Investigating the impact of the sustainability transition in European building codes and regulations on the congruence of identity, practice, and knowledge in commercial real estate companies

Sustainability is currently a hot topic in many industries, including commercial real estate. Resulting from environmental challenges, many new European building codes and regulations are introduced focusing on sustainability, forcing companies to change. To research the influence this sustainability transition in European building codes and regulations has on commercial real estate companies, the identity-practice-knowledge model is used. Previous research on topics like sustainability and organizational change show several outside pressures and triggers for change, while the seven interviews conducted with industry professionals give an insight into the internal struggles, like necessary additional knowledge, and opportunities of commercial real estate companies, like improving sustainable practice. This paper provides insight into the impact of the sustainability transition in European building codes and regulations on the congruence of identity, practice, and knowledge of commercial real estate companies, and the priorities they must make. This might aid commercial real estate companies in preparing for this change, and in creating a change process for a smooth transition.