Biophilic design centered on houseplants is expected to become the new corporate standard. This article brings together institutional developments, research data, case studies and an investor perspective to present the overall picture of the green economy.
This article examines why workplace greenery is becoming an investment theme now, from institutional and market perspectives. It introduces the trend toward the value of greenery receiving institutional support: the 2024 amendment to the Urban Green Space Conservation Act made the creation of high-quality green spaces by companies eligible for evaluation and certification, the Regional Biodiversity Enhancement Act, which legislated Nature Symbiosis Sites, took effect in 2025, and GREEN×EXPO 2027 is scheduled to open in Yokohama in 2027.
Biophilic design is characterized by its focus on 14 patterns, including plants, natural elements and natural analogues in spaces, and the qualities of spaces, as well as its collaboration with a wide range of industries, including lighting, acoustics and architectural design. The article explains its relationship with wellness architecture and green buildings, and describes how design concepts that balance greenery with human health are attracting the attention of companies and real estate owners.
From the perspective of research data, empirical studies by the University of Exeter and others have found that workplaces with plants improve satisfaction and concentration, with productivity increasing by approximately 15%. A 2015 Human Spaces report found that well-being was 15% higher, productivity 6% higher and creativity 15% higher. Japanese case studies by Mitsui Designtec, Kawasaki City and Misawa Home are also introduced, highlighting the impact of plant quality and placement on outcomes.
Reasons for companies to invest in greenery include increasing employees’ desire to visit offices as their role changes, strengthening human capital management and competition for talent, enhancing real estate value and meeting evaluation criteria such as GRESB, as well as responding to institutional data disclosure requirements. The article indicates that greenery is increasingly being viewed not as a cost, but as part of asset building.