Jovana Cvetkovic, Development, TO, and Innovation Director at MPC Properties – Understanding Value in the real estate sector beyond traditional financial metrics

MPC Properties, a regional leader in the development and property management of modern shopping destinations and business centers, has developed a comprehensive socially responsible strategy in accordance with ESG goals (Environmental, Social, Governance), which have been implemented in company procedures, policies, and in the company culture.

MPC takes great care of the promotion of alternative modes of transport, by providing adequate parking stations for all types of eco vehicles, which provide comfort and all the necessary infrastructure to their users, while on the other hand, they promote an ecological way of life and indirectly affect the health of our visitors. In its business network, MPC has 400 parking spaces for bicycles, 46 chargers for electric cars, and USCE Shopping Center is the first shopping center in the Balkans with a smart city parking station for electric bicycles and scooters. We are planning to install this station in front of other properties that are part of the MPC Properties network.

We are particularly proud of the project for procurement of a compost machine, which is located at the USCE Shopping Center facility, and is part of the USCE commercial complex, the purchase of which, in addition to recycling, introduced composting as an additional waste management strategy. The USCE complex has about 16,000 m2 of green areas, which generate about 96 m3 of organic waste on an annual basis. Also, the complex generates organic waste from the kitchens of the restaurants located in the USCE Shopping Center. This project is being co-founded by UNDP and Japan Embassy, with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and in partnership with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce with several educational and promotional events.

eKapija: MPC also plans to install the green roof with an urban vegetable garden?

– Currently, MPC owns a green roof on the Navigator Business Center 1, and the green roof is also planned to be installed on the USCE Shopping Center, on an area of about 800 m2 which shall include an urban vegetable garden that will be irrigated by rainwater.

Biodiversity has been improved by the use of indigenous plant species and the placing of beehives on MPC Properties facilities in cooperation with the Belgrade Beekeepers Association and the Mad Med Association. 12 beehives were placed on the roofs of the USCE Shopping Center and Navigator Business Center 2, as well as in the garden in front of the USCE Towers business complex. In addition, as part of the promotion and implementation of its ESG strategy, MPC initiated a series of green events and workshops, including a series of honey harvesting events and presentations about the importance of bees, intended for children, with an aim to present the topic of urban beekeeping to them in an inclusive manner. At the honey harvesting workshops, many of MPC’s business partners had the opportunity to witness this process for the first time in person, to become better acquainted with the internal organization of bees, as well as to taste fresh honey straight from the MPC beehives.

Through regular CSR activities, we contribute to spreading community awareness, market education, and improving the experience of facility users. The goal is to expand the understanding of value in the real estate sector beyond traditional financial metrics.