customers, stakeholders and suppliers |
Approach |
The Oxford Commitment is at the foundation of our customer service culture. It is made up of five statements: (1) We consistently deliver a world-class experience, (2) We earn your respect in every interaction, every day, (3) We empower our teams to deliver effective solutions fast, (4) We take great pride in leading the industry, and (5) We work with purpose. We deliver on our commitment by applying lessons from some of the best global customer service organizations – engaging our leaders, implementing internal training and communication programs, and establishing hiring and performance management criteria that support this goal. Learn more |
Accountability | Real Estate Management Team (all asset classes) |
Measurement |
Customer satisfaction score |
Evaluation |
Annual customer satisfaction survey and stakeholder engagement Oxford measures and assesses its results annually. There are no plans to change its management approach for these Aspects. Altus Customer Satisfaction Survey, OMERS Code of Conduct, sales results, customer retention, compliance |
Boundaries
Environmental Indicators
Performance is reported from 2011 to 2016 for environmental indicators.
Oxford follows an Operational Control approach for its environmental performance indicator reporting boundary. Operational Control for Oxford means buildings for which we manage and control daily operating practices and receive utility bills. This includes buildings in our office, retail and residential portfolios in Canada. Performance data for our office portfolio is for whole buildings (base building, customer space and common space). Performance data for our retail portfolio is for whole buildings or common areas only, depending on the asset.
Performance data for our residential portfolio is for whole buildings, and includes estimated data for any unavailable directly metered customer space. Buildings are included in the energy, water and waste indicators once they have been under Oxford's operational control for a full calendar year.
Buildings in our industrial and hotels portfolios, as well as our standing assets outside of Canada, are not included in environmental performance indicator data, consistent with our Operational Control approach above.
Economic, Social, Labour and Product Responsibility Indicators
Performance is for the periods noted for economic, social, labour and product responsibility indicators.
The boundary for our economic, social, labour and product responsibility indicators includes all corporate functions and buildings that Oxford owns and/or manages in Canada. Employees responsible for managing our industrial and hotels portfolio (excluding Fairmont, ICH and Hyatt staff) are included in applicable indicators.
Changes from Previous Year’s Reporting
Select operational controlled US office assets have been included in the data set since 2015. Hotel assets have been included in detailed data disclosure in 2016. There are no material effects from restatements referenced in this report. There have been no changes to the Scope and Aspect boundaries in 2016.
Contact
The contact point for questions regarding this report or its contents is:
Darryl Neate, Director, Sustainability, at sustainableintelligence@oxfordproperties.com