Attention to sustainable development now also concerns commercial property leasing. And savings are an added bonus.

In a traditional lease arrangement, no-one (owner, company, manager) is encouraged to go down the investment route in terms of energy savings. The "green lease" introduces a new paradigm: a long-term genuine partnership in which each company concerned works towards a common objective: the search for energy efficiency.

This search means leasing structures which involve owners and tenants in the form of an equitable agreement on responsibility(ies), and a set of rights and investment obligations which benefit all parties.

Everybody wins

• Are you an owner?

Adopting a "green lease" structure can make your properties more attractive, not only to companies that care about the environment, but in particular to those that have understood the energy savings that this change of vision represents.

• Are you a company and do you rent out properties?

A "green lease" can make you aware of your responsibilities and result in energy savings and therefore financial savings too.

The elements of a green lease

Each green lease will be different. Each lease will consider the specific characteristics of the building, the building materials, the certifications and the desired improvements.

The lease negotiated will include clauses which require each party's compliance with certifications, such as the LEED rating system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Each party undertakes to comply with the certification, once it has been obtained. All remodelling and repairs must be carried out in compliance with the certification (through to recycling).  

The American example

Belgium is lagging behind in this area. In Europe, only France stands out in terms of green leasing, as a result of the Grenelle de l'environnement debate. The benefits speak for themselves, as proven by the Institute for Market Transformation, which introduced certification into the US in 2016, called the Green Lease Leaders Program.  This experience has shown that going down the sustainable route for a commercial lease can result in savings of between 11 and 22%. In the context of the entire US non-residential property stock, introducing such a policy would represent annual savings of around 3 billion dollars.

Thinking about leasing a company car? Not sure which options are available? Below is an overview of all our available leasing options. That way you can determine which type of leasing is right for you. What's more, our partner Arval has a top deal, valid until 30 November 2024: drive the new electric BMW iX1 eDrive20 or BMW i4 Gran Coupé for a very advantageous all-in price.

Financial or operational leasing?

The same reasoning applies to both financial and operational leasing: you pay a leasing company for a specific period, usually four or five years. In both cases, the leasing company is the legal owner of the car. You do, however, have the option to purchase the car at the end of the contract. In financial leasing, the amount of the purchase option is known from the start of the contract whereas with operational leasing, the amount is determined at the end of the contract based on the car's market value.

'Including services'

This is one of the major advantages of operational leasing versus financial leasing: the taxes, (comprehensive) insurance, maintenance and costs (except fuel) are all included in the rental price. What's more, you enjoy additional services such as summer and winter tyres, roadside assistance and a replacement vehicle. All you need to do is pay a specific amount each month and that's it. In short, you get to drive with peace of mind: everything has been paid for, except for the fuel.

Tax implications?

The purchase option has tax implications: for a financial lease, you depreciate the investment asset and deduct the interest on your tax return. The car is listed as an asset on your balance sheet. For an operational leasing contract, the full rental price is processed as a cost. Tax deduction limits apply in both cases and you may have to take the professional use of the car into account. Equally important: the VAT is paid monthly on the rental price and not in one go, allowing you to use your lines of credit for other investments.

Get our top deal

Our exceptional offer is valid until 30 November 2024: you can lease the new electric BMW iX1 eDrive20 or BMW i4 Gran Coupé under an operational leasing contract at an affordable and exclusive price, including all services.

Arval Belgium SA, Ikaroslaan 99, 1930 Zaventem – RPM Bruxelles – TVA BE 0436.781.102, intermédiaire en assurances à titre accessoire, inscrit auprès de la FSMA sous le numéro 047238 A. Sous réserve d’acceptation de votre demande.

Arval Belgium nv, Ikaroslaan 99, 1930 Zaventem – RPR Brussel – BTW BE 0436.781.102, nevenverzekeringstussenpersoon geregistreerd bij de FSMA onder het nummer 047238 A. Onder voorbehoud van aanvaarding van uw aanvraag.

A subscription to build customer loyalty, reinvent yourself in times of crisis and buy better: Emna Everard saw that as exactly the right way to launch and maintain her Brussels-based start-up.

Born into a family of dietitians, Emna Everard knows what it means to eat healthily. "At the age of 12, I was already deciphering packaging labels. My dream was to open a supermarket one day where you could shop with your eyes closed", she recalls.

