Pioneering sustainable urban development: White Peak’s commitment to biodiversity in China

White Peak is a Swedish fund manager and developer of residential properties in China. The company contributes to the country’s future urban development by applying innovative Swedish building technology and a unique approach to sustainability and community integration.

White Peak’s sustainability strategy is rooted in its vision to lead in low-carbon, sustainable residential development in China. Key focus areas include:

• Promoting environmental stewardship through innovative building technologies
• Delivering quality sustainable living solutions that contribute to China’s carbon neutrality
• Prioritizing the well-being of all stakeholders, from construction workers to tenants, with an emphasis on health and community integration

Since 2016, White Peak has relied on GRESB as a valuable tool to assess and improve its sustainability performance, maintaining a 5-star rating since 2017 and securing four Sector Leader recognitions to date. Backed primarily by Swedish pension funds, White Peak’s investors place a strong emphasis on robust sustainability performance and transparency, especially given the unique dynamics of China’s real estate market. GRESB provides concrete evidence of White Peak’s commitment, offering a credible and internationally recognized framework to demonstrate sustainability efforts and progress.

The company’s deep commitment to sustainability is reflected not only in its adherence to global standards and GRESB reporting but also in its strategic focus on overcoming local market challenges.

“For residential real estate developers in China, balancing rapid urban development with sustainability is challenging due to high land costs, regulatory pressures, tight project timelines, and limited consumer demand for eco-friendly housing,” said Hortense Hallé-Yang, Head of Sustainability at White Peak. “Developers face trade-offs between profitability and sustainable practices, as green building features often increase costs and require specialized expertise. Despite these challenges, White Peak remains committed to adopting green standards and technologies, because we believe sustainability is not just about meeting investor demands—it’s about long-term, responsible development.”

Part of White Peak’s strategy involves proactively integrating innovative technologies to address China’s drive for quality housing, in a market that has yet to fully embrace widespread adoption of sustainability concepts. The company emphasizes green building standards and environmentally friendly construction practices, recognizing that these principles not only contribute to the well-being of residents but also align with the long-term environmental goals of the company.

Biodiversity is integral to White Peak’s approach to sustainable urban development. A prime example of the company’s commitment to biodiversity is the Chengde Pianling project, where White Peak has significantly reduced the impact of urban development on the local ecosystem.

From the outset, White Peak has focused on implementing key actions to mitigate land artificialization and promote ecological restoration, starting with thorough due diligence during the land acquisition phase, a comprehensive site assessment in collaboration with the China Academy of Building Research, as well as stakeholder surveys and expert interviews.

These efforts provided critical insights into the local ecosystem and informed subsequent design decisions. Some of the key initiatives in the Chengde Pianling project include:

• Restoring vegetation: Using 100% local or adaptive plants to create a diverse landscape, ensuring a balance of trees, shrubs, and plants.
• Supporting wildlife: Creating habitats for birds, small mammals, and insects, alongside artificial nests, feeding, and drinking points to enhance the local ecosystem.
• Public education: Through educational signage and activities in the park, White Peak aims to raise awareness and engage the community in protecting biodiversity.

Additional actions include implementing sponge-city measures such as rain gardens, terrace flower beds, and permeable bricks to manage water retention and runoff. These efforts have resulted in positive outcomes, including SITES certification, a 10% increase in habitat areas, and improved biomass density.

“Through our commitment to biodiversity, we are not only adding value to our projects, enhancing the local ecosystem, but also fostering a greater understanding of sustainable urban development within the community,” said Hortense.

Building on its commitment to biodiversity and environmental stewardship, White Peak is setting ambitious sustainability goals for 2025. Among these are reducing the carbon footprint per unit area of all new residential projects by 15% to 30% compared to baseline levels; increasing building energy efficiency by more than 10% compared to the current national building energy code for all new residential projects; and ensuring 100% of projects under construction implement sustainable procurement practices.

In addition to environmental goals, White Peak is committed to the welfare of its employees, workers, and residents. A key focus is worker safety, with the aim of continuing to achieve zero fatalities and zero material accidents. The company also strives to ensure employee well-being and customer satisfaction, alongside fostering the development of the communities where its projects are located. These goals reflect White Peak’s dedication to sustainability, ensuring positive outcomes for both people and the planet and reinforcing its position as a leader in responsible urban development in China.