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Investing for Health

Elevating human health, well-being and equity across the investment landscape

More than ever before, investors, regulators and organizations are prioritizing non-financial indicators such as human and social capital criteria, to better understand risk and return, and demonstrate value and impact. This new investment and regulatory landscape is imperative to achieving IWBI’s mission to transform health, well-being and equity with our people-first approach.

Through Investing for Health we’re highlighting how health and organizational performance are intrinsically linked. By joining together with capital market influencers,regulators, sustainability framework setters and leading corporations, we can elevate human health, well-being and equity and demonstrate the materiality of health to an organization’s bottom line.

Emerging Trends

  • Sustainable investing is maturing and moving mainstream


    Sustainable investing continues to gain prominence among investors who demand more from corporations. Younger demographics, including more than 70% of millennials, increasingly use ESG factors to guide their investment decisions.²

  • Global ESG regulatory paradigms are evolving


    Successful integration of health into sustainable investing frameworks requires a standardized process for measuring and reporting on an organization's commitment to and impact on human health.

  • Increasing market demand demonstrates human and social capital leadership


    While the investment community has historically failed to acknowledge the materiality of health to organizations, it is increasingly becoming recognized as an important component of sustainable investing frameworks like ESG.

  • Health and well-being is increasingly recognized as a competitive edge


    Research shows that when organizations support the health of their most valuable assets—people, they often experience lower turnover and burnout as well as greater productivity and engagement driving improvements for their bottom line.¹

Together we can advance the conversation about how to best bring transparency and standardization to how companies disclose their impact on health and well-being, improve accountability and encourage investments for health.

  1. Leiter M, Maslach C. Areas of Worklife Survey. Mindgarden. https://www.mindgarden.com/274-areas-of-worklife-survey. Published 2019. Accessed April 28, 2020.

  2. SRI Report on US Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing Trends. https://www.ussif.org/files/SIF_Trends_16_Executive_Summary%281%29.pdf .Published 2016. Accessed April 1, 2020.

Current Priority Areas

We’re setting out to demonstrate how WELL enhances ESG performance, by providing a transparent and standardized method to measure and report on human and social capital metrics.

  • Hong Kong Stock Exchange has released mandatory ESG reporting requirements for four environmental & eight social factors.

  • Multiple bills are pushing the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) to expand human capital management reporting.

  • Standard setting agencies, such as SASB and IIRC, are expanding human capital metrics to include worker well-being.

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Webcast series

Join us for an upcoming webcast in our content series to hear from leaders across the financial and business community about topics core to the Investing for Health landscape.

Elevating health across the investment and operating landscape

Hear from innovative leaders who are integrating human health metrics into reporting and assessment frameworks in global real estate and beyond.

View on-demand

A shifting paradigm: How health is powering better investment decisions

Hear from experts in the investing community about why health should be a key consideration in the social category of ESG, powering better investing decisions now and for the years to come.

Speaker lineup:

  • Joseph Sumberg, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs & Co
  • Laura Craft, Senior Vice President of Global Strategy and Investment, Heitman
  • Kyle Bolden, Ernst & Young Assurance Partner, Markets Leader

View on-demand

IWBI Investing for Health advisory

This esteemed group, established in 2023, is working on elevating the meaning of health, well-being and equity across organizations, communities and the investment landscape globally.

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NEW LEADERSHIP PAPER

The 12 Competencies for Measuring Health & Well-being for Human and Social Capital

Explore our research-based framework designed to help organizations measure and track the impact of their investments in health and well-being over time.

ACCESS NOW
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

GRESB and IWBI announce new partnership

In December 2023, GRESB and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) announced a strategic partnership to accelerate social sustainability by elevating reporting and disclosure capacities related to crucial social indicators, such as health, well-being, and equity.

LEARN MORE
Join us for a critical conversation about investing for health.

Voices from our community

  • “We’re already seeing a much stronger intentionality as we think about how we’re going to recover from this crisis. How do we build back better? In doing so, how do we think about a more integrated way of investing to provide better healthcare, but more importantly to provide better health across the board. Investors play a critical role in driving that future,”

    — Amit Bouri, CEO, The GIIN

  • “Major employers are investing in their workers and communities because they know it is the only way to be successful over the long term.”

    – Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Chairman of the Business Roundtable

  • “The COVID-19 issue is providing us the roadmap and the blueprint to better integrate a more systemic and holistic understanding of public health as it is relevant to the markets.”

    — Mona Naqvi, Senior Director of ESG, S&P Dow Jones Indices

  • “We’re consistently seeing—and there’s early evidence—that companies that are performing well on ESG frameworks tend to be outperforming their peers. Through a recent assessment, companies that have performed well on JUST Capital’s worker/stakeholder assessment are out performing companies in the lowest quintile by 7.3%. ”

    — Alison Omens, CSO, JUST Capital

  • “We’re already seeing a much stronger intentionality as we think about how we’re going to recover from this crisis. How do we build back better? In doing so, how do we think about a more integrated way of investing to provide better healthcare, but more importantly to provide better health across the board. Investors play a critical role in driving that future,”

    — Amit Bouri, CEO, The GIIN

  • “Major employers are investing in their workers and communities because they know it is the only way to be successful over the long term.”

    – Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Chairman of the Business Roundtable

  • “We’re consistently seeing—and there’s early evidence—that companies that are performing well on ESG frameworks tend to be outperforming their peers. Through a recent assessment, companies that have performed well on JUST Capital’s worker/stakeholder assessment are out performing companies in the lowest quintile by 7.3%. ”

    — Alison Omens, CSO, JUST Capital

  • “We’re already seeing a much stronger intentionality as we think about how we’re going to recover from this crisis. How do we build back better? In doing so, how do we think about a more integrated way of investing to provide better healthcare, but more importantly to provide better health across the board. Investors play a critical role in driving that future,”

    — Amit Bouri, CEO, The GIIN

  • “Major employers are investing in their workers and communities because they know it is the only way to be successful over the long term.”

    – Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Chairman of the Business Roundtable

  • “The COVID-19 issue is providing us the roadmap and the blueprint to better integrate a more systemic and holistic understanding of public health as it is relevant to the markets.”

    — Mona Naqvi, Senior Director of ESG, S&P Dow Jones Indices

  • “We’re consistently seeing—and there’s early evidence—that companies that are performing well on ESG frameworks tend to be outperforming their peers. Through a recent assessment, companies that have performed well on JUST Capital’s worker/stakeholder assessment are out performing companies in the lowest quintile by 7.3%. ”

    — Alison Omens, CSO, JUST Capital

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Meet the investing for health team

Collaboration and Alignment

Based on IWBI’s internal review and analysis, WELL is aligned with leading ESG and sustainability frameworks.
REGISTER NOW

Webcast series

Join us for an upcoming webcast in our content series to hear from leaders across the financial and business community about topics core to the Investing for Health landscape.
  1. 1

    Demonstrate leadership

    Metrics & materiality

    Understand the research, synergies with sustainability and leadership frameworks advancing the Investing for Health landscape.

    Register now
  2. 2

    Reduce risk

    Management & transparency

    Learn how prioritizing health and safety can minimize risk and protect an organization's supply chain, customers and employees.

    Coming soon!

  3. 3

    Improve performance

    Generating alpha & return on investment

    Discover why investing in a culture of health can enhance employee productivity, engagement and resilience.

    Coming soon!

Advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals Through WELL

  • The alignment between WELL and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reinforces the powerful opportunity we have to create a more resilient, equitable and sustainable future.

  • Eighty percent of WELL is aligned with at least one of the SDGs.

SUPPORTED BY THE WELL BUILDING STANDARD

GRESB Real Estate Assessment & WELL

Explore the alignment between WELL features and the 2022 GRESB Real Estate Assessment.

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Resources for you

  • Img

    “We are pursuing the LEED and WELL building certifications for close to 3 million square feet of office space around the globe. Key features of focus include enhancing indoor air and water quality, designing the space to maximize daylighting, increasing occupant thermal and audio comfort, and preferencing non-hazardous, recycled materials in our furniture and materials.”

    Uber 2020 ESG Report

  • Img

    “In 2020, Goldman Sachs’ 150 Outer Ring Road office in Bengaluru was the first office in our global portfolio to achieve WELL Gold Certification, and is the largest certified interior fit-out in the world. The office is designed with maximum exposure to daylight to help improve well-being, while outdoor views and biophilia-inspired artwork help to lower stress.”

    Goldman 2020 Sustainability Report

  • Img

    “WELL allows JLL to benchmark its full range of workspaces and move its offices toward one global standard, ensuring JLL offices around the world meet the highest standards of sustainability and health and well-being. Our WELL Score is a further step in our commitment to improving our work environment and amenities for all employees.”

    JLL 2020 Global Sustainability Report

  • Img

    “In 2020, Goldman Sachs’ 150 Outer Ring Road office in Bengaluru was the first office in our global portfolio to achieve WELL Gold Certification, and is the largest certified interior fit-out in the world. The office is designed with maximum exposure to daylight to help improve well-being, while outdoor views and biophilia-inspired artwork help to lower stress.”

    Goldman 2020 Sustainability Report

  • Img

    “WELL allows JLL to benchmark its full range of workspaces and move its offices toward one global standard, ensuring JLL offices around the world meet the highest standards of sustainability and health and well-being. Our WELL Score is a further step in our commitment to improving our work environment and amenities for all employees.”

    JLL 2020 Global Sustainability Report

  • Img

    “We are pursuing the LEED and WELL building certifications for close to 3 million square feet of office space around the globe. Key features of focus include enhancing indoor air and water quality, designing the space to maximize daylighting, increasing occupant thermal and audio comfort, and preferencing non-hazardous, recycled materials in our furniture and materials.”

    Uber 2020 ESG Report

  • Img

    “In 2020, Goldman Sachs’ 150 Outer Ring Road office in Bengaluru was the first office in our global portfolio to achieve WELL Gold Certification, and is the largest certified interior fit-out in the world. The office is designed with maximum exposure to daylight to help improve well-being, while outdoor views and biophilia-inspired artwork help to lower stress.”

    Goldman 2020 Sustainability Report

  • Img

    “WELL allows JLL to benchmark its full range of workspaces and move its offices toward one global standard, ensuring JLL offices around the world meet the highest standards of sustainability and health and well-being. Our WELL Score is a further step in our commitment to improving our work environment and amenities for all employees.”

    JLL 2020 Global Sustainability Report

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Press Clips


Investing in health and well-being at work doesn’t just benefit individuals; it’s also good for the bottom line


Read more →

Why the Value of Health is on the Rise






Read more →
EDUCATION & RESOURCES

You need right now

Explore education and resources that will arm you with the talking points and tools you'll need to move forward in this new normal.
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Disclaimer: The information on this website is a resource to assist customers prioritizing ESG initiatives and is no guarantee of any rating, certification, benchmarking, scoring of IWBI or any other system.

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