PwC achieves BREEAM-NL Outstanding for its entire real estate portfolio
With the highest BREEAM-NL rating – Outstanding – across its entire building portfolio, PwC has taken an exceptional step in sustainable real estate management. The company achieved this in close collaboration with CFP Green Buildings and the Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC). The certification demonstrates that sustainability does not end with ambitions on paper, but lives in the daily practice of every workplace.
“It confirms the journey we’ve been on over the past years,” says Rob Klinkert, Senior Portfolio Manager at PwC. “BREEAM shows that we are improving on all fronts – from energy and health to circularity. And we don’t just want to know this internally, we want to make it demonstrable.”
Deliberately raising the bar
The new BREEAM-NL standard PwC worked with is more stringent than previous versions. Yet the organisation once again achieved the maximum score. “That was definitely a challenge,” Klinkert explains. “The bar is deliberately set higher, but that’s exactly what gives you a clearer picture of where you stand and where you can improve.”
Aiming for Outstanding again – and not for a lower rating – was obvious for PwC. “That’s who we are. We always work according to the highest standards,” says Klinkert. “We don’t see it as a checklist, but as a quality assurance of our vision.”
That vision aligns seamlessly with the broader sustainability strategy of PwC, with Net Zero 2030 on the horizon. “BREEAM is an essential part of that,” Klinkert continues. “It’s not just about energy or CO2, but the full width of ESG reporting. The methodology also looks at health, wellbeing, transport and biodiversity. That’s what makes it so powerful: it links sustainable operations to our societal responsibility.”
From strategy to practice
To translate ambition into action, PwC worked closely with CFP Green Buildings, which managed the certification process. “We oversaw the entire process from the first inventory through to the final delivery,” says Inge Westerink, Senior Sustainability Consultant and Project Manager at CFP. “PwC had to transition from an older to a newer version of the standard, so the first step was: what has changed, and what does that mean for the organisation and the scores to be achieved?”
A precise process of alignment, implementation, and assessment followed. “Together, we reviewed all processes and locations, implemented measures, and translated PwC’s policies into BREEAM requirements,” Westerink explains. “In total, we visited twelve locations across the country to physically assess the sustainability performance. That makes it more than a process – it becomes a project you can see in practice.”
The complexity lay not only in PwC’s size, with twelve Dutch locations, but especially in the diversity of its buildings. “From a large head office in Amsterdam to smaller offices such as Maastricht: each building has its own character, challenges, and opportunities,” says Westerink. “That requires tailor-made solutions. But that’s what makes it meaningful: you bring out the strengths of each location.”
A broad collaboration
The certification process required intensive collaboration not only between the three partners, but also across many internal departments at PwC. “You don’t just need Facility Management,” Klinkert explains, “but also HR, Procurement, Corporate Sustainability and many others. Everyone contributes evidence; it involves hundreds of documents. CFP helped us structure all of this: understanding which evidence belongs where and how it relates to the various BREEAM credits.”
That approach paid off. “We set up a system in which every department could provide its own evidence,” Klinkert says. “It saves enormous amounts of time and brings clarity. My advice to other organisations? Organise it per department. It keeps things manageable and helps create support.”
For CFP, the collaboration was just as valuable. “PwC is a frontrunner,” says Westerink. “Ambitious, progressive, and always seeking innovation. We noticed they didn’t simply want to comply with the standard, but wanted to use it to further improve. That’s the difference between meeting the norm and leading the way.”
The role of DGBC: safeguarding and accelerating
As custodian of the BREEAM-NL methodology, the Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC) oversees quality and certification. “We maintain the scheme and issue the certificates,” says Leonie de Boer, Project Manager at DGBC. “We safeguard the independence of the assessment and ensure that the methodology stays aligned with legislation, innovation and market developments.”
DGBC sees PwC’s achievement as an important milestone. “An Outstanding score for sustainably managed and operated buildings is rare,” De Boer says. “Especially when an organisation achieves this across its entire portfolio. It shows that sustainability is truly embedded in PwC’s operations.”
PwC and CFP Green Buildings also play a role in shaping future BREEAM standards. “We actively gather feedback from frontrunners,” De Boer explains. “What works well, what could be improved, and how can we make the next version of BREEAM even more relevant? This is how we raise the bar together.”
Challenges and lessons learned
Certification at this scale requires both expertise and patience. “I’d hoped it would take six months,” Klinkert admits. “But it eventually took nearly a year. Sometimes you just have to accept that things take time – especially when you want to do everything as thoroughly as possible.”
Westerink agrees: “For projects like this, it’s essential to start early. BREEAM certificates expire every three years, so it’s crucial to begin well in advance. Involve key stakeholders early, set clear deadlines, and keep the process tight. It prevents unnecessary stress at the end.”
Sustainability as part of the company culture
The search for evidence was another challenge. “You know the documentation exists,” Klinkert says, “but not always where. It sometimes felt like detective work across various departments. But it also led to something positive: colleagues became more engaged and more aware of what sustainability means in their own work – and what it delivers.” That awareness may be the biggest win of all.
“It’s not just about the certificate. It’s about colleagues understanding why we’re doing this, and feeling proud when we achieve the highest score. That’s how you make sustainability part of your company culture.”
Impact and leading by example
The results speak for themselves. Next year, 56% of PwC’s buildings will meet the Paris Proof standard: an energy demand of 70 kWh per square metre or lower, with work underway on the remaining locations. “We hope to reach around 90% soon,” says Klinkert. “PwC also moves the market forward in its role as tenant. For one major location, we’re still in talks with the building owner – if that succeeds, we’ll take a huge step.”
PwC’s sustainability strategy goes well beyond energy. New workplaces are designed circularly, using demountable constructions and wood as the main material. “Everything can be taken apart and reused,” Klinkert says proudly. “That’s not only sustainable – it’s economically smart. Seeing sustainability as a business case brings stability, independence, and long-term value.”
De Boer agrees: “PwC shows that sustainability in the operational phase truly pays off. It inspires others to follow.”
Looking ahead: from Outstanding to beyond
Although the highest rating has been secured, PwC is far from finished. “The first question after receiving the rating wasn’t ‘how do we celebrate?’ but ‘where are the opportunities for the next round?’” says Westerink. “That tells you everything about their ambition.”
The next BREEAM cycle, three years from now, is already being prepared. “We’re already mapping out which measures we can implement in the next round,” Westerink adds. “It allows you to keep improving – exactly what BREEAM is designed for.”
According to De Boer, this is where the strength of the methodology lies: “Every recertification is a moment of reflection. What have you achieved? What can be improved, and which societal themes need attention now? That makes BREEAM not just a label but a learning tool.”
Tips for other organisations
What advice would PwC and CFP give to organisations that want to follow a similar path? Klinkert is quick to answer: “Start early, and create structure. Set things up per department and work together – sustainability is never a solo project.”
Westerink adds: “Make it strategic. Sustainability must be embedded in policy and in day-to-day operations. Use certification not only to prove what you’re doing, but to identify where you can grow.”
De Boer concludes: “You don’t need to aim for Outstanding immediately. Every step above the legal minimum is progress. BREEAM offers a framework to guide that step – and that’s exactly what the market needs right now.”
With its BREEAM-NL Outstanding certification for its entire real estate portfolio, PwC proves that sustainable real estate management goes beyond ambition: it is an integral part of the organisation’s culture. In collaboration with CFP Green Buildings and DGBC, PwC has not only met a standard, but set a new benchmark for the corporate market.
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