STOP SHOP Retail Parks – Modern and Eco-friendly Shopping Experience

Through its sustainability strategy, which includes an important goal of reducing the carbon emissions across its entire portfolio, this company promotes using renewable energy sources, solar power being one of them. Accordingly, there were 2,414 photovoltaic solar panels installed across the whole roof of the STOP SHOP park in Pozarevac that will soon start producing power. The expected annual production of the solar power plant is 1,130.00 MW, which will “save up” around 920 tonnes of CO2 that would`ve been emitted if the electricity was generated from fossil fuels like coal. In other words, it saves the amount of CO2 that a 26 ha of woods would absorb.

– We are planning on installing four more photovoltaic power stations in our STOP SHOP parks in the next period and cover as many STOP SHOP facilities with photovoltaic panels. Speaking of which, for two whole years, since April 2021, all of our STOP SHOP parks are solely powered by green energy from renewable energy sources as per the special agreement with EPS. Sustainability is an essential part of our corporate strategy. We will continue to expand our services towards a clean and sustainable future so we could offer our visitors other interesting and innovative features within the full shopping experience, says Maja Maric, Operations Manager and leader of the Belgrade office for the Serbian market at CPI Property Group.

Supporting the development of e-mobility

One of the novelty items are the electric car chargers. STOP SHOP is the first retail operator in the retail sector in the Serbian market to cover their whole portfolio with EV chargers, significantly contributing to the development of network of EV chargers, establishing the groundwork for wider adoption of electric cars in Serbia. In cooperation with Charge&GO, the leader in the development of electromobility in Serbia, chargers with the output from 20 kW to 120 kW have been installed on all 14 locations: Cacak, Lazarevac, Nis, Pozarevac, Vrsac, Valjevo, Sremska Mitrovica, Borca, Smederevo, subotica, Leskovac, Sabac and Zajecar.

At the moment, in STOP SHOP retail parks in Borca, Subotica, Smederevo and Pozarevac shoppers can use smart solar benches with phone chargers, free Wi-Fi and the real-time information on weather and air quality, with the current plan to install smart benched at all 14 facilities .

STOP SHOP retail parks are particularly proud of the “Urban Forest” project, which are now incorporated into the company portfolio and are growing in STOP SHOP parks in Lazarevac and Sremska Mitrovica, with the goal to plant them within the projects in Vrsac and Subotica this year as well. These lush green oases with the integrated irrigation systems help preserve the biodiversity, improve the air quality and the soil water retention capacity. Moreover, the STOP SHOP park in Lazarevac is equipped with a wind generator and a photovoltaic system of public lighting that provide clean energy from renewable sources.

The orientation toward sustainable development is a part of the comprehensive socially responsible corporate strategy in compliance with the ESG factors (Environmental, Social, Governance) with the distinct goal to develop projects that contribute to the well-being of the whole community. The entire STOP SHOP portfolio in Serbia holds the BREEAM certificate with top marks for sustainable business. These standards are the proof of following the top ecological practices in construction and usage and indicate that these are facilities with low environmental impact.

More energy-efficient and cost-efficient facilities

CPI Property Group is the member of the Serbia Green Building Council (SGBC), the organization that promotes sustainable solutions in construction.

Sustainability is a key factor in the real estate industry today. Sustainable practices in development and management of properties can lessen the impact of buildings on the environment and help mitigate the climate change effects. From the economic standpoint, sustainable buildings can be more energy-efficient and cost-efficient which in turn lowers the operating costs and increases the property value. By implementing sustainable design and construction, the real-estate developers can make buildings that ensure better life quality and contribute to the overall better well-being of a community.

As one of the leading income-generating real-estate companies, last summer, CPI Property Group has set even more ambitious goals when it comes to sustainability. By 2030 it plans to reduce the greenhouse gasses emissions by 32.4%, water consumption by 10% and starting from 2024, it will exclusively buy energy from renewable sources, an objective which STOP SHOP parks in Serbia have already achieved.

This year the company received a new, improved MSCI rating (MSCI is an American financial company known for ESG analysis tools) which reflects the efficiency of the sustainability strategy and the recent positive shifts. A bigger share of certified green facilities as well as agreements with green buyers and improvements in corporate management have all contributed to this.

STOP SHOP is one of the leading IMMOFINAZ brands, the biggest retail park operator in Central and Eastern Europe. Let us remind that since 2022 IMMOFINANZ is a part of the CPI Property Group that is also responsible for the local management of STOP SHOP retail parks in Serbia.