Sustainable Coworking: the New Standard in Space Design, Well-being, and Productivity

Coworking, a concept that has been revolutionizing how we conceive work and professional life for over a decade, is once again facing a profound transformation: the real and transversal integration of sustainability, well-being, and smart technology as inseparable elements of its value proposition.

Far from being a passing trend or mere “green branding,” sustainable coworking represents a genuine paradigm shift, forged by the evolution of professional demands, the climate crisis, radical digitalization of spaces, and the demand for meaningful experiences that generate community, creativity, and measurable results.

This comprehensive guide explores and articulates how new trends, materials, management models, and tools can transform the coworking experience toward a truly sustainable, humane, and competitive model.

Why Sustainable Coworking Is More Than a Trend

The evolution of coworking reveals a verifiable reality: only those spaces that place adaptability, environmental responsibility, and users' quality of life at the center endure and grow.

The market supports this: the global coworking sector is expected to reach 42,000 occupied spaces and over 5 million users worldwide by the end of 2025, according to the report from Statista. This expansion entails a huge environmental and social responsibility.

• Most new coworking spaces prioritize sustainable materials and energy-efficient consumption.
• Rapid digitalization blurs geographic boundaries: more projects are migrating from cities to suburban and rural areas, democratizing access to flexible and collaborative formats.
• Intergenerational and multicultural teams demand healthy, open, and inclusive environments as a requirement for staying and choosing their workspace.

Key Principles of Sustainable and Healthy Coworking

• Eco-friendly materials and responsible processes: from certified wood furniture, low-impact textiles, to recycled construction solutions and VOC-free paints. Everything influences the carbon footprint and occupants' health.
• Energy efficiency and management: smart use of natural light, LED systems, presence sensors, home automation applied to climate control, and contracting renewable energies.
• Integral well-being: natural ventilation, indoor green areas, biophilic design, circadian lighting, and ergonomic adaptation of the space to movement and bodily diversity.
• Includes rest areas and spaces for informal socialization, essential for creativity and talent retention. A healthily cohesive community has lower turnover and generates greater value.
• Collaborative technology and smart connectivity: secure WiFi networks, dedicated videoconference areas, reservation management platforms, and occupancy automation. Every detail adds to an efficient and sustainable experience.

Sustainable Coworking Design Strategies: Architectural and Aesthetic Keys

Sustainability as a core value of coworking demands flexible interior architecture and construction solutions. According to the 2025 trends, warm minimalism, the use of biomaterials, and the integration of home automation are essential to distinguish coworking spaces with true ecological commitment.

• Open layout and flexible zoning, combined with the use of modular and recyclable furniture to reorganize the space according to events and changing needs.
• Natural elements like wood, stone, wool, cork, and live plants improve air quality, reduce noise and mental pollution, and boost cognitive performance.
• Warm colors, diverse textures, and diffuse natural light promote feelings of welcome and calm, counteracting the stress of hyperconnectivity.
• Support for the circular economy: use of second-life materials, refurbished furniture, and partnerships with local suppliers to reduce the logistical footprint.

In summary, good design in sustainable coworking focuses less on opulence and more on authenticity, sensory comfort, and constant adaptability.

Well-being and Productivity: the Heart of the New Generation of Coworkings

Contemporary innovation in coworking is not only technological but profoundly human. Consistently, physical, mental, and social well-being becomes a non-negotiable KPI.

A global study by Mindspace (2024) revealed that 79% of coworking users choose spaces that care for “wellness” as a key asset, ranking it even above price and location. And according to the latest report by Gensler, 67% of companies consider sustainable design drives talent retention and accelerates innovation.

• Circadian lighting, ergonomic furniture, and the sensation of thermal control are directly linked to enhanced performance and reduced absenteeism.
• The presence of plants, garden terraces, or interior courtyards multiplies oxygen levels, reduces fatigue, and improves relational climate.
• Offering access to mindfulness programs, healthy eating, and networking events contributes to creating a community of learning, support, and real growth, far more robust in the face of market uncertainty.

As important as furniture or views, inclusion and respect policies determine the quality of the environment. Sustainable coworking must be neuro-inclusive, pet-friendly, and promote gender equity and universal accessibility, following pioneering examples detailed in other blog articles.

Explore more about neuro-inclusive office design and the impact of pet-friendly spaces.

Technology as the Invisible Ally in Sustainable Coworking

The flexibility and scalability of current coworkings are inseparable from applied technology. How are sustainability and efficiency empowered digitally? The answer includes everything from automated management platforms to smart climate control and irrigation systems.

• Real-time occupancy control systems and environmental quality detection optimize space usage and minimize unnecessary consumption.
• Online booking tools, desk assignments, and smart screens for feedback on availability and environmental sustainability.
• IoT and home automation advance toward full integration of lighting, climate control, security, and self-adjusting collaborative spaces.

Applied AI allows for analyzing usage patterns and recommending architectural or spatial improvements, optimizing energy performance and user satisfaction.

