Reimagining the Mall as a Centre for Sustainability, Community and Culture
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As online shopping becomes increasingly convenient, we must ask ourselves: do shopping malls still have a future? What does the future hold for malls and for all of us?
John Haffner, Deputy Director of Sustainability at Hang Lung Properties, addressed this question at the Sustainable Design China Summit, focusing on three key areas: reimagining the future of malls, collaboration between landlords and tenants, and the connection between malls and their communities.
John Haffner believes that future malls will have a deeper understanding of the impact of nature. Sustainability and carbon reduction will be integral elements, with malls increasingly becoming hubs that integrate sustainable communities and culture. These future malls won't just embody sustainable practices—they will also serve as centers for celebrating natural heritage, offering a diverse representation of sustainable culture.
Collaboration between landlords and tenants will be essential. We must provide sufficient data to meet tenants' ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and business considerations. While focusing on financial performance, we must also pay attention to ESG outcomes, striving to balance profitability with sustainability. Building strong partnerships with tenants and innovating together will be key to attracting customers in the future.
