A green work environment is a healthy work environment
We've all been there. It's 4pm, you're at the office losing concentration by the minute, your eyes are dry and the unmistakable first signs of a headache are right around the corner.
The office environment, the place where we spend most of our days every year, is not always a healthy environment. Poor ventilation, warm and stuffy boardrooms and overzealous air conditioners all contribute to the so-called Sick Building Syndrome, a condition where employees experience health issues caused by the building they work in.
Luckily, lots of research has been done in order to find healthier ways of working. Research in which plants play an important role. The results of these studies are overwhelmingly positive. Here's a brief overview of how plants can create a healthier work environment.
1. Air quality
Buildings are increasingly well-insulated, which means harmful toxins like benzene and formaldehyde (produced by building materials, cleaning products, or even office printers) have nowhere to go. These toxins, as well as high levels of C02, can cause health issues like dry eyes, dry throats and trouble breathing. Studies continue to show that plants can help improve office air quality by removing these harmful toxins. One frequently quoted Norwegian study that tested employees for two years in rooms with and without plants found that the room with plants caused a 37% decrease in health complaints. A more recent Australian study drew similar conclusions.
2. Temperature
Most business and industrial parks have little to no greenery, increasing the heat island effect on hot summer days. And no one likes to sit in an office with beads of sweat running down their backs. It's easy to turn up the air conditioning, but too much of that fake cold air can cause dry and irritable eyes and noses (plus, it's not great for the environment). A green roof on your office can already reduce indoor temperatures, but plants can do even more. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, office plants can lower indoor temperature by 10 degrees.
3. Productivity and stress
Increased work pressure and too much stress led to 7,5 million sick days in 2014 in the Netherlands. Experiencing a burnout is no longer a rare condition- burnouts accounted for 40% of all work-related illnesses in 2016. It sounds too good to be true, but plants really can help decrease this worrying trend. Studies have shown that plants can help improve concentration and reduce stress. This study even shows that people working in a plant-filled office are far more satisfied with their workspace.
"But plants are such a hassle!
Who's going to take care of them?"
Easy! There are plenty of plants that require very little attention, and there are enough neat tools (like a moisture sensor or automatic watering system) that can help make office plant care easy.
Need some help picking plants? Contact our Plantscaping Services.
Office plants can reduce stress, improve concentration, and increase work satisfaction. It almost sounds too good to be true, but we've got science on our side! A Norwegian study already proved the benefits of a green office in 1998, showing a 37% decrease in health complaints. A 2011 Australian study showed that plants improve concentration and reduce stress. And according to a 2008 American study, employees surrounded by plants are more likely to be satisfied with their workplace. More than enough reasons to add some green to your cubicle!