Discover how AI boosts smart management in our analysis of IoT in Real Estate.

Suburban and Rural Coworking: Democratization, Sustainability, and New Opportunities

Sustainable coworking is no longer an exclusive stronghold of urban life. The rural and suburban model grows in response to demands for decentralization, improved quality of life, and reduced unnecessary commuting. As emphasized by Arqoestudio, robust technological infrastructure—high-speed networks, videoconferencing, and collaborative platforms—is the differentiating element for success outside the capital.

• Connection with nature, the local circular economy, and reuse of historic or underutilized buildings are factors that boost the appeal of these projects.
• They enable employment generation and training opportunities outside the big city, fostering ecosystems of entrepreneurship and distributed talent.

The challenge: to combine digital efficiency with local identity and low environmental impact.

Resilient Communities: Beyond the Physical Space

Sustainable coworking cannot be defined solely by its architecture or materials: its greatest value lies in the creation of resilient, open, and interdependent professional communities.

Participatory management, transparency in decision-making, and social engagement programs add a sense of belonging and purpose, essential in times of change or crisis.

• Spaces for cross-mentoring, open innovation labs, and cultural activities strengthen ties and amplify results.
• Measuring social and environmental impact (KPIs on diversity, recycling, energy consumed/saved) is an integral part of transparency and long-term legitimacy.

The community drives innovation and is a resilience engine. Pioneering coworkings allocate up to 20% of their annual programming to social engagement activities or environmental actions, consolidating sector leadership.

International Benchmark: Success Stories in Sustainable Coworking

Next, we highlight three international references that have raised the bar for sustainable coworking:

1. Green Spaces (UK): Pioneering space operating with 100% renewable energy, recycled materials, and an incentive system for sustainable mobility. Its environmental education program is run in collaboration with local organizations and measures positive impact with tangible metrics.
2. Impact Hub (Global): Network of coworking spaces present in over 50 countries, focused on boosting projects with triple impact (economic, environmental, and social). They stand out for including carbon footprint measurement and participatory innovation strategies in all their designs.
3. LaVaca Coworking (Uruguay): Space that combines reuse of a historic building, low-impact materials, and a multisectoral community approach, integrating urban agroecology initiatives, collective well-being, and cutting-edge technology without losing local identity.

These experiences show that profitability and sustainability can not only coexist but mutually enhance each other: users increasingly value transparency and commitment.

How to Implement Sustainable Coworking: A Practical Roadmap

Making the leap to sustainable coworking does not require astronomical investments, but an integral, realistic, and gradual strategy. These key steps can guide you:

1. Environmental and social diagnosis of the initial situation: evaluate materials, consumption, and user profiles. Digital tools and AI like those offered by Deptho can speed up visual analysis and simulation of improvements.
2. Define a transition plan: prioritize quick wins (lighting change, paper reduction, creation of green zone) and measurable policies (composting, shared mobility, internal training).
3. Implement measurement technology: sensors, AI for occupancy analysis, and reservation platforms. Check some solutions in Deptho's Motion.
4. Strengthen participatory management: establish feedback and co-creation channels, involving users in reviewing each stage of the process.
5. Communicate your commitment: disseminate achievements and learnings on all your channels, show metrics of improvement in sustainability and well-being, integrate certifications (WELL, BREEAM) as aspirational elements.

Common Mistakes and Key Learnings in Sustainable Coworking

• Don't rely solely on “greenwashing”: users quickly detect empty certifications or merely aesthetic changes.
• Avoid programmatic rigidity: sustainable coworking is adaptable, listens to its community, and adjusts services and layouts according to latent needs.
• Investment in well-being should not be seen as an expense but as a direct bet on productivity, loyalty, and reputation.
• Bet on partnerships with technological and sustainable design partners; don't lock yourself into a single provider.

Emerging Trends: Putting Sustainability at the Center of Coworking’s Future

Recapping information from reference sources like Diario La Info, and adding observations of daily evolution in the sector, these will be the dominant keys in the coming years:

1. Extreme hybridization: coworkings coexisting with housing, retail, and integrated wellness centers. The future is mixed and hybrid.
2. Total automation: AI managing everything from parking space allocation to recommending community activities based on detected mood.
3. Rural and satellite micro-coworkings: the model expands beyond urban boundaries, bringing jobs and technology to previously excluded communities.
4. Acceleration of zero waste models, circular economy, off-grid offices, and ultra-demanding certifications (LEED Platinum, Living Building Challenge).

Conclusion: Sustainable Coworking Is the Rule, Not the Exception

Sustainability in coworking is no longer an alternative: it is the new standard. Integrating conscious design, integral well-being, and advanced technology is not only a competitive advantage but an ethical and strategic obligation.

Are you ready to drive change in your work environment? At Deptho we help you take the next step: explore our tools to visualize, simulate, and optimize coworking space design that makes a difference.