{"id":19804,"date":"2025-04-01T17:09:03","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T15:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsegroup.com\/?p=19804"},"modified":"2026-07-06T16:07:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T14:07:23","slug":"the-biodivercity-label-putting-biodiversity-at-the-heart-of-urban-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsegroup.com\/en\/articles-en\/sustainable-articles-en\/the-biodivercity-label-putting-biodiversity-at-the-heart-of-urban-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"The BiodiverCity label: putting biodiversity at the heart of urban projects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In an increasingly urban world where cities\u2019 impact on the environment has become a major concern, factoring biodiversity into urban projects is now more essential than ever. France\u2019s BiodiverCity label is an innovative & proactive response to current environmental challenges, particularly in the commercial real estate sector. It encourages the stakeholders of urban development \u2013 general contractors included \u2013 to rethink the design of buildings and spaces to improve the quality of city life, while preserving local ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe must give back to nature what we have taken from it \u2013 and then some! The true value of the BiodiverCity label in an urban environment lies in the opportunity to deseal the soil, reintroduce green spaces and create new habitats that support biodiversity.\u201d 
Anthony Guerard, environmental engineer, GSE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More than 450 operations had been BiodiverCity-labelled or were awaiting the label in 2023. Most of these projects are in the Paris Region (mainly in the suburbs), but the market is also expanding to other major cities \u2013 such as Lyon, Lille, and Marseille \u2013 and to medium-sized urban centres. The label also has an international reach, with certified projects in Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Singapore, Cuba and East Timor. Accredited environmental assessors also operate in Belgium and Italy. Of the certified projects, 40% are office buildings, 18% are residential projects, 18% are logistics platforms, while the rest include mixed-use buildings, shops and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By promoting biodiversity in urban environments, the BiodiverCity label contributes to sustainable & resilient urban development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The BiodiverCity label in brief<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The BiodiverCity\u00ae label is not a norm, but a technical framework designed to guide and assess real estate projects. This label certifies that the project meets a given level of environmental quality by complying with the requirements defined by the label\u2019s rules. The rating on the logo awarded indicates the level of performance achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BiodiverCity\u00ae is a registered trademark belonging to the International Biodiversity Property Council (IBPC), which awards the label after a compliance assessment carried out by an independent auditor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This label applies to various types of construction and renovation projects in the industrial, logistics or service sectors. It assesses a project\u2019s impact on biodiversity and helps to implement concrete solutions to protect and promote it, even in urban areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How can biodiversity be designed into the construction process?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The science of biodiversity, called scientific ecology, is studied and practiced by ecologists and environmental engineers. Environmental engineering aims to develop functional systems such as ecosystems, plant dynamics, phytobiology, soil formation and animal populations. These systems, even where they are implanted or seeded, tend to become partially autonomous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Preserving and developing biodiversity requires maintenance planning, through a process known as the landscape and ecological management plan (LEMP). This plan includes specific obligations regarding vegetation maintenance and the regulation of some animal species. Biodiversity management is carried out according to specific objectives, decided or negotiated with the stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The challenge here lies in the relationship between nature and the city\u2019s residents & users. Through the BiodiverCity label, environmental engineers aim to create an accessible, functional and resilient nature. To this end, they work closely with the projects\u2019 architects. Within GSE\u2019s Green Buildings department, the environmental engineer\u2019s initial mission is to carry out a biodiversity survey of the site, then to continuously improve the project\u2019s biodiversity profile by implementing relevant, effective and consistent measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The biodiversity survey produces recommendations to foster biodiversity in the project and to reduce its potential impact on nature. The environmental engineer continues to play an advisory role throughout the design phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why is biodiversity important for commercial real estate projects?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Urban areas have a significant impact on biodiversity. The focus is usually on the negative: reduced green space, pollution, heat islands, fragmented natural habitats, etc. In the commercial real estate sector, integrating biodiversity into projects addresses several challenges:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Smaller environmental footprint: <\/strong>BiodiverCity-labelled buildings are designed to limit their impact, for example by reducing their energy consumption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Sustainable & pleasant living environment: <\/strong>by integrating natural elements in urban areas, these projects help to create healthier environments for employees and residents, while reducing stress and improving air quality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Project reputation and investor appeal: <\/strong>the BiodiverCity label is becoming a major asset to attract investors that are committed to sustainable development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Regulatory compliance and public expectations: <\/strong>legal requirements and the sustainability expectations of stakeholders, particularly local authorities and citizens, are increasingly strict. Obtaining this label helps meet current & future standards.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Integrating biodiversity into industrial and logistics projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    For a general contractor operating in sectors such as industry, logistics, the services or data centres, the integration of biodiversity may seem like a challenge. However, it is largely achievable through several strategies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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