The analysis examines the development of environmental certifications in the shopping center sector from 2024 to 2025. Key indicators for the sustainability of more than 11,000 shopping malls, retail parks, factory outlet centers, and hypermarkets with a sales area of over 5,000 sq m include international certifications such as BREEAM, LEED, and DGNB.
Only about 5% of existing and planned centers hold such a certification. However, when considering other certificates or significant environmentally relevant measures without official certification, the proportion increases to a maximum of 8–9% of all properties.
Among the 100 largest shopping centers in Europe, 60% now have an environmental certification—compared to just under 50% in the previous year. The British environmental assessment system BREEAM has established itself as the leading standard: the share of BREEAM-certified buildings rose from 35% in 2024 to 40% in 2025. Additionally, the actual percentage may be slightly higher, as some centers are still awaiting certification renewal.
A further 3% of the top 100 centers are LEED-certified, while 2% hold the German DGNB certification. Although DGNB plays a significant role in Germany, it is less widespread internationally than BREEAM and LEED. Moreover, some already certified centers are switching directly to BREEAM—one example is PlusCity in Pasching, which recently transitioned from DGNB to BREEAM.
Beyond the major certification systems, the number of individual sustainability measures is also increasing. One example is the Riviera Galleria in Greece, which relies on local, natural materials, extensive green spaces, as well as natural ventilation and lighting.
The proportion of shopping centers with alternative sustainability certifications has also increased—from 12% to 15%. Most often, modern technologies are used to reduce energy consumption, such as energy-efficient lighting, large-scale greening concepts, and intelligent building management systems.
The data shows that sustainability in the European shopping center industry is not a short-term trend—it is a long-term commitment that is becoming increasingly important in the construction sector. The rise in certified buildings, the decline in non-certified centers, and the growing variety of environmental standards all indicate that the focus is shifting ever more toward sustainable construction methods.
