Dan-Adrian Chelaru (IULIUS): speaker at Environmental & Sustainability Summit 2023

Dan-Adrian Chelaru, Group Sustainability Officer IULIUS, will be a speaker in Panel 3 of Day 1 at the Environmental & Sustainability Summit 2023. The event, hosted at The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection, will take place on October 4-5 and will approach crucial topics such as sustainable food and water consumption, eco-communities, renewable energy sources, and circular economy.

Dan-Adrian Chelaru is a sustainability specialist, having dedicated his career and education to environmental science and sustainability-related topics. He has substantiated his knowledge and expertise through a series of scientific studies, which have directly contributed to his career path.

With over a decade of combined academic and professional experience, he has coordinated the development of numerous strategic planning initiatives. His focus has been particularly directed towards sustainability concerns in both the public and private sector. These initiatives include sustainable development strategies, sustainable urban mobility plans, energy efficiency programs, green space registries etc., projects that have consistently delivered positive outcomes for communities.

He currently holds the position of Group Sustainability Officer at IULIUS, being in charge of developing the Group’s sustainability strategy, as well as coordinating the implementation of its action plan, making sure that the IULIUS Group’s commitment to sustainability translates into concrete action.

Read more about

CARBOCHIM Cluj-Napoca Relocated. 5 Million Euroupgrade Investments

read more

He is devoted to the cause of sustainability and constantly strives to actively contribute to building a better future.

“Sustainability is part of the IULIUS business model and translates into caring for the environment and the community, generating a direct impact on the economy, educating the younger generations and more. Our urban regeneration projects are designed for the community and sustainability is the common denominator of the solutions we integrate. Green, energy-efficient buildings, generous parks, as well as youth education programs, and support programs for local entrepreneurs are all elements that define our activity. Everything we do has contributed over the years to improving the quality of life of communities in Iași, Timișoara, Cluj-Napoca or Suceava.” Dan-Adrian Chelaru said to BR.

Dan-Adrian Chelaru also sat down with Business Review to preface the Environmental & Sustainability Summit 2023 in an exclusive interview:

Can you share specific initiatives or projects that your company has undertaken to reduce its environmental footprint and promote sustainability? How have these initiatives contributed to your overall sustainability goals and outcomes?

Sustainability has been a priority for us for many years and our urban regeneration projects developed in Iasi (Palas and Palas Campus) and Timisoara (Iulius Town) confirm our drive to create community-friendly concepts which include, among others, energy efficient buildings surrounded by generous gardens along with a modern infrastructure designed to integrate our projects seamlessly in the life of the cities.

We do this based on a sustainability strategy, with well-established steps and targets to be reached every year.

As such, Iulius has initiated a series of strategic projects in recent years aimed at reducing the environmental footprint. All the buildings in our portfolio are LEED certified or pending certification, fitted with the latest technologies to boost their efficient operation. We also integrate solutions to reach energy independence and increase sourcing from renewable resources. In this respect, we invested EUR 3.5 million to implement PV panels on all the buildings in our portfolio, a solution which will generate some 5,500 MWh annually, accounting for approximately 10% of our total energy consumption.

Given the nature of our business, efficient waste management is essential for meeting the ESG objectives. Accordingly, all waste is collected separately at Iulius locations; owing to a dedicated program, the amount of waste sent to landfills is reduced annually as the volume of recyclable waste increases, in line with our targets. As part of the ZeroWaste program, we have also implemented composting facilities that significantly reduce the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfills. All of these measures are complemented by awareness campaigns aimed at promoting the importance of recycling among visitors, employees, and tenants.

We also promote alternative mobility solutions, therefore our projects feature dedicated infrastructure: parking places, showers, and electric vehicle charging stations.

In what ways does your company integrate sustainability practices into its core business operations and corporate culture? How do you ensure that sustainability is not just a buzzword but a fundamental part of your organization’s identity and strategy?

We do this by formalizing our sustainability strategy, with clear targets on all 3 ESG levels: environment, community, and governance. Based on this roadmap we develop the decision-making processes, investment choices, and operational practices. The results are measurable and transparent for the public, and I have already highlighted above some of the most relevant sustainability solutions implemented in our projects.

The real confirmation that we are on the right track in this sense comes from the assessment of our public, i.e. the locals spending time in our gardens and retail venues, the occupancy level of our projects, and the numerous tenants and partners who have chosen to join us in the network we created throughout the country. This is what actually tells us how well we perform and inspires us to move forward and come up with new, innovative solutions in order to build on the attractiveness and relevance of our work.

Collaboration and partnerships are often key drivers for achieving sustainability goals. Could you highlight any strategic collaborations your company has engaged in to address environmental and sustainability challenges? How have these partnerships enhanced your ability to make a positive impact on the environment and society?

Collaboration is part of our business model and we are proud to have built rock-solid partnerships over the time, which added value and perspective to our work. As such, last year we signed a partnership with the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, which allows us to develop a strategy to reduce carbon emissions in all our projects.

We are also engaged in a constant dialogue with the academic environment to develop joint projects aimed at assisting the young generation in addressing career challenges. I would mention here the “Real Estate Business Management” program run by Iulius with the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Iași. Another project very dear to us is the Rising Stars internship program, which enjoys a lot of attention from the young public, while for us it has become a source of fresh talent.

We also seek to engage in a dialogue with the communities, whom we consulted on several occasions regarding new projects in Iasi (when we organized the international architecture competition for a new project nearby Palas), Cluj (where we asked the locals about their expectations for the urbanistic future of the city, as part of our new plan to develop a large urban regeneration project on the former Carbochim industrial platform), and Suceava (where we wanted to know how the public expects the expansion process for Iulius Mall Suceava to shape up).

Furthermore, we have joined forces with various local NGOs and communities to support initiatives that directly benefit local environments. Whether it is by participating in reforestation projects, promoting local entrepreneurship or supporting education, these collaborations have amplified our reach and impact on society.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear Dan-Adrian Chelaru and other industry experts at the Environmental & Sustainability Summit 2023. Join us at The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection, on October 4-5, and take an inside look at what the top speaking guests have to say about creating a new normality through sustainable means.