Foundation names JLL Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO),
Erin Meezan, Executive
Director
CHICAGO, Feb. 25,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- JLL Foundation, a non-profit
founded and backed by JLL (NYSE: JLL), published its third Annual
Report, detailing its continued commitment to providing catalytic
capital to pre-seed and seed-stage, climate-impacting companies. In
2024, the Foundation awarded a total of $4.75 million in new, zero-interest loans to 18
companies, helping them contribute to a more sustainable
future and filling a crucial gap in early-stage funding.
Circularity is key to JLL Foundation's model, as all funds
returned from loans granted are invested into new loans, creating a
virtuous cycle. A record number of loans were repaid in 2024,
equating to just under $1.5 million,
strengthening and expanding the potential for future loan
opportunities. The Foundation's 2024 graduate companies have
attracted $49.4 million in additional
funding to date, a testament to the viability of their technical
and business models.
"We continue to be encouraged by the success of JLL Foundation
loan recipients and the meaningful impact they are driving –
whether that be decarbonizing the building sector, engaging in
waste reduction, reducing water consumption or driving social
impact," said JLL Foundation Chair, Trish Maxson. "It's a privilege to play a
part in the circular process that allows us to fuel the next
generation of early-stage, climate impacting startups and watch
them thrive."
The 2024 JLL Foundation loan recipients join a group of 47
companies that have received $11.7
million in 49 loans over the lifetime of the Foundation. The
2024 loan recipients are building a clean economy, creating green
jobs and transforming food, packaging and agricultural systems.
Each company is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, 89% are directly
decarbonizing the built environment, 50% are reducing waste, 28%
are driving social impact and 22% are reducing water consumption.
Companies receiving loans operated in 11 countries in 2024,
expanding JLL Foundation's impact into Brazil, India, Senegal and Uganda.
The impact of the Foundation's investment varies greatly based
on the needs of each company. To highlight a few of the 2024
recipients, the Foundation's loans are helping:
- Mycocycle, a biotechnology startup using fungi to
transform construction waste into low-carbon raw materials for the
built environment, develop its next generation MYCOntainer™.
- Novoloop, an upcycler transforming hard-to-recycle
plastics into useful materials with a small carbon footprint,
pursue its global expansion strategy.
- Solarbox, an electric mobility and energy company,
provide a sustainable transportation and energy solution for the
African market with locally assembled utility electric
vehicles.
- Cyanoskin, a carbon capture technology transforming
buildings into CO2-absorbing structures using an algae-based
coating, develop its technology for market.
- Courageous Land, an agroforester reforesting degraded
landscapes, accelerate its technological development, fieldwork,
pilot programs and preparation, for scale.
With the launch of the 2024 Annual Report, JLL has also named
Erin Meezan as the Executive
Director of the JLL Foundation, effective January 1, 2025. In this role, Meezan will work
closely with Maxson and the rest of the JLL Foundation Board to
advance the Foundation's goals, lead its strategic direction, and
accelerate its impact on climate change through investments in
emerging sustainable technologies.
Meezan will maintain her role as Chief Sustainability Officer
(CSO) of JLL. Her expertise in sustainability strategy and
experience engaging with key stakeholders uniquely position her to
lead the Foundation's vision and investment decisions.
"JLL Foundation's efforts are a natural extension of JLL's
sustainability commitments, as we strive to shape the future of
real estate for a better world," said Meezan. "I am inspired by the
creative, new approaches taken by these early-stage companies
focused on climate change mitigation, and the results we will be
able to achieve together."
To learn more about the JLL Foundation's impact, read the JLL
Foundation 2024 Annual Report here.
About JLL Foundation
JLL Foundation is dedicated to
impacting climate change now and in the future. A non-profit
founded and backed by JLL, one of the largest global real estate
companies with a demonstrated commitment to sustainability, JLL
Foundation's goal is to be a catalyst for climate-impacting
startups. For further information, visit foundation.jll.com.
About JLL
For over 200 years, JLL (NYSE: JLL), a
leading global commercial real estate and investment management
company, has helped clients buy, build, occupy, manage and invest
in a variety of commercial, industrial, hotel, residential and
retail properties. A Fortune 500® company with annual
revenue of $23.4 billion and
operations in over 80 countries around the world, our more than
112,000 employees bring the power of a global platform combined
with local expertise. Driven by our purpose to shape the future of
real estate for a better world, we help our clients, people and
communities SEE A BRIGHTER WAYSM. JLL is the brand name,
and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For
further information, visit jll.com.
Contact: Allison Heraty
Phone: +1 312 228 3128
Email: allison.heraty@jll.com
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SOURCE JLL-IR
