Why Tenant Experience Teams Invest in Sustainable Learning and Gifting

Tenant experience teams are increasingly investing in sustainability education—through activations, workshops, “lunch and learns,” and sustainable gifting—because modern tenants are demanding more than just great spaces: they expect leadership in environmental responsibility, wellbeing, and community. Businesses like International Towers, JLL, and Lendlease are at the forefront, recognising that engaging occupants around sustainability yields tangible and intangible benefits for both organisations and their communities.

Why Education and Engagement Matter

Tenant engagement programs that focus on sustainability deliver value on several levels:

• Enhancing environmental awareness: Regular workshops and activations help tenants understand their direct impact on the environment —such as reducing energy and water use, improving recycling, and supporting green initiatives.
• Building a sense of community: Group activities—like sustainability challenges, educational sessions, and collaborative events—foster communication and cohesion among tenants, leading to long-lasting cultural change both inside and outside the workplace.
• Driving measurable impact: Evidence from industry case studies shows that effective, ongoing education can reduce resource consumption and operating costs while increasing tenant satisfaction and loyalty.
• Influencing property value: Investor-driven metrics and sustainability ratings, like NABERS and GRESB, increasingly measure the effectiveness of tenant engagement and sustainable operations, tying these programs directly to asset value and long-term resilience.

Sustainable Gifting: Beyond the Usual

Sustainable gifting—using products that are refillable, reusable, or crafted from natural materials—offers tenants a powerful, tactile reminder of collective commitments. For example, gifts like CandleXchange’s refillable, locally made candles not only delight recipients but serve as ongoing conversations about better ways to consume and reduce waste. They demonstrate that sustainability is woven into everyday experience, not just a one-off topic.

Activations, Workshops, and “Lunch and Learns”: Practical Examples

• Interactive activations: Pop-up events where tenants can engage with suppliers or participate in hands-on sustainable activities drive immediate interest and deeper learning.
• Workshops: Focused sessions (for example circular economy principles) enable skill-building and support real behaviour change.
• “Lunch and Learn” sessions: These informal gatherings make education accessible and inclusive, allowing for open discussion, Q&A, and peer-to-peer inspiration.

Real-World Case Studies

• International Towers (Barangaroo): International Towers in Sydney are recognised for pioneering tenant engagement around sustainability, using ongoing programming that includes workshops, challenges, and themed events to keep the conversation alive year-round. These initiatives have helped tenants achieve higher sustainability performance and contribute to the precinct’s overall green ratings.
• JLL: Across their managed sites, JLL promotes sustainability education via custom activations and content series, encouraging both tenants and staff to adopt sustainable habits. Their approach is evidence-driven, often tracking reductions in energy, waste, or water use linked to specific engagement periods.
• Lendlease: Lendlease properties stand out for their integrated sustainability programming—which combines green building operations with tenant education, regular feedback loops, and highly-visible sustainability events and installations. These not only build awareness but empower tenants to contribute ideas and shape the sustainability culture themselves.

The Outcomes: More than Green Buildings

Investing in sustainability education does more than “tick the box.” It creates more resilient, attractive workplaces and communities by:

• Reducing operating costs and emissions over the life of the building.
• Boosting tenant satisfaction, retention, and wellbeing through a sense of shared purpose.
• Supporting ESG goals and property value by demonstrating leadership in environmental and social responsibility.

Tenant Experience teams who prioritise this approach are building the workplaces of the future—where every day is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a measurable difference.