DHL Supply Chain is developing a portfolio of 400,000m2 of carbon-neutral warehouses for customers in six European markets.
The 14 units, constructed across 10 development sites, are located across major logistics markets in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Italy and Poland. All buildings will meet key sustainability criteria such as BREEAM Excellent and EPC A, comply with EU taxonomy and undergo a Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor (CRREM) assessment.
Hendrik Venter, CEO of DHL Supply Chain EMEA, said, “The development of 400,000m2 of carbon-neutral warehouses is an important strategic step as we aim to meet our customers’ growing demand for more sustainable warehouse space in strategic markets. All assets we develop are underpinned by excellent fundamentals, be it sustainability, digitalization, location, demographics or tenure. Connectivity or proximity to key sales markets helps us improve delivery times for our customers, while a close eye on the surrounding social factors and communities in which we operate helps us to generate attractive jobs and ensures us access to a loyal and capable workforce. These factors help us and our customers to be even more successful and lead the way into a more sustainable future.”
Allianz Real Estate will be an investor and strategic partner for the first tranche of the warehouse portfolio, acting on behalf of several Allianz Group companies. DHL Supply Chain has entered into a purchase agreement for the sale of the first half of the portfolio. Set to be completed between Q1 2023 and Q1 2024, the warehouses will represent one of Allianz Real Estate’s largest single logistics sector acquisitions, with the five facilities covering more than 200,000m2.
Post-completion, DHL Supply Chain will occupy at least 85% of the facilities developed for Allianz Real Estate on long-term leases.
Joe Mikes, global head of real estate solutions at DHL Supply Chain, said, “We are very proud to be able to offer our clients effective growth opportunities, with warehouses that are not only located in core markets and fulfill our clients’ needs, but also meet the highest ESG and sustainability criteria. This enables us and our customers to create business opportunities that are compatible with our sustainability roadmap, which aims to make every aspect of the supply chain more sustainable, which of course also includes our real estate. We are very much looking forward to many more such projects in the future.”