And because Everard has entrepreneurship in her bones, that’s exactly what she did. In 2016, just before the end of her university studies, she launched the “healthiest online supermarket on the market”: Kazidomi. Her standards are high, both in terms of composition and taste. Kazidomi selects products carefully, enabling its customers to buy healthy, mainly organic, plant-based products with complete confidence.

The loyalty programme

Six months after its launch, Kazidomi’s growth is accelerating thanks to the launch of its loyalty programme. A 59 euro subscription offering 20–50% discounts on all food, cosmetics or care products available online. Profitability and savings guaranteed.

This was followed by a first fundraising of €50,000 in 2017. Kazidomi is growing, expanding the size of its stock and developing its marketing. Everard hired her first two employees. Sales grew rapidly and literally exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Consumers suddenly had time to think about their health and well-being and were doing most of their shopping online," she adds.

How did you reinvent yourself?

The post-crisis period was a turning point. "Kazidomi had to reinvent itself. We wanted to have financial stability and avoid any dependence on external resources," continues Everard. Together with her teams, she looked at their cost structure, operational efficiency and marketing. After these reflections, the aim was no longer growth at any price, but the company's long-term viability and financial health, thanks to an intelligent reorganisation.

Two acquisitions would subsequently enable Kazidomi to boost its growth, creating significant synergies: "Smart Fooding" in August 2022 and "Bébé au Naturel" a few months later, a business specialising in healthy products for babies and their parents. "With Bébé au Naturel, we doubled the volume of orders sent out," adds Everard. "This has allowed us to get a better rate from our carriers and reduce costs."

A responsive and attentive bank

As the Brussels start-up’s bank, BNP Paribas Fortis granted it three loans for its launch, between 2016 and 2019. This support came naturally, with Kazidomi’s commitments in terms of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives perfectly aligned with the bank’s strategy. "We joined the BNP Paribas Fortis Innovation Hub programme and our relationship manager – who knew the start-up environment extremely well – was immediately enthusiastic and very attentive. He believed in our project, followed it closely, advised us to participate in a series of events to meet other players whose background and profile would be of interest for us," explains the Entrepreneur of the Year 2019.

But the support didn't stop there. "In December 2022, it was thanks to BNP Paribas Fortis, among other things, that we were able to acquire “Bébé au Naturel”. Start-ups like Kazidomi need a high level of responsiveness from their bank. When there is a company to buy, or another opportunity, things have to move fast. Analysis of the file, provision of funds: BNP Paribas Fortis has always been responsive and enthusiastic and has supported us in 99% of our requests," says the CEO enthusiastically.

Kazidomi is ready to change the world. Discover even more inspiring entrepreneurial stories.

Cosucra is investing in the decarbonisation of its production processes. Their focus is on using fibre and plant-based protein from chicory and peas for a healthy and less polluting diet.

Belgium’s Hainaut-based Cosucra has been operating since 1852. The company is quite small with 365 employees, but its activities have evolved over time. From the 1980s onwards, sugar beet processing gave way to chicory and yellow peas. Also, sugar was replaced by inulin and pea protein.

"Many families lack the time to put a fresh meal on the table every day. With our products, the industry can offer them easy, quick and nutritious meals," says Eric Bosly, CEO of Cosucra. "Nutritionists stress the importance of fibre and plant proteins for health, and such a diet has a positive impact on our carbon footprint."

New investors

To take their decarbonisation a step further, in 2023, the company launched a seven-year investment plan worth EUR 150 million. “We are keenly aware of the climate crisis, so we wanted to make this transition fast,” says Bosly. “That's why we brought three investors on board who share our values and are willing to commit in the longer term.”

Long-term relationship

Cosucra and BNP Paribas Fortis have a long-standing partnership. "The bank has supported us in expanding to Denmark and the United States. It's of great value to have the same contact person for setting up the financial structure of subsidiaries, opening accounts abroad, etc. We also meet regularly, which means we can count on the expertise of teams specialised in the food industry. Their macro vision complements that of our local account managers who know our business well."

