Integrity to build trust

CBRE leads with the highest standards of ethics and integrity in everything we do. Guided by our RISE values, CBRE’s strong governing system and policies, such as our company's Standards of Business Conduct, underpin our strategy.

The Standards of Business Conduct outlines expectations of how employees relate to each other, our business partners, clients and competitors; our use of corporate resources; and how we engage in our communities. It affirms our culture of ethics and compliance and preserves the valuable trust of our clients. 

In 2022, more than 94% of employees completed the Standards of Business Conduct certification (we approach 100% participation when allowing for the timing of new hires and departures).

We also require our suppliers to conduct their operations in an inclusive, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable manner. This includes operating in compliance with our Supplier Code of Conduct and all human rights and modern slavery regulations in regions where we operate.

Our efforts to advance and embed ethical business practices across our business have been recognized for 10 consecutive years by Ethisphere. 

CBRE’s supply chain is an integral component of how we deliver a comprehensive suite of direct real estate services for our clients. We screen suppliers and have a policy that integrates sustainability and diversity standard requirements. Our supplier selection criteria includes their performance in relation to environmental impact, management of labor and human rights, and ethical, social and responsible procurement practices.

We seek to conduct business with suppliers that demonstrate sustainability leadership within their own industries. In 2022, CBRE spent nearly $5 billion with sustainable suppliers and we continue to increase our purchasing with partners that can help us meet our decarbonization and other sustainability goals. CBRE was awarded Platinum status by EcoVadis — the world’s largest provider of business sustainability ratings — in 2022, placing us in the top 1% of companies globally.

CBRE committed to spend $1 billion dollars with diverse suppliers by the end of 2025. Our supplier diversity program enables us to bring diverse thinking, flexibility and innovations to CBRE; helps us meet client needs and their own diverse supplier goals; reduces inequality within and among communities; and influences the success of diverse suppliers.

In 2022, CBRE analyzed our supplier diversity program in the U.S. using 2021 data to understand and quantify the scope of our economic impact. We estimated the number of times each dollar of direct spend cycles through the economy in terms of additional spend, personal income and employment.

At the highest level, our Board of Directors oversees our strategic planning and risk management policies for environmental, social and governance issues. This is managed by the full Board and not delegated to a committee because the Board believes that these matters are integral to the company’s future success. The Board receives reports on these topics at each quarterly meeting.

We have made great strides in cultivating a diverse Board. Our current Board is 36% racially or ethnically diverse and 27% women. In addition, 50% of our Board committees are chaired by women. Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, as part of the search process for a new director, the Governance Committee will actively seek out women and underrepresented candidates to include in the pool from which Board nominees are chosen.