Why ESG data is driving the next wave of workplace relocations
ESG is becoming increasingly central to both how businesses are judged and how they operate. Once seen as a compliance-driven exercise or a corporate social responsibility add-on, it’s now at the heart of strategic decision-making. Nowhere is this more evident than in how companies are reimagining their office footprint in the wake of the pandemic, as Jennifer Harvey, CEO, Crown Worldwide Group, explains.
As organisations grapple with hybrid work, rising stakeholder expectations, and the pressing demands of climate change, the role of ESG data is evolving at rapid speed. No longer a tick-box exercise, ESG data has become a powerful lens through which companies are making critical decisions about where and how they operate.
From location to impact: ESG as a site selection tool
Office relocation is no longer just about square footage and cost per desk – instead, it’s about aligning onsite workspace with purpose, people, and planet. Historically, corporate real property decisions were driven by cost efficiency and logistical convenience. While those factors remain important, the criteria for selecting office locations are increasingly expanding to include ESG metrics, many of which are becoming non-negotiable for forward-thinking organisations.
Companies are now evaluating potential sites through a broader lens: What is the building’s energy efficiency rating? Is it powered by renewable energy? Does it offer access to sustainable transportation options such as public travel or cycling infrastructure? Does it promote inclusivity and accessibility? How does the move impact the surrounding community?
We are seeing a surge in businesses using ESG scorecards to assess potential sites, integrating data points such as carbon footprint, walkability, local green spaces, and socio-economic demographics. These insights help ensure that relocation decisions contribute to long-term sustainability goals and brand equity.
Real-world innovation through ESG-driven relocations
Take, for example, Crown Workspace’s work with a UK government department’s agile working rollout across three sites in Manchester, Solihull, and Leeds. The project involved relocations of 220 staff over a 12-month period and incorporated multiple ESG-conscious elements: refurbishment and reconfiguration of existing furniture, use of new and refurbished furniture, and WEEE and materials recycling for clearance services.
Crown provided detailed environmental impact reporting to track and fulfil sustainability goals, illustrating practical application of ESG data in site selection and workplace transformation – emphasising reuse, emissions reduction, and transparency in environmental impact.
Another real case example is the delivery of a full relocation and clearance for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), moving approximately 2,800 staff from their City of London office to Canary Wharf. Importantly, the project incorporated sustainable solutions for the disposal of furniture and IT assets, reducing waste through clearance, reuse, and recycling aligned with ESG principles. This case exemplifies how relocation decisions, when guided by ESG data, can both support operational objectives and improve environmental and social outcomes.
This has all been facilitated through Crown’s Circulate Programme, which places an emphasis on extending the lifecycle of assets through a circular economy model. One aspect of this involves auditing and QR-tagging of furniture assets, aiding customers in decision making around reuse, refurbishment, or recycling. In 2024 alone, over 27,000 items of office furniture and IT equipment were fully refurbished at our Renew Centres, with secure data eradication for IT assets, saving an estimated 2,000 tonnes of CO₂e.
A rising tide of stakeholder expectations
It’s not just progressive leadership teams driving this shift; investors, employees, and boards are increasingly demanding it. Institutional investors want to see ESG principles not just on paper, but embedded into operations and decision-making. Employees, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are prioritising companies whose values align with their own, including how and where they choose to operate.
In addition, boards are recognising that the physical workplace sends a powerful message. The decision to relocate an office, and the ESG metrics guiding that choice, is increasingly seen as a barometer of a company’s values, culture, and long-term vision.
For many organisations, this means ESG must permeate decisions at every level, from supply chain management to vendor selection to the buildings they occupy. Office relocations offer a high-visibility, high-impact opportunity to actively implement greener initiatives.
ESG as a catalyst for innovation and value creation
We’ve seen firsthand how companies that treat ESG as a strategic driver, not just a regulatory requirement, are emerging as leaders in their industries. These organisations view ESG data not as a constraint, but as a catalyst for creativity, differentiation, and growth.
In practice, this could mean using occupancy sensors and AI to optimise energy consumption, choosing locations with regenerative design, or leveraging relocation as a way to pilot new workplace concepts that support mental health and inclusion. The data not only guides smarter decisions but unveils entirely new avenues for innovation.
Moreover, the long-term ROI of ESG-informed relocations is becoming increasingly compelling. Beyond reduced operational costs and regulatory risk, companies benefit from stronger employer branding, increased employee engagement, and enhanced resilience in the face of future disruptions – be it climate-related, social, or economic.
Embedding ESG in the future of work
As companies rethink how and where work happens, it’s clear the office has taken on a new role, not just as a location, but as a tool for driving culture and connection. In this new paradigm, ESG data is the compass that ensures this asset drives value in every dimension.
Relocation, when guided by robust ESG insights, becomes an opportunity to reimagine what the workplace can be: A hub for innovation, a signal of corporate integrity, and a platform for sustainability and equity.
However, this requires intention. It requires organisations to move beyond passive data collection and toward active integration of ESG into real property strategy. It means engaging cross-functional teams – from HR to sustainability to finance – to align on what truly matters. And it means working with partners who understand how to translate ESG goals into tangible action during every step of the relocation journey.
The road ahead
The future belongs to companies that see ESG not as a box to check, but as a guiding principle for how they grow, lead, and operate. Indeed, it now must form part of an organisation’s overarching strategy across its entire operations, one that reflects a company’s committed investment in responsible business practices.
As office spaces are reshaped, reduced, or redefined, businesses that are embedding ESG into the DNA of their workplace strategy are not only meeting expectations, but setting new standards.
Once a purely logistical move, office relocation is now a defining act of leadership. To ensure we now treat it as such is crucial.
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