Enhancing Company Culture through Biodiversity in the Workplace
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Chapter 1: The Role of Biodiversity in Workplace Culture
Placemaking, when executed effectively, can engage communities and enhance lives, while also fostering biodiversity. This marks the beginning of our series on Biodiversity and the Workplace.
For a significant portion of my twenties, I held the position of Art Historian at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. During the spring of 2012, while I was cataloging items in the museum's storage, the institution unveiled a conceptual art installation titled Lines in Four Directions in Flowers by Sol LeWitt.
This site-specific piece featured over 7,000 flowers arranged in four distinct beds, each showcasing a unique color, all adhering to the artist’s specifications. The design, carried out by OLIN, a landscape architecture and urban planning firm, included the following plants (native species are highlighted):
- White: Bellflower, Guara, Obedient Plant, White Coneflower, Phlox ‘David’
- Yellow: False Indigo, Perennial Sunflower, Yellow Coneflower, Yarrow
- Red: Red Yarrow, Blanket Flower, Red Sage, Cardinal Flower, Red Avens
- Blue: Great Blue Lobelia, Russian Sage, Sea Holly, False Indigo, Woodland Sage
Although the installation featured only perennial flowers, Lines in Four Directions in Flowers was displayed for just two years in the Museum's Anne d’Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden. I recall observing the construction of the installation and passing by it daily. The exhibition rekindled my appreciation for my surroundings and inspired me to take more outdoor strolls to admire the blooms. This was the first art exhibition centered on plants that truly connected me to a location.
Placemaking is a creative, collaborative approach that shapes our built environment. Works of public art, like Lines in Four Directions in Flowers, enhance our sense of place by reinforcing local identity and creating cultural significance. Natural spaces, such as parks and lakes, contribute similarly.
A decline in biodiversity has far-reaching implications across various societal sectors, including economic impacts and workplace dynamics. The richness of biodiversity in green or blue spaces is crucial. A vibrant ecosystem, such as a forest or a flowerbed, can significantly enhance our connection to a place. Research indicates that biodiversity positively influences mental health; sensory experiences—like the sounds of birds or the scent of wildflowers—can restore and soothe us.
Further studies suggest that these rich sensory environments promote physical activity and engagement, which are vital for cognitive health and overall mood enhancement. There is also compelling evidence linking diverse microbiomes in our environment to mental health; greater interaction with nature can positively affect our gut bacteria, enhancing immunity and potentially reducing inflammation and allergies.
Ecologists have demonstrated that even small patches of biodiverse nature can support numerous plant and animal species. In fact, conserving small, isolated patches of biodiversity is emerging as critical for overall conservation efforts.
Promoting biodiversity in workplace settings aligns with Planetary Health principles, highlighting our interconnectedness with the environment and the associated benefits. By encouraging biodiversity, workplaces—including companies, employees, and surrounding communities—can significantly contribute to transforming planetary health.
Focusing on environmental aspects in placemaking enhances both human health and ecological sustainability, yielding social, community, and economic advantages.
Section 1.1: Company Culture Defined
Company culture encompasses the shared beliefs, values, attitudes, standards, purposes, and behaviors within a workplace. It reflects the collective meaning we create, along with the habits we establish.
While working in Development at a prominent academic research institution, my supervisor had a unique way of celebrating achievements—tossing a 100 Grand candy bar to those who secured a $100,000 donation. Lunch breaks were encouraged, and the department’s holiday parties were genuinely enjoyable. We frequently engaged in discussions about ongoing research, and it was expected that we grasped the material meaningfully. When I shared personal challenges that could affect my work hours, my boss kindly reassured me, saying, “You do what’s best for you.” I was fortunate to have a supportive supervisor, but this also reflected a deep-rooted appreciation for workplace culture, cultivated through a strong sense of belonging and purpose.
The “Great Resignation” highlighted that individuals prefer to work for organizations that align with their values. A recent study revealed that 35% of American employees would decline a job offer if the company culture did not resonate with their principles. Furthermore, 91% of managers see a candidate’s cultural fit as equally or more important than their skills and experience.
This focus on culture matters because companies with strong cultures experience up to 72% higher employee engagement compared to those with misaligned cultures. Research also indicates that retention rates improve in environments that prioritize placemaking.
Moreover, employees who maintain good physical health tend to be more engaged and productive. A study from the University of Oxford found that happy workers are 13% more productive. A positive company culture fosters happiness and well-being, with placemaking emerging as a viable strategy to enhance this dynamic.
Job-related stress is a primary contributor to mental health issues, and increasingly, jobs in the U.S. are detrimental to workers' mental health. Thoughtful placemaking initiatives that address employee well-being, enhance company culture, and promote biodiversity can be straightforward, accessible, and economical. Such initiatives not only bring joy and meaning to the workplace but also support environmental sustainability and business success.
Chapter 2: Real-World Examples of Biodiversity in the Workplace
The first video, Ensuring Cultural Practices are Included in Restoration Agendas (October 2021), discusses the importance of integrating cultural practices in biodiversity restoration, highlighting case studies and strategies for effective community engagement.
The second video, Corporate Biodiversity Reporting – The Path Toward a Nature Positive Business, explores how companies can enhance their biodiversity reporting efforts and adopt practices that promote a nature-positive approach, benefiting both business and the environment.