Fora Space, creators of premium working coworking spaces and private office environments that help maximise productivity, has achieved Planet Mark certification.

This is Fora’s second year of business carbon footprint reporting and Planet Mark certification. As part of certifying to Planet Mark, the company has set a target to reduce emissions by 5% annually.

Over the next year, the company will continue to reduce its carbon emissions and share its journey with its community to inspire others. By being more strategic about its environmental responsibility, the company will be able to significantly increase its positive impact and hope to encourage continual improvements within its community.

Through Planet Mark, Fora Space has protected an area of endangered rainforest thanks to Cool Earth; a charity working alongside rainforest communities to halt deforestation. Its pledge through Cool Earth goes directly towards supporting the Asháninka community in Central Peru.

It has also helped the Eden Project – an educational charity building connections with each other and the living world, exploring how we can work together towards a better future.

Fora is reimagining the office experience by creating work environments that are beautiful, professional and flexible. Fora are also committed to sustainability. Beyond the pledge to reduce its carbon footprint annually, Fora has held events on net zero and biophilic design in its office spaces, creating a space for industry leaders to educate and share sustainable ideas. The company also offers sustainable solutions to its occupants so that they can conduct their work in a low-carbon environment.

Sustainable office spaces have a number of beneficial impacts on their occupants, as well as the local and global environment. First, environmentally friendly office solutions often have positive impacts on energy and utility costs. However, beyond the financial impact, sustainable offices designed with social wellbeing in mind have positive impacts on air quality, which can lead to improvements in occupant comfort and even productivity – a healthy office is both a happy and productive one.

Fora are determined to be fully accountable for how their business impacts the planet. They understand that small changes grow meaningful results and local action has universal effects. 

Fora are defining new ambitions that will push them to go further and faster, drive progress on social and environmental issues, and create a world where we can all thrive. Their clear sustainability approach helps them to understand risks and opportunities to create a real-world impact on the economy and on society.  

Their impact plan focuses on 5 key areas of their business to identify where positive change can be most effective. A glimpse into their innovative practice includes: 

Houses – sourcing ethical construction and design, renewable energy, zero waste to landfill policy. 

Residents – promoting sustainable health and wellbeing by partnering with cycle companies for a low carbon commute, the biophilic design brings the benefits of nature indoors. 

Communities – Fora partners with local community personalities, artists, planting specialists, pop-ups, chefs, schools and collaborators. Their beehive project brings nature to the city with hives on top of Fora Spitalfields and supports wild pollinators through insect hotels and wildflower planting across the Houses. 

People – Fora provide a training package to include sustainability, ensuring policies, goals and successes are brought to life through action, staff understanding and commitment to work together to be part of the solution. 

Business – transparent and honest business practice is supported by measuring, recording and reporting carbon emissions to motivate further progress and to set goals to improve year on year. 

Fora used 2021 to listen to their Residents and communities. They learnt about new processes and technologies, partnered with experts that set challenges, empowered their staff to go further, and set long-term goals that are embedded into their business plans. 

A significant part of their sustainability journey is the Terra{FORA} event series. A journey towards sustainability is not only a bold statement of Fora’s commitment to the environment but a celebration of the power to effect change. The campaign unites sustainability experts, Residents and the public to discuss ideas, tools and resources that enable climate action in businesses and lives. At the first event in May 2021, they welcomed experts from Planet Mark, Cundall and NDY to discuss the company’s commitment to Net Zero Carbon by 2030, encouraging other businesses to do the same. Other Terra{FORA} events included ‘Biodiversity and Beekeeping’, ‘Biophilic Design’ and ‘Creatively building a sustainable future. 

Fora continue to be a role model for integrating sustainable business strategy, strong governance, and positive impact into daily working practice, setting themselves high standards for both their client service and environmental impact. They continually challenge themselves and others to set new goals to achieve their aspirations of working together for the planet.