WELL Building Institute signs up for UN compact

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has signed up to the United Nations Global Compact, the voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible business practices. The UN Global Compact sets out ten principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. IWBI’s WELL Building Standard, a rating system for the creation of buildings and communities that aim to enhance human health and wellbeing, identifies in its standard how each of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are supported by WELL’s work. To date, over 2,100 projects have registered or certified nearly 400 million square feet of space.

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the UN Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with the 10 universal principles. Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact guides and supports the global business community in advancing UN goals and values through responsible corporate practices. It emphasises collaboration and innovation among its more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 70 Local Networks.

“Human health is inextricably linked to environmental and socio-economic vitality, said Rachel Gutter, IWBI president. “WELL’s alignment with the SDGs reinforces the powerful opportunity we all have to catalyse our buildings and communities as mechanisms to improve the health of both people and the planet.”

Main image: Symantec’s WELL Building certified offices