Plant-based.space is a conceptual ESG framework tool developed by Monomoy for use by our clients.  It is designed to simplify a set of forward-looking objectives and then amplify these through highly effective, resonant actions.

Thanks to the rise of net zero carbon and ESG reporting, there has been more disruption to construction and real estate in the last three years than in the previous three decades. But in many respects, this was not unexpected, nor unpredictable. For years, consumers have been questioning the ingredients and impacts of other products, seeking to know more about (and reward) items that were good for themselves and the environment.

After a long period of relative stability (characterised by uninspiring green building certifications and command-style regulation) there is now an emerging drive to deliver places that better appeal to a wider, more sustainably-savvy audience.   

Concepts like “organic,” “free from,” and – perhaps most intriguing of all – “plant-based” have been used by companies to create alternative products with large markets, loyal consumers, and big profits. It is perhaps little wonder, given their success elsewhere, that such terms are entering the lexicon of green buildings and the built environment more generally.

Why “plant-based”?

We like “plant-based” not just because it is well known (which it is) and highly valued (that, too), but also because it communicates a goodness you know without asking. At a time when net zero carbon and healthy buildings are atop occupier lists, buildings that can align with a concept that implies both have a mainstream winning product and marketing strategy.

As we enter a period defined by “zero” (carbon, water, waste, plastics … you name it, the list is only going to grow), we think nature sets the example. After all, plants have been at this (by design and for free) since the beginning of time.

The five things that plants do — use 100% renewables, detoxify the environment, consume water carefully, nourish human health and biodegrade without harm — are a masterclass on the future of ESG.

And the five things that plants need — natural light, fresh air, clean water, organic materials, and open space — read like an A-list occupier wish list. That’s not just us talking, it’s also the Harvard Business Review.

Simple “Stickiness” 

The idea of a plant-based approach to buildings is not new. “Biophilic” (or more nature-driven) design has been around for decades. “Biomimicry” is another term —again decades old — that has been used to define how inanimate objects (like buildings) can more sustainably perform operations by copying natural principles, such as the circular economy.

Plant-based is an emerging concept but we think it has several advantages over biophilic or biomimicry – not least of which is in the name. Biophilia and biomimicry are derived from science and its more technical literature and are not immediately apparent to a wide audience. Plant-based on the other hand, is one of the world’s fastest-growing concepts. 

An ESG strategy based on plants is not as far-fetched as it may initially sound. Ideas that have been at the fringe, including net zero carbon and wellness, are now top selling points for buildings. We believe that a plant-based approach is the next idea in real estate to move from theoretical concept to mainstream acceptance.