Businesses planning to adopt a holistic sustainable transformation strategy must first implement small and gradual changes to achieve a seamless shift in their practices and service, architecture and interior design experts shared at the inaugural Lamudi Roundtable, co-presented by IKEA for Business, held last Friday, November 17, 2023, at Conrad Manila, Pasay City.
Dr. Raquel Florendo, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, noted that business entities must first define what sustainability means for the company and look inward at the current sustainable practices already laid in place.
“Part of the sustainable initiatives that the company can have is to have an advocacy program that will also infuse the community. The engagement is such that it supports the mission-vision component of the company and where they want to contribute. Your company has to define it based on your perspective and your priorities,” Florendo said.
On the other hand, Mari Gomez, IKEA for Business Country Manager in the Philippines, mentioned that companies who want to be more sustainable can focus on the basic and easier steps they can immediately take.
Practices like waste segregation and resource conservation are some of the small ways to initiate a sustainable transformation at the grassroots level, she added.
Future-proofing Business Spaces
With the knowledge and understanding of entrepreneurs on how to keep their businesses afloat during the height of the pandemic, the focus now turns to future-proofing these spaces and making various elements functional.
Gomez shared how business owners have been accommodating in terms of pushing through with certain practices in the post-pandemic era. “Business spaces or offices [approach us to design] areas for relaxation for their employees. They would upgrade their staff restaurants, and they will also have collaboration areas,” she added.
In addition, pet-friendly areas in business spaces are becoming the norm as the design landscape moves forward.
“Pets have been proven to keep people calm, and there are even licensed animals that can help disabled individuals. Having more pet-friendly places definitely allows for more inclusivity,” Michelle Amarnani, Director for Business Development for Corporate Offices of T1 Project Services said.
“There’s a push to bring elements from the home back to the office to make the office more inviting, warm, and comfortable. At the same time, [it is also important to strike] that balance between having focused areas and having areas that are specialized for learning,” she added.
Educating More Entrepreneurs to Invest in Conscious Materials
Thorough effort is needed to let more entrepreneurs know the advantages of investing in sustainable materials and products in their respective businesses.
“We have to invest more time to [let company owners] find out what sustainable products are [available] in the market. And in the case of IKEA for Business, we’re able to steer clients to the right products,” Gomez said.
Sourcing wood for manufacturing that is certified and regulated by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an example of actively choosing sustainable materials for a business, she added.
IKEA for Business is the Swedish home furnishing brand’s sales channel for business customers, that offers interior planning and product installation services.
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