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The Nordic countries are rooted in their cultural values and have shown environmental consciousness long before it became a global phenomenon. Nordic companies are no different as they too emphasise sustainability and a deep connection to nature. According to Corporate Knights’ Global 100 ranking (2024) of the most sustainable companies in the world, two Nordic companies (from Denmark) find their place in the top 10.
Since a deep connection to nature helps humans thrive and be happy, perhaps it’s a contributing factor to Finland being ranked at the top among the world’s happiest countries in 2024 for the 7th year in a row. Other Nordic countries that follow it on the list of top 10 are Denmark (at number 2), Iceland (at number 3), Sweden (at number 4), and Norway (at number 7) respectively.
If you own a Nordic company or are among the leadership, understanding the intrinsic relationship between nature, productivity, and happiness becomes imperative. If you have been thinking about integrating nature into your workspace, here are three ways to do it.
1. Invest in a Biophilic Design
At the core of biophilic design is a human-centric approach with the goal of improving people’s connection to nature and natural processes in the buildings they live and work in. By enhancing the human-nature connection, such a design can reduce stress, inspire creativity, and boost productivity and well-being.
You can maximise natural light, integrate plants, and incorporate the use of organic materials into your workspace as part of the biophilic design. From having large windows that let in adequate sunlight and offer a view to using glass partitions and skylights, maximising exposure to natural light can boost the mood of your employees.
Use of reflective surfaces like mirrors or light colours to bounce the light around, small water features (say, indoor pond, wall-mounted waterfall, or fountain), and natural soundscapes (like flowing water, raindrops, or birdsong) are other ways to create a calming workspace.
Introducing greenery indoors with plants (especially helpful if they have air-purifying properties), green roofs and living walls are other ways to embrace a biophilic design. Additionally, you can integrate natural materials into the interior design like stone, wood, bamboo, clay, rattan, and more to create a warm and cosy setting with an organic feel.
2. Encourage the Use of Outdoor Spaces
If you can create or have rooftop gardens and outdoor work areas, encouraging your employees to use them for meetings, informal work, or relaxation can help them get close to nature. This can be a welcome break from staying indoors, shackled to their desks, and staring at their computer screens for long hours.
If your workspace is in the vicinity of walking trails or paths, you could even encourage your employees to stay fit by taking a mid-day break to weave in a fitness activity in their routine that takes them closer to nature.
Hosting nature-themed workshops or events, outdoor wellness activities like meditation, yoga, or hiking, and supporting green initiatives like energy conservation and recycling are other effective ways to embrace nature in your workspace.
3. Adopt Sustainability Practices
Nordic businesses have a long tradition of supporting and advancing the goals of sustainable development. Their strong commitment to sustainability stems from their cultural respect for nature. As a company leader, you can further this by adopting various sustainability practices.
To minimise the environmental impact of your business operations, you can implement eco-friendly policies. Practices like the use of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies, and efficient fixtures and landscaping for water conservation can help.
Encouraging the use of sustainable materials and products is another way to bring your workspace closer to nature. From using natural or nature-inspired materials to selecting a series of calming colours, organic patterns, and natural textiles that imitate nature’s soothing properties, you can use several subtle ways to embrace nature.
Taking steps to reduce waste and promoting sustainable commuting options (such as cycling or choosing public transport) are other practices worth considering.
There isn’t any single way to become inherently sustainable. Rather, the combination of various approaches and practices can help you create a sustainable workspace that reflects an innate connection with nature.
Final Words
Investing in biophilic design, encouraging the use of outdoor spaces, and adopting sustainability practices are three effective ways to embrace nature in your Nordic workspace.
Once you have got these aspects under control, you can reach out to us at InHunt World if you need help with getting the right talent on board to make the most of your nature-infused workspaces.
This article was written by InHunt World