Same market conditions

Cosucra’s efforts will result in a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions within three years. Yet, decarbonisation is just one of Bosly’s bold ambitions. "We are pushing for the same market conditions as animal proteins. Why, for example, is 20 per cent VAT levied on pea-based milk while for cow’s milk, this figure is under 6 per cent? Plant-based products are also more expensive because you can't achieve economies of scale due to the lower quantities required. If you consider all the “negative external effects” of animal products on human health and the environment, our sector deserves support until we reach a certain scale."

Change of mindset

The entrepreneur also laments how the retail sector uses meat as a decoy product, lowering its margins to offer consumers an attractive price. "In times of inflation, that price difference is all the more detrimental to us. This is why a change of mindset is essential. Nutritionists say that a weekly serving of just 200 to 250 grammes of meat is enough to get the nutritional benefits with no negative impact. But at the moment, most Belgians consume 200 grammes of meat per day."

Bosly also cites competition from imported agricultural products as an obstacle.

Cosucra is ready to change the world. Discover even more inspiring entrepreneurial stories.

"The European Green Deal aims to reduce inputs by half, leading to the ban of many herbicides, among other things. Farmers should be supported in this transition. And a company like Cosucra, which buys chicory and peas within a 200-kilometre radius, is not on an equal footing with strong Chinese competition."

Since 1796, Brepols has been producing diaries that allow you to better plan your time. The team is fully committed to people, the planet and prosperity.

"From Turnhout to a branch in Paris, our 110 employees create tools that help our customers manage their time better. And that benefits their work-life balance," says Finance Director Philippe Pissens. "Quality, craftsmanship and creativity are at the heart of our products. Brepols’ diaries, calendars and notebooks are not disposable products - they easily last a year. We also make business leather goods under the Maverick brand and and we have launched a brand-new collection of high-quality notebooks under the brand name "de KEMPEN". In addition, we distribute the famous Moleskine notebooks. Finally, there are our bookbinding activities," he says. Brepols’ main markets are the Benelux and France.

Financially on track

Since starting out in 1796, Brepols has seen many trends and developments come and go. The last few years have been marked by growth. This is thanks to the Financial Director, who came on board in 2000. With turnover of EUR 17.4 million in 2021, EUR 19.6 million in 2022 and EUR 20.8 million last year, the company is clearly on the right financial track. "These figures are not just a result of price increases. We are a strong company with a solvency of 70 per cent, which means that we only finance 30 per cent with external funds," he explains.

More than planting trees

"Since 2009, we have only used Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-labelled paper. For every tree cut down, a new one replaces it. But there's always room for improvement. In 2022, we launched a project group comprising staff across the company. We call it P3, because we focus on people, the planet and prosperity."

The project group analysed the company’s strengths and weaknesses, with the employers’ organisation Voka acting as a sounding board. “We certainly didn't want to make the mistake of greenwashing,” says Pissens. Specifically, Brepols developed 18 action points, which means it already covers nine of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to a charter, there is a code of conduct that suppliers must sign and respect. Other initiatives include focusing on local production, limiting residual waste, reducing energy consumption and developing a HR policy that takes diversity and inclusion into account. “The aim of this project group is to create internal and external support and communicate clearly with all our stakeholders.”

Fluid organisation

"Honesty and transparency towards our employees are top priority," Pissens continues. "We have intensive consultations with them, both formal and informal. We deliberately opt for a fluid organisational model, between the hierarchy and the self-managing teams, and there has been a high level of participation. This is crucial as a quarter of our employees will be retiring in the next three years. In this context, we also purchased cobots, which makes the work less physically demanding for our staff."

Clear communication

Pissens emphasises the importance of clear communication to all stakeholders, including its financial partners, such as BNP Paribas Fortis. "The bank has become key to our business operations. We provide our relationship manager with detailed figures and keep her up to date with our sustainable ambitions. Our contacts at BNP Paribas Fortis not only provide us with information about financial products; they also give us tips, such as measuring our energy consumption and the possibilities for subsidies to install solar panels, for example. We have an effective two-way communication. Our collaboration has grown into a real partnership. In our business, paying attention to Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) aspects is the benchmark in every consultation," Pissens concludes.

Quote

"The bank has become a key figure in our business operations”
Philippe Pissens, Finance Director Brepols

Brepols is ready to change the world. Discover even more great stories from entrepreneurs.