Building consistency and collaboration: EnviroSustain’s team approach to the GRESB AP Program 

As a long-standing GRESB Premier Partner, EnviroSustain (ES) has been supporting clients across Europe in advancing sustainability performance since 2018. With deep expertise in building certifications, decarbonization strategies, and sustainable real estate management, EnviroSustain has long recognized GRESB’s role in shaping consistent and comparable sustainability reporting in real estate.

When the GRESB Accredited Professional (AP) Program launched in 2024, EnviroSustain saw it as a natural extension of its work. The team viewed the credential as an opportunity to formalize their expertise, strengthen internal alignment, and continue delivering high-quality advisory services to clients navigating an increasingly data-driven landscape.

“Sustainability is at the core of everything we do,” said Ingemar Hunold, Partner at EnviroSustain. “Earning the GRESB AP credential was a way to validate our team’s knowledge and ensure we stay at the forefront of industry standards.”

Rather than approaching the exam individually, EnviroSustain adopted a structured, team- based approach. Internal study groups met regularly to review GRESB resources, discuss complex scoring topics, and share practical examples drawn from years of reporting experience.

This collaborative preparation helped create a shared baseline of understanding across Envirosustain. For newer colleagues, it offered a strong introduction to the GRESB reporting framework and scoring logic. For more experienced consultants, it was an opportunity to revisit details and strengthen consistency in how sustainability performance is assessed and communicated.

The team took the exam in March, just ahead of the annual submission season. This strategic timing allowed them to immediately apply new insights to client reporting and data assurance work, ensuring their advisory aligned closely with the latest GRESB assessment updates.

Following certification, the GRESB AP credential has added formal recognition to the expertise within EnviroSustain’s sustainability team, helping embed a more consistent language around performance metrics and assessment logic.

This shared foundation has also enhanced collaboration during submission season. In June, the team convened for a dedicated performance workshop focused on data review and assurance. With multiple GRESB APs in the room, discussions were sharper and more efficient, enabling the group to resolve technical questions and ensure alignment with GRESB’s expectations across all client portfolios.

The team has also seen the broader market impact firsthand. With GRESB participation in Germany up more than 60% since 2021, the demand for well-informed, high-quality sustainability advisory has accelerated. At the same time, growing investor demand and asset managers’ increasing reliance on GRESB results for decision-making are driving the need for informed, strategic sustainability support. By ensuring the team is officially accredited, EnviroSustain meets this demand with high-quality expertise and positions itself to support the region’s dynamic and rapidly evolving real estate market.

Internally, the AP program has supported professional development by giving team members a structured pathway to build and demonstrate advanced sustainability knowledge. It has also helped EnviroSustain align internal quality standards more closely with those reflected in GRESB’s methodology.

“Beyond the credential itself, the process encouraged reflection on best practices and reaffirmed how we approach consistency and accuracy in reporting,” noted Ingemar. “It was an excellent exercise in knowledge validation that benefited our entire team.”

For clients, this consistency translates into more confident guidance and clearer communication. Whether developing decarbonization strategies or managing multi-fund submissions, EnviroSustain’s team operates from a common technical foundation that supports both efficiency and quality across projects.

Based on their experience, EnviroSustain encourages other sustainability teams to view the GRESB AP process as both an educational and collaborative opportunity. While individual study is important, the organization found that peer learning and structured discussions helped bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that knowledge gained through the credential is applied directly to day-to-day work.

“Approach the process as a team effort,” advised Ingemar. “The exam validates technical understanding, but its greatest value comes from how that shared knowledge strengthens collaboration and client outcomes.”

Through their collective approach, EnviroSustain demonstrates how organizations can leverage the GRESB AP program not only to enhance individual expertise, but to embed shared standards, elevate internal practices, and deliver stronger sustainability outcomes across the real estate sector.