MAKATI CITY — Ayala Land Inc. has attained EDGE Zero Carbon certification for more than 1.5 million square meters of commercial office space, earning recognition as the world’s largest EDGE Zero Carbon-certified office portfolio as of December 2025. The achievement highlights the company’s leadership in sustainable real estate development and demonstrates its consistent implementation of a long-term climate and investment strategy. Included in the certified portfolio are several notable office developments in Makati, such as Glorietta 1 and 2 Corporate Center, Solaris One, and McKinley Exchange Corporate Center. Also covered by the certification are the Vertis North Corporate Centers in Quezon City and The 30th Corporate Center in Pasig. For multinational tenants and investors, the certification provides assurance that these properties meet internationally recognized standards for carbon-neutral operations.
Understanding EDGE Zero Carbon Certification
EDGE Zero Carbon is an internationally recognized green building certification developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group. To earn the certification, buildings must first secure EDGE Advanced status by achieving at least a 40 percent reduction in energy consumption, a minimum of 20 percent savings in water use, and lower embodied carbon in construction materials. Buildings must also operate using 100 percent renewable energy or verified carbon offsets while maintaining a minimum occupancy rate of 75 percent for one year. The certifications were independently verified and awarded through third-party audits conducted by the Philippine Green Building Initiative, an IFC-accredited certifier.
Sustainability-Linked Financing Supports Green Initiatives
The certification milestone fulfills one of Ayala Land’s major sustainability performance commitments under its sustainability-linked financing framework. Between 2024 and 2025, the company secured approximately 1 billion dollar, or around PHP56 billion, through sustainability-linked financial instruments. These included two loans from IFC and sustainability-linked bonds listed on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. The financing arrangements are tied to specific sustainability goals, including securing EDGE Zero Carbon certification for 1.5 million square meters of office space by December 2025 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its malls, offices, and hotels by 42 percent by December 2030. Under the terms of these instruments, failure to meet the targets would result in higher interest rates.
Setting a Global Standard for Sustainable Office Developments
Ayala Land’s certified portfolio now covers 50 office properties located across Metro Manila, Laguna, Cebu, Baguio, Iloilo, and Bacolod, with a combined gross floor area of 1,529,179 square meters. The portfolio consists of both corporate headquarters and business process outsourcing facilities. “This achievement demonstrates that sustainability at scale is both measurable and achievable,” said Robert S. Lao, Ayala Land Chief Sustainability Officer. “By securing the EDGE Zero Carbon Certifications for our office portfolio, we are able to verify the performance of our green buildings with measurable results that support operational efficiency and long-term asset value.” As the company continues working toward its Net Zero 2030 emissions-reduction goals, Ayala Land remains committed to embedding sustainability into its development projects, day-to-day operations, and capital allocation decisions, ensuring that climate action supports both business performance and long-term value creation.
