Biodiversity and sustainable real estate news
In a context of intensifying ESG policies, mandatory impact reports, and emerging biodiversity as a key driver of value creation, environmental performance labels are proliferating. However, they must converge. This is precisely the aim of IRICE's positioning and the Effinature certification: to offer an accredited, verifiable, and demanding response to the challenges posed by the World Green Building Council (WGBC) and the initiatives led in France by the HQE-GBC Alliance.
An approach aligned with international priorities
The WGBC, through its "Sustainable Buildings for Everyone, Everywhere" program, calls for the integration of nature as infrastructure in urban development. Biodiversity is no longer an aesthetic option; it is a key indicator of the resilience and attractiveness of territories.
Effinature responds with a structured measurement tool that allows for concrete management:
- the preservation of living soil,
- functional renaturation,
- reducing the impacts of operations,
- support for local wildlife,
- and the skills development of the sectors.
A strategic complementarity with HQE™
Certivéa, the operator of HQE™ certification in France, is a member of the HQE-GBC Alliance. This label focuses on the overall performance of a building: comfort, energy, and carbon. Its complementarity with Effinature allows for dual recognition: environmental quality and ecological value.
Project owners such as Oppidea have also signed a dual agreement, integrating HQE™ and Effinature into their strategic urban operations.
What the market demands today
The latest National Report on Living Environment (ONCV 2024) is clear: 42% of French people consider nature a priority criterion in their quality of life, ahead of proximity to services or employment. This rate rises to 53% in peri-urban and rural areas.
In other words: integrating biodiversity into projects means responding to user expectations, not to a regulatory constraint.
What an accredited certification guarantees
Effinature is accredited according to the ISO/IEC 17065 standard. This accreditation guarantees that:
- The method is transparent and reproducible
- The evaluation is independent
- The criteria are public, verifiable, and enforceable.
This distinguishes Effinature from many self-declared or remotely assessed labels.
In summary: 3 pillars for decision-makers
- Strategic management: a tool consistent with HQE™ standards and WGBC expectations.
- Reliability of recognition: an accredited third-party certification.
- Real impact: concrete actions to reclaim living things, measured and audited.
IRICE supports local authorities, developers, and investors wishing to integrate biodiversity requirements into their sustainable strategies. To learn more about Effinature or to propose a pilot project, please contact us.
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