AB and the Environment
BREEAM Outstanding Rating for London Building
Our new London office has been awarded a BREEAM Outstanding rating for being in the top 1% of UK domestic refurbishments.
Managing Greenhouse Gases and Energy Usage
We have pledged to achieve net zero in our operations across Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050.
Collaborating on Climate with Columbia University
AB and Columbia Climate School have been collaborating in areas ranging from research to education initiatives—bridging the gap between finance and climate science. The focus is on helping investors better understand opportunities and risks in the shift to a lower-carbon economy as well as the physical impacts of a warming world.
Fitwel is a commercial building rating system that provides guidelines on how to design and operate healthier buildings.
BREEAM's third-party certified standards have helped improve asset performance at every stage, from design through construction to use and refurbishment.
To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and earning credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. for its sustainable and efficient design.
The building also holds an Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Platinum certification. The IGBC is the leading green building certification authority in India and assesses buildings based on the following pillars: sustainable architecture and design, water conservation, energy efficiency, building materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and development.
Greening AB’s Workspaces
AB is on a multiyear journey to enhance our employee experience, including our workspaces, to encourage collaboration and foster engagement and wellness. It will also help avoid emissions from less efficient offices. We’re on track to locate 85% of our people in new or refurbished green buildings by 2025, and we made progress on this goal in 2023. Around the globe, AB operates in workspaces that hold green-related certifications.
In January 2023, we completed the relocation of our London office to Sixty London Wall. This office is Fitwel Certified and located in a BREEAM Outstanding certified building. In May, we also relocated our Munich office to the SKYGARDEN Building in Arnulfpark, and the building is LEED Gold® certified for its sustainable and efficient design.
In June, we opened a new office in Pune, India, which holds an Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Platinum certification. Lastly, in 2024, we relocated our New York office to the Spiral in Hudson Yards, which is LEED Gold® certified.
Office Waste
We seek to minimize our office waste through both waste separation at our offices and conscious decommissioning of our offices.
Composting and recycling are available at our Nashville, New York and London offices. Trash separation is available elsewhere. Employees are offered a stipend to purchase an iPad, and printing is connected to employees’ ID badges to reduce waste.
Renewable Energy
We recognize that renewable energy is a key element of reducing emissions and delivering on our commitment to operational net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050. We consider credible renewable energy procurement to be a multiyear process.
For example, our Nashville offices’s renewable energy was procured through the Tennessee Valley Authority Green Flex program via Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates sourced from 100% wind energy. London’s renewable energy is certified by the Carbon Trust.
Engaging AB Employees on Sustainability
Employees are invited to engage in AB’s environmental goals through their day-to-day work and personal lives.
Our Nashville headquarters sources local food (where possible) and partners with Bloomsbury Farm to offer weekly CSA (community-supported agriculture) box pickup throughout the summer. Healthy snacks and fair-trade coffee are available in our pantries. We also offer e-waste recycling to employees.
Finally, AB sponsored the installation of an urban beehive at our Nashville headquarters last year. The bees produced 21 pounds of honey, which was given to employees as part of a special recognition program.
Industry Involvement On Climate
AB is actively involved in climate-related organizations and initiatives.
Our Climate Change Statement
Through strategic partnerships, stewardship practices and research, we can address the material investment risks and opportunities stemming from climate change. We report annually on our strategy and the climate-related activities that we’ve undertaken for our investments and operations in alignment with the TCFD recommendations.
Environmental Insights
Active management is key to investing in climate-focused equity portfolios. Here’s why.
Investors face an urgent challenge in understanding, analyzing and managing biodiversity risks.
Investors need to understand the potential physical damage from natural hazards before they can assess their financial implications.