Sustainability certification for industrial buildings

Sustainability certifications have become a must-have for ecological, economic, strategic and regulatory reasons. They serve as a quality seal for your property vis-à-vis investors, tenants and prospective buyers. Sustainability certifications support value retention and strengthen your position in negotiations with investors, tenants and buyers. They also enable you to credibly demonstrate ESG compliance, which is increasingly required by regulation, to institutional investors.

DGNB certification

Metroplan supports you as a certified auditor in the certification of your industrial building in accordance with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB). Our recommendation of DGNB certification is no coincidence: DGNB offers a dedicated certification system for industrial and production buildings that reflects their specific requirements and characteristics. These include, among others, large column-free hall areas, specific indoor climate requirements, a high degree of adaptability to production processes, and reliable building services (MEP). In contrast to international certification systems such as LEED (USA) and BREEAM (UK), which primarily focus on office and administrative buildings and only address industrial requirements in a generic manner, DGNB provides a certification framework specifically tailored to industrial and production facilities.

Focus on economic efficiency

DGNB sustainability certification evaluates the entire lifecycle of a building—from conception and construction through the operational phase and ultimately to deconstruction. This perspective is particularly relevant for industrial and production buildings, as operating costs are significantly higher than for other asset types and adaptability and potential for reuse play a more critical role. The certification is also aligned with German construction, environmental and energy standards, such as those defined in the Building Energy Act (GEG) and DIN standards. Compared to other certification systems, the indicators and key figures provided by DGNB can be integrated into sustainability reporting in a more transparent and efficient manner. In addition, DGNB continuously develops its system—among other things with regard to the EU Taxonomy and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)—providing companies with a high level of regulatory certainty. While international systems such as LEED or BREEAM can generally cover similar requirements, they typically involve a significantly higher adaptation effort.

Added value for existing buildings and new developments

DGNB certification is not limited to new buildings; existing buildings undergoing refurbishment, modernization or conversion can also be certified. Especially for existing industrial properties, measures to improve energy efficiency, reduce CO₂ emissions or enhance indoor environmental quality can significantly improve ESG performance. Although certification of existing buildings involves additional effort—such as missing planning documentation or the need for supplementary evidence—it simultaneously provides a structured framework for sustainable transformation. Retrospective certification enables a systematic implementation approach and ensures reliable documentation that can be seamlessly integrated into stakeholder reporting. DGNB certifications can also contribute to improved financing conditions, as an increasing number of banks incorporate sustainability criteria into their lending terms. Our experience in sustainable construction, close ties to industry and interdisciplinary way of working enable us to develop solutions that are both tailored and practical—always keeping feasibility, cost–benefit considerations and long-term value retention of your property in focus. 

Step by step towards certification

As a certified DGNB auditor, we act as the interface between your property and the DGNB certification body, supporting your certification project from start to finish. We begin by jointly assessing whether certification is feasible and appropriate, which certification level (Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum) should be targeted, and—if required—prepare a feasibility study. Depending on the project, financing situation and funding landscape, we can also arrange pre-certification during the planning or early construction phase. We then define concrete ESG objectives and initiate the analyses required for the certification process.  

In collaboration with specialist planners, we ensure the integration of sustainability aspects into architecture, MEP, material selection and more. We carry out calculations for life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costs (LCC) and compile all necessary indicators and documentation—for example from energy concepts, environmental product declarations (EPDs) of construction materials, user surveys, and planning, construction and building documentation. All documents and evidence are submitted to the DGNB certification body for review of plausibility, completeness and quality. During the review process, follow-up questions or requests for revisions may arise—in these cases, we provide expert support. We also accompany you reliably and competently during audit meetings and on-site inspections.