Daily CSR https://www.dailycsr.com/ 2026-04-16T10:27:29+02:00 Webzine Maker https://www.dailycsr.com/favicon.ico IWBI Report Shows Healthy Buildings Drive Productivity and Economic Gains 2025-09-22T12:33:00+02:00 https://www.dailycsr.com/IWBI-Report-Shows-Healthy-Buildings-Drive-Productivity-and-Economic-Gains_a5125.html https://www.dailycsr.com/photo/art/imagette/91251152-64181346.jpg 2025-09-22T12:29:00+02:00 Debashish Mukherjee IWBI Report Shows Healthy Buildings Drive Productivity and Economic Gains
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has unveiled the second edition of its influential report, Investing in Health Pays Back: The Business Case for Healthy Buildings and Healthy Organizations. This updated publication consolidates the most extensive body of evidence so far that demonstrates how prioritizing health and well-being leads to measurable financial returns.

The new edition significantly expands on the original, with more than double the number of studies and references. It incorporates academic research, industry insights, and practical case studies to provide a comprehensive answer to a critical question: how can future projects be designed to improve human health while generating strong economic outcomes? The findings aim to guide policymakers, real estate professionals, and investors by showing that prioritizing people’s well-being is not only ethically sound but also one of the smartest financial strategies available.

“We’ve compiled the most compelling global data connecting healthy buildings with human performance and well-being into one essential resource,” explained Rachel Hodgdon, IWBI President and CEO. “By equipping investors, developers, architects, engineers, and advocates with the insights and evidence they need, we’re laying the groundwork for a healthier tomorrow.”

Highlights from the report include:
  • Research from the McKinsey Health Institute suggests that investing in employee well-being could add nearly $12 trillion to the global economy and lift worldwide GDP by as much as 12%.
  • Studies led by Harvard indicate that better indoor ventilation can boost productivity by up to $7,500 per employee annually.
  • Analyses from MIT and the University of Cambridge show that buildings with health certifications command rental premiums of 4%–7%.
  • WELL Certified buildings consistently outperform non-certified ones in employee satisfaction, reporting higher approval in areas such as access to natural light (18%), acoustic privacy (17%), connection to nature (16%), lighting quality (12%), thermal comfort (11%), and air quality and movement (10%).
  • Compared to occupants of green-certified spaces, people in WELL Certified buildings are 39% more likely to express satisfaction with their environment.
Dr. Jason Hartke, IWBI’s Executive Vice President for External Affairs and Global Advocacy, and lead author of the report, emphasized: “This report arms IWBI’s global network with the data needed to accelerate adoption of healthy building practices. The evidence is clear—health-focused investments yield measurable benefits in productivity, talent retention, real estate performance, and resilience.”

The report also underscores the growing role of social sustainability in finance. Health-related indicators are increasingly shaping sustainable investment vehicles such as green, social, and sustainability-linked bonds. To date, WELL has been integrated into 13 types of financial instruments and has been referenced in regulatory guidelines, sustainability frameworks, and case studies across 29 countries on five continents.

Notable perspectives from experts include:
  • Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States: “Since people spend about 90% of their lives indoors, buildings must be central to delivering wellness and scaling positive health outcomes, while also offering economic value for organizations that embrace these proven strategies.”
  • Professor Alessandro Miani, University of Milan and President of SIMA: “Investing in healthy buildings and organizations has become one of the most effective business decisions available today. Beyond protecting health, it boosts property values, drives productivity, and strengthens talent acquisition and retention.”
  • Rick Fedrizzi, IWBI Executive Chairman: “Because people represent nearly 90% of organizational costs, focusing on healthier environments produces measurable returns in productivity, satisfaction, and workforce stability—turning intuition into evidence-based strategy.”
  • Kay Sargent, author of Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: “Employers are beginning to realize that embracing neurodiverse talent is not only inclusive but also provides a major competitive edge.”

]]> IWBI Report Shows Healthy Buildings Boost Productivity and Economic Value 2025-09-18T16:16:00+02:00 https://www.dailycsr.com/IWBI-Report-Shows-Healthy-Buildings-Boost-Productivity-and-Economic-Value_a5117.html https://www.dailycsr.com/photo/art/imagette/91183939-64149872.jpg 2025-09-18T16:15:00+02:00 Debashish Mukherjee IWBI Report Shows Healthy Buildings Boost Productivity and Economic Value
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has unveiled the second edition of its influential report, Investing in Health Pays Back: The Business Case for Healthy Buildings and Healthy Organizations. This updated publication serves as a comprehensive resource, presenting the most extensive body of research to date that connects health and well-being investments with measurable financial returns.

The latest edition expands significantly on the original, with more than double the research references. It combines academic findings, industry data, and case studies to address a central question for today’s practitioners: how can future projects be designed to improve human health while generating substantial economic value? The evidence also makes a strong appeal to policymakers, investors, and real estate leaders that prioritizing people’s health is not only ethical but also a sound financial strategy.

“We’ve consolidated the most compelling global evidence linking healthier buildings to improved well-being and performance into a single, practical resource,” said Rachel Hodgdon, IWBI’s President and CEO. “Whether you’re an investor, developer, architect, or advocate, this report provides the data and insights needed to advance healthier environments and strengthen the value of WELL.”

Key Insights from the Report
  • A McKinsey Health Institute study suggests that investments in comprehensive employee health could create nearly $12 trillion in global economic value and raise worldwide GDP by up to 12%.
  • Research led by Harvard shows that better ventilation can boost employee productivity, valued at as much as $7,500 per worker annually.
  • Studies from MIT and the University of Cambridge found that certified healthy buildings achieve rental premiums of 4–7%.
  • WELL Certified workplaces show higher levels of employee satisfaction compared to non-certified spaces, with notable improvements in access to natural light (+18%), acoustical privacy (+17%), connection to the outdoors (+16%), lighting (+12%), thermal comfort (+11%), and air quality/movement (+10%).
  • Occupants in WELL Certified buildings are 39% more likely to report overall satisfaction than those in standard green-certified spaces.
“With this research, we’re giving IWBI’s global community the evidence they need to accelerate the adoption of healthier building strategies,” said Dr. Jason Hartke, IWBI’s Executive Vice President for External Affairs and Global Advocacy. “The results show that prioritizing health directly benefits productivity, retention, property value, and operational strength.”

The report also highlights the growing significance of social sustainability. It documents how health-focused metrics are increasingly shaping sustainable finance mechanisms such as green, social, and sustainability-linked bonds. WELL has already been included in 13 types of financial tools and integrated into sustainability frameworks, regulations, and case studies across 29 countries on five continents.

Expert Perspectives
  • Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th U.S. Surgeon General: “Since people spend about 90% of their lives indoors, buildings must be central to strategies that promote wellness and generate large-scale health benefits, alongside strong economic returns for organizations.”
  • Professor Alessandro Miani, University of Milan and President of SIMA: “Investing in healthier buildings and organizations delivers immediate and powerful benefits—protecting health, raising property values, improving productivity, and helping attract and keep top talent. It is now a business necessity.”
  • Rick Fedrizzi, Executive Chairman of IWBI: “Transforming workplaces and gathering spaces into healthier environments offers an unmatched opportunity to strengthen public health while delivering major economic gains. People represent the largest cost in any business—about 90% of expenses—so connecting healthier spaces to better outcomes provides organizations with the data to enhance human capital strategies.”
  • Kay Sargent, author of Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: “Employers are increasingly aware that supporting individuals with different ways of thinking can create significant competitive advantages.”

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