For another year in a row, Galeria SFERA has been awarded the BREEAM certificate confirming the highest standards of ecological construction.

What does BREEAM stand for? BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a system for assessing buildings in terms of their impact on the environment. It confirms that a given building is energy-efficient, manages waste well, takes good care of air quality and avails of modern technologies.

Galeria SFERA, being a modern shopping center, combines the convenience of shopping with its care for the environment, introducing numerous ecological solutions such as:

• Energy-saving lighting and heating.
• Effective waste segregation and recycling.
• Care for air quality and user comfort.
• Use of modern, ecological technologies (including an intelligent BMS building management system, fittings that reduce water consumption and optimize the use of grey water, and a monitoring system and monthly reporting of water consumption, energy, maintenance and repairs).

In its certification process, Galeria SFERA was awarded Excellent grade in the Asset Performance and Management Performance categories. The certificate is valid until 08.10.2027.

Care for the natural environment and attention to implementing ecological solutions are among our top priorities. We are happy to be part of the sustainable development of Bielsko-Biała - a place friendly to both residents and the environment.

Our activities include a number of consistently conducted ecological activities in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. We believe that the steps we take will contribute to a real improvement of the environment. We use the latest solutions in the field of energy saving: Free cooling uses the cooling layers coming from the air outside the building to reduce the temperature inside.

The storage of "gray water" allows the reuse of filtered recycled water. In turn, thanks to the recuperation system, we can recover heat by means of mechanical ventilation. Waste segregation takes place according to standards. Green provisions in contracts obliging us to save energy and all this resulted in obtaining the BREEAM certificate at the excellent level. This means a high assessment of the building in terms of both comfort of use and its environmental friendliness.

The idea of an ecological approach also guides us when it comes to gift cards. Our PAPER BOARD cards are 100% biodegradable. They can be 100% recycled in as paper waste.

The mill is certified to ISO14001 environmental management standards and ISO9001 quality management standards and powered by bio energy so that no fossil fuel is used in the making of our boards. The board cards are comparable to PVC cards with a premium look and feel.

Is it possible to help those in need, promote reading and take care of the environment at the same time? The ARKA Ecological Foundation and the SFERA Gallery prove that it is possible!

For seven years, we have been organising unique charity events that combine these three important ideas. The effects are impressive – as much as PLN 276,675 donated to charity and 112,250 books that have gained a second life, reaching new readers.

These initiatives show how small gestures lead to great things and positive changes. In 2024, residents of Bielsko-Biała had the opportunity to take part in 11 “Living Books” fairs and 3 “Toys Save Animals” fairs.

The “Living Books” campaign involves donating used books, which are then sold during fairs in the SFERA Gallery. The popularity of the initiative is primarily due to the cultivation of the idea of second-hand circulation of objects, the income from the campaign is allocated to support orphanages, community centres and animal shelters.

In 2024, 5 thousand books found new owners, thanks to which it was possible to collect PLN 29.2 thousand. All income from the event was donated to help local orphanages and support charities such as: Community Centre "Parasol" (“Umbrella”), Sociotherapy Centre "IGNIS", Foundation Grupa Kety Dzieciom Podbeskidzia (Kety Group for Podbeskidzie Children) and the Children's Home in Bielsko-Biała at Pocztowa St. Additionally, 300 cinema tickets were purchased and 10 editions of ecological workshops for students of local schools were conducted.

The “Toys Save Animals” campaign is a cyclically organised used toy fair. During the campaign, guests and customers of the SFERA Gallery have the opportunity to buy at attractive prices, including mascots, dolls, plushies and board games. The collected funds are then given to selected shelters that take care of animals.

During the three editions of the event, thanks to the huge commitment of residents, who brought a total of 1,000 toys during that time, the organisers managed to collect PLN 6.5 thousand to support the initiative. The amount was allocated to help 3 pro-animal foundations (including the Psia Ekipa (Dogs’ Team) Foundation – Razem dla Zwierząt (Together for the Animals) and the Przystań Ocalenie (Salvation Haven) Foundation), which provided care for 50 animals.