Real estate was estimated to have been responsible for almost 40% of total carbon emissions in 2018. No wonder then that a very large number of developers are applying for green certification of their properties while employers take a closer look at a company’s sustainable development strategy. This is becoming increasingly important as companies now see their commitment to environmental protection as a key aspect in their operations, and which employees themselves are paying attention to.
"Although the topic of progressive climate change is temporarily in the shadow of the coronavirus, 2021 will see employers in Poland becoming even more interested in sustainability. Poland is no exception. And that is, among other factors, because of the home office. The months we have spent at home have translated into our growing awareness of environmental protection. Companies have been quicker to implement digital workflows, and consumers have been less likely to travel by car and more inclined to make smarter purchases. This trend can be seen by consumers’ increasing support local suppliers and brands. Therefore, especially younger age groups of employees expect their employers to be more sensitive to environmental aspects. As far as the office is concerned, sustainability in the workplace should be taken into account when preparing the office concept, both in the case of rearranging the space and choosing a new company headquarters,
explains Dominika Oleksa, Senior Consultant, Workplace Advisory, JLL
So, what can companies do to become more sustainable and prepare for the post-pandemic reality?
Therefore, it is worthwhile for companies planning to move, to map out the commuting routes of their team and potential employees. Based on this, the most optimal location can be chosen that will save employees the time it takes to get to the office. And of course, shorter journeys mean lower greenhouse gas emissions,
points out Maciej Traczyk, Senior Consultant, Tenant Representation, JLL
For many months, companies have been struggling with doubts about the role of offices in the new post-COVID reality. Home office working has undoubtedly proven to employers that working from home doesn’t affect efficiency or business continuity. However, this mode of work does not, in the long run, address the needs related to developing and maintaining bonds between employees, the sense of belonging to an organisation or building a team identity. Therefore, in this changed reality, the role of offices will be crucial and focused on providing employees with comfortable conditions for teamwork, meetings and knowledge exchange. The introduction of a hybrid work model combining working from the office with working from home will become our daily routine and a good compromise, which supports both our productivity and our ability to maintain a strong organisational culture. Although working from home is just fine when it comes to individual work, in the case of more complex tasks or ordinary daily interactions, isolation from the rest of the company can be a frustrating and tiring experience,
adds Magdalena Bytniewska, Change Management Senior Consultant, JLL
In all three cases, ingenuity is key: in the first case it’s all about the smart use of a building standard, in the other two, a clever approach to reusing existing elements is the 'reduce, reuse, recycle' principle. Both built-in elements - lighting fixtures, floor boxes, ceiling tiles, installations - but also movable furniture can be reused. In a recent project carried out by our team, a client decided to reuse 1000 chairs by changing their upholstery to match the new office colour scheme. Another company, meanwhile, used an existing furniture substructure when replacing 800 desks - the legs of the desks hardly deteriorate at all during normal use. We work with subcontractors who, apart from replacing the upholstery, are also able to refresh plastic and metal furniture components, and broken pieces are disassembled for spare parts. It's also worth considering the carbon footprint when selecting finishing materials and other furnishings - we often rely on local manufacturers. These are examples of an economic and ecological approach to arranging our offices,
adds Anna Rębecka, Senior Creative Architect, Tétris
Flexibility means movable furniture and design elements that can be easily rearranged according to the needs of employees using the space in line with the Activity Based Workplace concept. Companies are also trying to move away from assigning desks to specific employees or teams, so that they can decide for themselves which areas and parts of the office they want to use on any given day or week. In order to ensure such a level of flexibility, it is necessary to introduce appropriate technical solutions in advance,
explains Dominika Oleksa
It is also important for real estate players to adopt holistic strategies aimed at decarbonising the sector. Last year, our company committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions in all 460 buildings occupied by JLL by 2030,
says Dominika Oleksa
Once again the collaboration aspect is proving to be the most important one. With our clients, however, we see a great openness to change. Over the past year, we have advised on a variety of projects in workspaces, totalling 130,000 sq m, which aimed to adapt offices to the 'new normal' and sustainability principles. So there is a good chance that our offices will be greener,
concludes Dominika Oleksa
