In conversation with Marlene Pillay
STANDARD BANK
Princess Mkabayi Mall in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal
emissions and understanding the physical risk to our assets. We encourage resilience through retrofits and green builds.” The business case, particularly in South Africa, is compelling. “A lot of the measures to move towards greener assets directly result in operational efficiencies that have a direct cost
The opportunities in the rest of Africa, however, are vast, often characterised by a structural supply deficit. “You have to be quite fluid in terms of understanding what would drive a country and economy. Opportunities lie in understanding where those real demand shifts are occurring.”
“We are quite passionate about the fact that all of our lending and portfolios over time will have to become a lot more sustainable,” she states. The bank has committed to net-zero carbon emissions for its own operations by 2030 and for its lending portfolio by 2050. “It doesn’t mean you sit on your hands and wait till 2050. Believe me, we are measuring
The imperative of sustainability and green financing A significant shift that Marlene is championing is the integration of sustainability into the core of real estate finance. For Standard Bank, this is a strategic imperative, not just a compliance exercise.
October 2025 | Issue 141 | Asset Magazine 155
154 Asset Magazine | Issue 141 | October 2025
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator