Humans have an innate desire to be connected with nature, which is most commonly known to scientists as biophilia. Unfortunately, this connection to the environment is not always accounted for in industrial spaces, which can become a problem when these are the environments we tend to spend the majority of our days in. Studies have shown that investing in indoor plants and planters for your office space can provide major benefits for your employees, and therefore your business, making them an integral aspect of office design.
Taylor Made Planters are aiming to support & contribute where possible to bringing balance back to our eco-system by using the increased levels of CO2 to the Earth’s advantage. These are our top reasons for introducing planters to your urban workspace:
1. Improved Air Purity and Breathing
It’s no secret that when we breathe, our bodies take in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide into the air. In plants, this process is reversed, and instead plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, also known as photosynthesis. Research has shown that indoor plants can help reduce CO2 levels by around 10% in air-conditioned offices, so the more plants you add to a space, the better the breathing quality for everyone in the room!
In addition to this, due to the need for paper, books, printer ink, and other study supplies, levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be high in office settings. Modern climate-controlled, airtight buildings trap VOCs inside, causing an impure airflow to circulate as a result. Research recently completed by NASA discovered that through photosynthesis, plants directly help to purify the trapped air and remove airborne toxins by up to 87%, making the air cleaner for your employees to breathe.
2: Reducing Sickness and Absence Rates
Did you know that humidity in the air also helps to keep respiratory issues at bay? It’s true! As part of the photosynthetic process, plants release moisture vapour which increases the humidity of the air around them. Studies from the Agricultural University of Norway have shown that incorporating plants in office spaces to improve humidity levels significantly helps to decrease the likelihood of fatigue, headaches, sore throats, flu-like symptoms, and dry coughs by as much as 60%! This benefit means your employees’ overall health will improve and sick days will decrease as a result. It’s a win-win!
3. Reduced Stress and Improved Performance
A recent field study in Norway suggests that plants also benefit psychological well-being as well as physical. According to the University of Technology in Sydney, significant reductions in stress, tension and anxiety were found amongst employees when plants were present in a workspace. It is estimated that “just one plant per workspace can provide a very large lift to staff spirits, and so promote wellbeing and performance.”
4. Sharpened Focus
It has been found that due to the previously discussed benefits of plants, employees experience sharpened focus in office environments that are home to a multitude of plants. In a study at The Royal College of Agriculture in Cirencester, it was discovered that students demonstrated 70% greater attentiveness when they were taught in classrooms containing plants versus classrooms that didn’t.
5. Improve Office Aesthetic and Creativity
In terms of global office environments, up to 1 in 5 people have no natural elements within their workspace, whilst nearly 50% of workers have no natural light! Attention restoration theory suggests that being exposed to elements of nature within an office aesthetic can shift the brain into a different processing mode, allowing employees to feel more relaxed and creative within their work.
The 2015 Human Spaces report found that employees whose offices included natural elements scored 15% higher for creativity than those whose offices didn’t include such elements. Therefore, especially if employees are restricted in the amount of natural elements they are disposed to, incorporating plants into your office space is key to encouraging your employees’ creativity.
So, how many plants are necessary to see these benefits?
To improve health and reduce fatigue and stress in an office setting, position plants so each person has greenery in view, whether that’s one smaller plant between two people or several larger planters within a smaller space.
It has been documented that to improve health and reduce fatigue and stress, one large plant (8-inch diameter pot or larger) every 129 square feet is necessary in commercial spaces. If your aim is to purify the air in an urban space, 15 to 18 plants in 6- to 8-inch diameter pots are necessary for a 1,800-square-foot location.
What are the best plants for office use?
Not all plants are suitable for office environments, so you will need to consider factors such as the amount of daylight available and when the plants can be watered. In terms of urban spaces the plants that will most likely thrive are succulents, rubber plants, and peace lilies, as they are the most beneficial at removing toxins from the air without having to be watered every day.
Are you interested in what solutions Taylor Made Planters can provide for your office environment?
Browse our commercial planter range, view our previous commercial planter projects or get in touch today!
Call us on: 02477 464872 or email: sales@taylormadeplanters.co.uk
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