How Plants Can Be Used to Create Healthier and Happier Workplaces
How Plants Can Be Used to Create Healthier and Happier Workplaces
Plants have lived on Earth for around 500 million years, which is roughly the same length of time as the first land animals1. So, it should be no surprise to learn that being surrounded by plants, and nature, is good for our health and our moods.
Spending time in nature is often recommended by medical professionals to help ease anxiety and mild depression2. By filling our homes, workplaces, and recreational premises with plants, we can ensure we’re always reaping the natural benefits of nature.
As an added benefit, plants also look good. When it comes to interior planting, there are so many different textures, colours, and leaf shapes to choose from. Plants truly offer businesses an aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly way to create unique interior environments.
What are the benefits of interior plants?
Improves wellbeing and less sickness
Research3 has proven that exposure to nature in the workplace is healthy for employees and visitors. It found that placing plants in the workplace helped reduce stress and general health complaints. This means plants could be used to help reduce employee sickness rates.
Research conducted by NASA4 also found that being around plants can play a role in faster recovery times from illness.
Increases concentration and productivity
Studies have found that indoor plants can increase work output as a result of improved air quality.
This is because cleaner interior air can give a welcome boost to cognitive performance5, by helping people feel calm and comfortable in the workplace.
Removes irritants from interior air
Research by air quality testing experts has found that interior air is up to 3.5 times more polluted than exterior air6.
To help combat this, plants can be used to remove irritants and toxins7 from interior workplace air. This can help to reduce employee sickness from headaches, allergic reactions, and dry eyes.
What plants are best for the workplace?
When choosing planting schemes for your premises, you need to consider the amount of space you have, as well as light levels. To help reduce air pollution, research by NASA8 also recommends 1 plant per 100 square feet.
There are so many different types and sizes of interior plants to choose from. You could choose to add small plant pots to desks, incorporate plant room dividers into open plan offices, or opt for a large bespoke display for big impact.
Plant rental is perfect for busy businesses
By hiring plants from phs Greenleaf, you can ensure your workplace always has healthy interior plants on display for employees to enjoy.
phs Greenleaf horticulturists will work with you to design your workplace planting scheme and will then take care of installation. Regular maintenance visits can then be arranged to ensure your chosen plants always look their best.
Click here to request a call back
or get in touch via: 0800 090 2325 / greenleafenquiries@phs.co.uk
References
1 Natural History Museum https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2018/february/plant-life-on-earth-is-much-older-than-we-thought.html
3 National Library of Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3072911/
4 NASA https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2019/cg_7.html
5 World Economic Forum https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/houseplants-nature-mental-health-greenery-cognition/
6 Global Action Plan https://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/news/revealed-indoor-air-pollution-3-5-times-worse-than-outdoor-air-pollution
7 Royal Society of Chemistry https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2011/EM/c0em00472c
8 NASA https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930073077
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