Earlier this month, the ICSC ESG Committee met at the offices of EVgo in El Segundo, CA. Meeting participants heard a briefings from the California Business Properties Association (CBPA) on California’s climate disclosure laws and proposed building performance standards and from the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) on the various legal challenges and delays faced by some states in implementing their packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs. Attendees also discussed various challenges and opportunities associated with sharing utility and energy usage data between landlords and tenants. After the meeting, participants enjoyed a tour of the EVgo Innovation Lab.
CBPA conveyed that California’s climate disclosure laws and proposed building performance standards could increase reporting and compliance costs for retailers and property owners, including smaller businesses facing data requests from larger partners. SB 253 emissions reporting is moving forward while SB 261 enforcement remains paused; proposed statewide performance standards for buildings over 50,000 square feet would require additional legislation. ICSC and CBPA are advocating for practical requirements that reflect landlord-tenant control, data availability, upgrade costs, and retail operations, and need member examples and engagement to shape the rules.
As reported in a recent edition of GPP E-News, CAA presented that state packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) implementation heading into 2027 faces litigation in Oregon, Colorado and California and delays in Maine. Oregon’s law remains in effect following a court ruling now under appeal, while Washington, Maryland and Minnesota are advancing program development. Participants discussed ways that landlords can support retail tenants by sharing compliance resources, aligning recycling services and signage with state requirements, and providing waste data that may help reduce packaging costs and EPR fees.
The discussion on utility data sharing explored how organizations collect, manage, and use utility data, including staff responsibilities and the balance between jurisdiction-specific reporting requirements and consistent enterprise-wide standards. Participants examined the benefits and limitations of third-party providers and data management platforms, the accuracy of advanced modeling, and approaches to measuring data quality and addressing gaps from delayed reporting, meter changes, acquisitions, and vacancies. The conversation also explored landlord-retailer collaboration on utility data sharing, including successful approaches and lessons from efforts that fell short.
Thank you to ESG Committee Sponsors, EVgo and Veckta, for their support and participation.
To find out more about the ICSC ESG Committee, please contact Abby Jagoda at ajagoda@icsc.com.
ICSC ESG Committee members at the offices of EVgo in El Segundo, CA.