As the commercial property sector in Australia continues to evolve, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance has become a central metric for investors, tenants, and developers. One of the most recognised ESG benchmarks globally—and within the Australian market—is the GRESB Real Estate Assessment. While much attention is given to environmental strategies like energy efficiency and green certifications, the social component of ESG is often under-leveraged. A powerful but sometimes overlooked strategy to boost GRESB performance is implementing onsite fitness and wellness programs.
What Is GRESB and Why Does It Matter?
GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) is a standardised ESG benchmark used by institutional investors to evaluate the sustainability performance of real estate portfolios and infrastructure assets.
For commercial building owners and managers, a high GRESB score can improve access to capital, tenant retention, and long-term asset value. The assessment is split into two key components:
- Management (50%) – covering leadership, policies, risk management, and stakeholder engagement
- Performance (50%) – assessing the actual ESG outcomes across assets, including social impact
The “S” in ESG is becoming more prominent, and fitness programs are directly aligned with GRESB’s Health & Well-being Module, which encourages owners to support occupant health as a strategic priority.
The Role of Health & Well-being in GRESB
GRESB evaluates how buildings support health and well-being through both building-level features (e.g., air quality, lighting, access to nature) and occupant engagement initiatives such as:
- Fitness and exercise spaces
- Employee or tenant wellness programs
- Participation rates and feedback collection
- Regular communication on wellness offeringsmance metrics
A fitness program that is thoughtfully designed, accessible, and actively promoted can contribute significantly to scoring in the “Stakeholder Engagement” and “Health & Well-being” indicators of GRESB. When paired with data collection and feedback loops, this becomes a measurable social value offering.
The Australian Commercial Market Context
Australia has one of the most active GRESB-participating markets globally. As of 2023, more than 90% of Australian REITs and major commercial landlords participated in the GRESB assessment, with scores playing a key role in investment strategy and reputation.
However, as the market matures, the challenge for property owners is differentiation. Green certifications and energy ratings are now standard. What’s emerging as a key performance lever? The ability to support tenant well-being and community engagement—areas where fitness programs can play a defining role.
Business Case: Fitness as an ESG Strategy
Implementing a modern fitness program in commercial properties can:
- Improve tenant satisfaction and retention
- Demonstrate a commitment to occupant health
- Contribute directly to higher GRESB scores
- Support leasing and marketing narratives around well-being and productivity
- Provide quantifiable data on engagement, participation, and impact
Critically, wellness initiatives need to be more than a checkbox. GRESB encourages ongoing engagement, adaptability to diverse user needs, and metrics that prove tangible benefit. This is where personalised, tech-enabled fitness solutions outperform outdated or underutilised gyms.
Best Practices for GRESB-Aligned Fitness Programs
To align with GRESB and maximise impact, wellness programs in commercial buildings should:
- Be inclusive and accessible to all tenants and staff
- Offer evidence-based programming with flexibility across fitness levels
- Include digital/hybrid elements to support hybrid workforces
- Track participation and satisfaction levels through ongoing surveys
- Report on health and wellness outcomes where possible
By integrating these elements, buildings can move beyond static amenities to active contributors to tenant health, community, and ESG performance.
Fitillion’s Perspective
At Fitillion, we specialise in personalised group fitness systems that empower commercial buildings to drive tenant engagement and measurable social impact. Our data-driven solutions are designed to support GRESB-aligned reporting, blending on-site and remote access to keep all building occupants connected, no matter where they are.
Sources
- GRESB Real Estate Reference Guide. https://www.gresb.com/nl/real-estate-assessment/
- GRESB Health & Well-being Module Overview. https://www.gresb.com/news/health-well-being-module-2021/
- NABERS + GRESB Integration in Australia. https://www.nabers.gov.au/news/how-nabers-and-gresb-work-together
- JLL Australia. The Rise of Wellness in Real Estate Investment. https://www.jll.com.au
- CBRE. Wellness in the Workplace: Its Impact on Real Estate. https://www.cbre.com
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