Logistics Under Pressure: Closing the Certification Gap
- Sep 29, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 15
Logistics has become a dominant force in European real estate portfolios. Yet despite booming demand for modern facilities, the sector has lagged in sustainability certification. Investors who move quickly can transform that historical lag into a practical advantage.
The Sector’s Rise
Fuelled by e-commerce and last-mile delivery needs, logistics assets have drawn unprecedented investment.[1] But certification adoption has trailed offices and residential. In 2013, there were just 260 certified logistics assets, compared with 1,090 offices and 490 residential units. By 2020, logistics had 2,670 certificates — still far behind other sectors.
Catching Up
Between 2020 and 2023, logistics BREEAM In-Use certifications jumped 291%, to 10,450. The sector is closing the gap with offices (+169%) and retail (+212%). Early movers stand to benefit.
Why Logistics Lagged
Operational Sensitivities: Concerns that inspections disrupt operations — mostly misplaced, as assessments by expert providers such as Sustainalytica are designed to minimise interference.
Green Lease Slow Uptake: Data-sharing clauses and tenant collaboration lag behind offices and residential.
Energy Intensity: High consumption complicates assessment, but BREEAM In-Use allows for non-standard loads to be excluded.
BREEAM In-Use: A Framework That Fits
Its dual focus on Asset Performance (energy, resilience, transport) and Management Performance (policies, procedures, tenant engagement) makes BiU a practical tool for operational insight. Certification now reliably functions as a framework for understanding how a building performs, with prudent investors now asking more of their certification partners, developing deeper more intelligent analytics.
Why It Matters for Investors
Rental Premiums: Certified logistics assets command higher rents — studies show 23–26% uplifts.[2]
Operational Resilience: Certification reduces risk under EU carbon and national energy efficiency regimes.
Market Recognition: Certified portfolios are more appealing to institutional buyers, aiding liquidity and pricing.
Tenant cooperation is no longer the barrier it once was. Sustainalytica guides owners and occupiers through certification in ways that respect operations while delivering robust, verifiable results.
Looking Forward
Despite growth, logistics still lags residential certification, highlighting the ongoing opportunity. Scaling certification quickly allows investors to secure operational insight, improve reporting, and enhance transparency for stakeholders.
Conclusion
Energy costs, tighter regulation, and ESG-conscious tenants mean uncertified logistics assets are increasingly exposed. BREEAM In-Use provides a structured, practical, and communicable framework — helping investors close gaps, mitigate risk and understand the performance of their assets in real terms.
[2] Independent research sources: University of Reading (2019): rental premiums of 23–26% for BREEAM-certified assets; Meta-study (2023): 77% of 70+ studies found statistically significant positive rental uplifts for certified properties.
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