Goals
Notable Achievements
Veris Residential is proud to have been recognized by numerous leading national and international business and industry organizations. Here are some of the highlights.
UN SDG 1: No Poverty
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Pay all employees a living wage.
Our Progress
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We previously obtained “Leading Living Wage For US Employer” certification and since then have upheld the same standards.
UN SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Incorporate urban farming concepts at select assets and in our corporate offices.
Our Progress
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We have opened hydroponic farms at our corporate headquarters and two Jersey City properties, producing 2,196 pounds of nutrient-rich produce, the equivalent of 12,333 bags, for community residents.
UN SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Focus on health and well-being of our residents and employees.
- Conduct annual air- and water-quality testing.
- Introduce Resident ESG Awareness Program.
Our Progress
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All managed multifamily assets and our corporate headquarters have achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating.
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Annual air- and water-quality testing is performed across the managed multifamily portfolio.
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A comprehensive resident engagement program has been rolled out on the back of a resident survey, including a variety of engagement methods.
UN SDG 4: Quality Education
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Provide individual training plans based on semi-annual performance reviews.
- Offer DE&I and cybersecurity training to 100% of employees.
- Support employee training through tuition reimbursement.
Our Progress
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In 2023, 100% of employees participated in training offered by the Company, including DE&I and cybersecurity sessions.
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In 2023, we provided 7,152 hours of employee training, equivalent to about 36 hours per employee.
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We offer tuition reimbursement of up to $5,000 per year and study leave for all eligible employees.
UN SDG 5: Gender Equality
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Achieve gender equality at management level by 2025
- Actively monitor pay equity and identify areas for improvement.
Our Progress
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Of employees at management level or above, 51% are female as of December 31, 2023.
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In 2023, a third party measured no gender pay gap.
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Our Executive Team is 60% female.
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Our Board of Directors is 33% female.
UN SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Provide residents with access to sustainable water sources.
- Reduce water consumption by 20% between 2020 and 2030.
Our Progress
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In 2022, we invested $120,000 in a portfolio-wide smart irrigation system with a payback period of approximately 12 months.
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SOURCE® Hydropanels create on-site drinking water from the air, eliminating 273,000 plastic water bottles over 15 years; filtered water-bottle-filling stations prevented 716,926 plastic water bottles from being sent to landfills.
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We conduct annual portfolio-wide water-quality tests.
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The SOURCE® Hydropanels at Quarry Place in New York produce up to 2,000 liters of drinking water per month, leaving local groundwater supply untouched and avoiding 1.6 million liters of run-off waste water over its lifetime.
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In 2023, we joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Savings Network through the Better Buildings Initiative.
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In 2022, 95% of our water consumption was discharged into the sewer system, where it undergoes wastewater treatment. We are not aware of any direct discharge to an open body of water. Furthermore, no significant spills of oil, fuel, waste, or chemicals were reported.
UN SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Reduce GHG (Scope 1 & 2 Market Based Combined) emissions by 50% between 2019 and 2030 as validated by the SBTi.
- Reduce energy consumption by 20% between 2019 and 2030.
- Cover >90% of carbon footprint from operations in company disclosure.
- Procure 100% of operationally controlled electricity in the multifamily portfolio through renewable energy.
- Include EV charging points at 100% of properties by 2030.
Our Progress
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Like-for-like Scope 1 & 2 GHG were 66% 2019 levels in 2023.
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Energy consumption was 27.8% below 2019 levels in 2023.
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Covered >90% coverage of operational carbon footprint in 2023.
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Since 2021, the Company has procured 100% of operationally controlled electricity within the multifamily portfolio from renewable sources.
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EV charging points are currently in place across 65% of the portfolio.
UN SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Pay all employees a living wage.
- Ensure equal pay for equal work without regard to gender or any other prohibited basis.
- Maintain an above-average Employee Engagement Score, as determined by an independent engagement survey.
Our Progress
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We previously obtained “Leading Living Wage For US Employer” certification and since then have upheld the same standards.
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We annually conduct a third-party gender pay equity assessment, which reflected no gender pay gap, demonstrating our equitable approach to compensation.
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The Company maintained its Great Place to Work® certification, increasing our score to 93 compared to the national average of 57.
UN SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Invest in local communities where our properties are based.
- Partner with leading real estate organizations to foster innovation.
- Develop public buildings for civic use.
Our Progress
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In 2023, we entered a strategic partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Real Estate (MIT/CRE), combining MIT/CRE’s extraordinary resources and wealth of knowledge in the field with our practical, forward-thinking approach to managing multifamily properties.
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In 2022, we funded and constructed local PS-16 public school in Jersey City, NJ.
