Cebeo aligns its strategy, HR and buildings thanks to BREEAM

Avoiding fragmentation across sustainability initiatives

Cebeo specialises in the distribution of electrical equipment, technical services and solutions for the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Like many organisations with an extensive real estate portfolio, the market leader faces increasing pressure from regulations, financial institutions and market expectations to demonstrate its sustainability performance across more than 50 branches.

At the same time, Cebeo was asking a broader question: how could sustainability become more than just a technical property matter? The challenge operated on several levels. How could a BREEAM certification contribute to the wider business strategy, support HR objectives related to employee well-being and employer branding, meet financial stakeholders’ expectations, and strengthen credibility with customers?

Without a clear direction, sustainability risked becoming a collection of disconnected initiatives, lacking alignment between strategy, people and buildings.

Using BREEAM as a strategic framework

Together with Cebeo, Encon adopted a profitable sustainability approach. The focus was not on obtaining a certificate for its own sake, but on using BREEAM as a common framework that could connect strategy, HR, finance and real estate.

We started with a targeted intake process and a BREEAM pre-assessment to determine what was realistically achievable and which level of ambition would create the greatest strategic value. Rather than simply maximising credits, we evaluated each measure through a cost-benefit lens and translated BREEAM requirements into practical actions at building level.

The result was a clear roadmap that aligned regulatory and financing requirements with employee comfort, well-being and internal engagement. Throughout the entire process, Encon played an active role in structuring the project, coordinating the evidence collection and guiding the certification journey, significantly reducing the burden on Cebeo’s internal teams.

One clear story for banks, employees and customers

The certification process was efficient, manageable and supported by clear decision-making on where investments would deliver the greatest value. The resulting certification now provides tangible evidence for banks and other stakeholders, while supporting both strategic and financial objectives.

At the same time, the project strengthens Cebeo’s message to employees and customers alike: sustainable buildings that actively support comfort and well-being, backed by an organisation that systematically embeds sustainability into its operations.

Cebeo now has a repeatable and scalable methodology that can be applied consistently across future sites, tailored to the priorities and objectives that matter most to the organisation.