Lamudi, IKEA hold roundtable on sustainable businesses spaces
REAL ESTATE platform Lamudi hosted a roundtable discussion, co-presented by IKEA for Business, with the theme, “Redesigning Business Spaces for a More Sustainable Future” held last Nov. 17 at Conrad Manila in Pasay City.
Key speakers shared insights on revolutionizing office space, design trends, modern business models, sustainable initiatives, as well as future-proofing businesses. The panel consisted of IKEA for Business Country Head Mari Gomez, University of the Philippines Diliman Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Development Raquel Florendo, and T1 Project Services Director for Business Development for Corporate Offices Michelle Amarnani.
According to Ms. Florendo, businesses and begin turning their spaces into sustainable ones by implementing advocacy programs or practices within their operations.
“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 priorities,” Ms. Florendo said.
Ms. Gomez, meanwhile, shared that companies are seeing the positive effects in architecture and offices that are designed for collaboration, relaxation, and productivity.
“There’s a push to bring elements from 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,” Ms. Amarnani added.
Ms. Gomez also noted the need to invest in sustainable materials. IKEA, a leading Swedish home furnishing brand, is known for sourcing certified wood, ensuring businesses are using sustainable materials. Also, IKEA’s notorious selection of furnishing, be it modernizing office spaces or designing hotel rooms or retail spaces, makes the brand a stylish and cost-effective solution for its customers.
IKEA for Business is stepping up by developing green buildings, recycling waste, and producing energy-efficient materials to reduce climate impacts and at the same time promote a more sustainable lifestyle for businesses.
“We have to invest more time to 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,” Ms. Gomez said.