Indoor Air Quality & ESG in Europe: Aligning Standards for a Healthier Future
IAQS recently held a one‑day members’ meeting in Amsterdam, bringing together members, invited experts, and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) stakeholders to explore the growing connection between Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) priorities and Indoor Air Quality in Europe. Throughout the day, participants exchanged knowledge, aligned on shared priorities, and discussed how IAQ can be more effectively integrated into ESG strategies and standards across Europe.
The meeting opened with two keynote presentations highlighting the role of IAQ as a critical enabler of sustainability, public health, and responsible governance : Sani Dimitroulopoulou (UK Health Security Agency) presented Healthy Buildings, Healthy Futures: Positioning IAQ as a Core Pillar of ESG Strategy, emphasising the importance of embedding health considerations into ESG frameworks. Jelle Laverge (Ghent University) followed with Operationalising the Health Impact of IAQ for ESG, focusing on how health impacts can be measured and translated into practical ESG action.
In the afternoon, the programme shifted to an interactive format, with two facilitated workshops designed to translate insights into concrete actions and identify clear next steps for collaboration and policy influence.
IAQS was pleased to welcome its members and partners and looks forward to building on the outcomes of the meeting to advance Indoor Air Quality, strengthen ESG alignment, and contribute to healthier buildings and communities across Europe.
Healthy Buildings, Healthy Futures: Positioning IAQ as a Core Pillar of ESG Strategy, emphasising the importance of embedding health considerations into ESG frameworks
This presentation explored the links between sustainable development and the quality of the environments we live and work in. We begin by explaining why Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) matters, for health, well-being, and productivity, and how it connects to broader sustainability goals. We then look at how IAQ fits within sustainable development strategies, highlighting relevant policy frameworks and emerging technological solutions. Finally, we outline future directions and practical recommendations to support healthier, more resilient built environments.
Operationalising the Health Impact of IAQ for ESG, focusing on how health impacts can be measured and translated into practical ESG action
IAQ has a substantial impact on the health of the occupants of buildings. We need metrics, indicators, standards and regulation that allow us to operationalise the effect better design can have on that impact to stimulate better, healthier building practices. This keynote argues that performance based assessment methods and the accompanying ecosystem of tools are the enablers of that change.
IAQS Project Highlights and updates
BAHT Breat Healthy Air togehter
& Philps
This presentation showcases the progress and early insights from BHAT (Breathe Healthy Air Together), an IAQS initiative that combines extensive indoor monitoring across multiple building types with health-oriented research to deepen our understanding of real-world air quality conditions.
As well as the IAQS/Philips foundation/CCN study: Investigating the impact of IAQ and Socioeconomic Status on Cardiovascular risk.
European protocols & guidelines research
This presentation highlights the current landscape of indoor air quality (IAQ) guidelines and protocols across Europe, showing how multiple national and EU frameworks co-exist and often diverge, making it hard to compare data and drive harmonised policy. Drawing from research by IAQS in collaboration with VITO, it outlines key challenges in assessment, highlights gaps in regulation across Member States, and proposes harmonisation pathways that link health, comfort, and technical performance. The goal is to support stronger, more consistent EU-wide policies that better protect people’s health and indoor environments.
Workshop 1 | Is IAQ the ESG Blind Spot in European Real Estate?
Structured debate-style session to challenge assumptions, identify key IAQ/ESG tensions, and co-develop fresh perspectives.
Moderators: Prof. dr. ir Stijn Verbeke (Design and assessment methods for smart and sustainable buildings and districts , Antwerp University) & Marianne Stranger (Senior Researcher – Team IAQ Environmental Intelligence Unit VITO Belgium.
Workshop 2 | Defining IAQ metrics for ESG reporting
Practical session to design outputs or frameworks based on member needs. In this workshop, we will work collaboratively to identify and define a set of specific metrics and tools necessary to integrate Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) into ESG frameworks. Our objective is to develop a clear and actionable “shopping list” that will inform future research priorities and guide our policy advocacy efforts. We invite all participants to contribute their preferred indicators, methodologies, and insights — we’ll provide the framework, and together we’ll shape the roadmap for embedding IAQ into ESG reporting.
Moderators: Prof. Jelle Laverge – (Building physics research group of the department of architecture and urban planning, Ghent University) & Mikael Börjesson (Director Future Solutions & Public Affairs Swegon Group Sweden).
