Portobello Shop Jardim Social receives unprecedented sustainable seal

The Portobello Shop chain has taken a big step towards sustainability with Portobello Shop Jardim Social, in Curitiba (PR). It is the first sustainable ceramic tile store in Brazil and the first Portobello Shop with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) seal.

You already know that Portobello products are sustainable. But sustainability goes further: it encompasses all the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) pillars and all the business units.

In this sense, Portobello Shop Jardim Social has already been inaugurated with all the necessary standardization for the Platinum category, the highest in LEED. The certification process took over a year, and the new unit achieved its first certification in February 2023.

Now it's the store's turn to be recognized with the LEED O+M V5 Platinum seal, making it the first building in the world to receive it. Find out more!

LEED O+M V5 Platinum certification reinforces Portobello's commitment

In operation since the end of 2022, Portobello Shop Jardim Social was officially inaugurated on February 15, 2023, when it received its first certification: Platinum.

"The new store in Curitiba was already part of the Portobello Shop chain's expansion and improvement plans. And with the ESG targets, we felt it would be an opportunity to build in a sustainable format," says Romael Soso, CEO of Portobello Shop.

Portobello Shop Jardim Social was the fifth store in Brazil to achieve this certification, and the only one in the country in the ceramic tiles segment. In November 2024, another important step was taken: the unit received LEED O+M V5 Platinum certification, an unprecedented achievement for a building.

The recognition from the US Green Building Council - Orange County took place during the Greenbuild World Convention in Philadelphia (United States).

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Certifications confirm Portobello's sustainable objectives

Portobello Shop Jardim Social was the first, but it won't be the only sustainable store. In fact, it is a model for the other units.

"The network has a guide to good ESG practices, with recommendations such as rainwater harvesting, the use of ventilation and natural lighting, as well as social and governance actions," says Romael.

All these issues are measured by the Excellence Program, the guidelines that measure the standardization of Portobello Shop stores.

However, it's worth noting that not all units will be LEED certified. "The construction of sustainable stores will not be mandatory for the chain's franchisees," explains the CEO.

The focus of sustainability for the more than 160 stores is on retail operations. The ESG good practices guide is recommended for day-to-day actions in the units, with benefits for those who follow the guidelines.

In addition, training in sustainability is offered, followed by assessments in the Excellence Program.

"In Portobello Shop's view, adopting good sustainable practices doesn't cost more, but requires a willingness to innovate and committed work teams," says Romael.

The Portobello Group has 25 ESG targets, covering all units (Pointer, Portobello America, Portobello Shop and Portobello), according to the specifics of each business.

There is also a Sustainability Committee, responsible for acting strategically on the issue and closely monitoring these practices.

Portobello Shop Jardim Social is the only one with LEED certification

LEED certification was created in 1993 by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The aim of this non-profit organization was to encourage sustainable construction.

More than 160 countries have already adopted it. In Brazil, the first projects were only recognized in 2006. Since then, the number of certified projects has grown, such as Portobello Shop Jardim Social.

To achieve this certification, certain requirements must be met. These allow the environmental benefits of projects to be quantified. These specifications are also great for guiding architects and engineers when designing and building.

The requirements are divided into the following categories:

1. Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ);
2. Location and Transportation (LT);
3. Materials and Resources (MR);
4. Energy and Atmosphere (EA);
5. Regional Priorities (RP);
6. Innovation in Design (IN);
7. Sustainable Sites (SS);
8. Water Efficiency (WE).

Each of these categories has mandatory prerequisites. In addition, they earn credits towards the different levels of certification. For Portobello Shop Jardim Social, the LEED label was not a goal, but ended up being a consequence of the search for the greatest possible sustainability.