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We previously funded and oversaw $100 million of infrastructure and off-site improvements in Port Imperial, NJ.
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We previously invested over $7 million in creating a community park, fire station and recreation area in Malden, MA.
UN SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Reach gender equality at the management level by 2025.
- Increase spend with minority and/or women-owned suppliers by 25%.
Our Progress
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Of employees at management level or above, 51% are female as of December 31, 2023.
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Our procurement platform helped us achieve our goal of increasing spend with diverse suppliers by 20% in 2023.
UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Reduce GHG (Scope 1 & 2 Market Based Combined) emissions by 50% between 2019 and 2030 as validated by the SBTi.
- Reduce energy consumption by 20% between 2019 and 2030.
- Cover >90% of carbon footprint from operations in company disclosure.
- Procure 100% of operationally controlled electricity in the wholly-owned multifamily portfolio through renewable energy.
- Increase share of Green Building Certifications across managed multifamily properties.
- Include EV charging points at 100% of properties by 2030.
- Reduce water consumption by 20% between 2020 and 2030.
- Include a Sustainability Addendum in 100% of all leases.
- Introduce Resident ESG Awareness Program.
- Reduce Scope 3 downstream leased asset emissions by 62.5% by 2028.
- Encourage our employees and residents to recycle, reuse and rethink, helping to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Our Progress
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Encourage our employees and residents to recycle, reuse and rethink, helping to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
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Energy consumption was 27.8% below 2019 levels in 2023.
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Covered >90% of operational carbon footprint in 2023.
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Since 2021, the Company has procured 100% of operationally controlled electricity within the wholly-owned multifamily portfolio from renewable sources.
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83% of managed multifamily portfolio was Green Certified as of August 2024, up from 58% at the end of 2022.
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EV charging points are currently in place across 65% of the portfolio.
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100% of leases include a Sustainability Addendum as of 2023, aligning our residents with our goals and encouraging them to help us reduce energy, carbon emissions, and water usage.
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A comprehensive resident engagement program has been rolled out on the back of a resident survey, including a variety of engagement methods.
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16.8% of non-hazardous waste diverted from landfill in 2023.
UN SDG 13: Climate Action
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Reduce GHG (Scope 1 & 2 Market Based Combined) emissions by 50% between 2019 and 2030 as validated by the SBTi.
- Reduce energy consumption by 20% between 2019 and 2030.
- Cover >90% of carbon footprint from operations in company disclosure.
- Procure 100% of operationally controlled electricity in the wholly-owned multifamily portfolio through renewable energy.
- Complete physical risk assessment for all multifamily properties.
- Include a Sustainability Addendum in 100% of all leases.
Our Progress
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Like-for-like Scope 1 & 2 GHG were 66% below 2019 levels in 2023.
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Energy consumption was 27.8% below 2019 levels in 2023.
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Since 2021, the Company has procured 100% of operationally controlled electricity within the wholly-owned multifamily portfolio from renewable sources.
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Physical risk assessment completed in Q1 2023 across various scenarios and time frames.
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Covered >90% of operational carbon footprint in 2023.
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100% of leases include a Sustainability Addendum as of 2023, aligning our residents with our goals and encouraging them to help us reduce energy, carbon emissions, and water usage.
UN SDG 15: Life on Land
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Plant one tree for each Veris Residential resident and employee each quarter.
- Support biodiversity in urban and semi-urban areas.
Our Progress
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Since the beginning of our partnership with Ecologi, we have planted 46,105 trees, largely in the Appalachians.
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In 2023, Veris installed beehives at 14 properties and supported them with pollinator plants when possible.
UN SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Engage in charitable and volunteering opportunities.
Our Progress
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Employees charitable donations are matched by Veris, and volunteer activities are supported through our participation in Pledge 1%.
UN SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Learn More About the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitments
- Enter multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources.
Our Progress
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Veris Residential is an International WELL Building Institue (IWBI) corporate member, using the IWBI’s expertise to create healthier, more equitable communities that promote wellness.
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We have partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings and U.S. Green Building Council.
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We participate in the CDP Worldwide & GRESB annually.
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In addition to annual corporate donations, employees engaged in philanthropic opportunities with our four major nonprofit partners, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and Ecologi.
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In 2023, we entered a strategic partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Real Estate (MIT/CRE), combining MIT/CRE’s extraordinary resources and wealth of knowledge in the field with our practical, forward-thinking approach to managing multifamily properties.
Awards & Recognitions
As part of our commitment to creating sustainable and equitable communities, Veris has earned the following awards in addition to those listed above.
News & Updates
Reports & Policies
We hold ourselves accountable by regularly reporting on progress toward our ESG targets, as well as publishing our policies regulating our adherence to the highest of environmental and ethical standards.