In 2025, sustainability is no longer optional for businesses—it’s a quality benchmark. With Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies becoming a priority for companies in NYC, and worldwide, office buildings must adopt green strategies to stay ahead of the curve. One highly effective and visually striking solution is the integration of living walls into offices. These green installations contribute to sustainability, employee well-being, and corporate responsibility, helping businesses meet ESG targets while creating a healthier workspace.
Environmental Benefits: Meeting the ‘E’ in ESG
NYC’s ambitious climate goals, require commercial buildings to reduce carbon emissions and operate more sustainably. Living walls offer a natural, practical way to support these sustainability efforts:
- Improved Air Quality: Living walls absorb CO2 and filter pollutants, helping businesses create cleaner indoor environments. In fact, a NASA study found that certain plants can remove up to 87% of air toxins in just 24 hours (Wolverton, 1989).
- Energy Efficiency: By providing insulation, green walls reduce temperature fluctuations and lower the need for excessive heating and cooling. Our analysis predicts significant energy savings in commercial buildings.
- Stormwater Management: Exterior living walls help absorb rainwater, reducing urban runoff and easing the burden on NYC’s sewer system. This is a key factor in meeting green infrastructure requirements.
Social Benefits: Enhancing Employee Well-Being
The ‘S’ in ESG represents social responsibility, and this includes creating a healthier, more productive work environment. Living walls contribute to employee wellness in several ways:
- Reducing Stress and Boosting Productivity: Exposure to plants has been linked to reduced stress, lesser sick leaves, and higher productivity (Bringslimark et al., 2007). This makes green walls a simple yet effective way to promote mental well-being in corporate offices.
- Better Acoustics: Green walls absorb sound, reducing noise pollution in open-plan offices—an increasing concern in modern workplace design. This feature can contribute to more peaceful surroundings for employees – reducing stress and fatigue.
Governance Benefits: Supporting Corporate Responsibility
The ‘G’ in ESG covers governance, which includes ethical business practices and adherence to sustainability policies. Living walls can help businesses demonstrate their commitment to ESG principles:
- Achieving Green Certifications: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and WELL certifications are increasingly important for NYC offices. Incorporating living walls earns points toward both certifications, making buildings more attractive to eco-conscious businesses, employees, and investors.
- ESG Reporting & Compliance: With the SEC considering mandatory ESG disclosures, companies must report their sustainability initiatives. Installing a green wall provides a tangible, measurable way to showcase corporate responsibility.
- Attracting Investors & Tenants: ESG-focused investors prioritize buildings with sustainability features. A 2022 CBRE report found that ~80% of corporate tenants prefer leasing space in buildings with strong ESG credentials.
The Future of Green Workspaces in NYC
With stricter sustainability regulations and a growing emphasis on ESG goals, living walls have become a strategic investment for office building in NYC. Companies that integrate living walls into their offices gain a competitive edge by improving employee wellness, reducing operational costs, and meeting sustainability targets.
Therefore, for NYC businesses looking to align with ESG standards, a living wall is a smart, impactful addition.
At Eco Brooklyn, we specialize in designing and installing high-performance living walls customized for corporate spaces. Contact us today to bring sustainability into your workspace!
References
- Wolverton, B. C. (1989). Interior landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement. NASA. Retrieved from https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930072988
- Bringslimark, T., Hartig, T., & Patil, G. G. (2007). Psychological benefits of indoor plants in workplaces. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 27(3), 235-245. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277999269_Psychological_Benefits_of_Indoor_Plants_in_Workplaces_Putting_Experimental_Results_into_Context
- CBRE. (2022). The rising importance of ESG in commercial real estate. Retrieved from https://www.cbre.com/insights/books/strengthening-value-through-esg/value-of-environmental-building-features