PLANT BENEFITS




Plants play an important role in improving people's physical and mental well-being, helping to boost productivity, reduce minor illnesses and increase feelings of happiness. Discover how plants maintain staff health and happiness, and the science behind it.


Improving Physical Health


An Agricultural University of Norway study has proven that plants have a very real and significant effect on human health. Researchers found that even a small number of plants can reduce minor health symptoms.By increasing humidity, plants keep our mucous membranes healthier,which in turn reduces hoarseness,coughing, and a dry throat by around 30%. In addition to reducing skin irritations, higher humidity also makes the air fresher.When interior plants are present, headaches and fatigue are greatly reduced - by at least 20%.


Improving Mental Health


Mental health is profoundly impacted by our time spent in natural surroundings. The reason for this is something called biophilia - humans' innate drive to connect with nature and living organisms. Plants have long been known for helping hospital patients recover more quickly. The presence of plants in your office helps to simulate the natural environment, and this improves your employees' mental wellbeing, reduces depression symptoms by up to 58%, and helps them retain and focus their attention better.People who work in biophilic offices report a 15% improvement in creativity.


Increasing Productivity


Indoor plants increase productivity and concentration - around 15% more productivity is achieved when plants are added to offices. An American company conducted a study finding that their employees with views of natural elements handled calls 67% more quickly than those without them.Giving their employees scenic views of nature resulted in a $2,990 annual savings to the company, which shows productivity increases can have a huge impact on the bottom line.


Reducing Absenteeism


Using indoor plants reduces absenteeism and presenteeism (being at work, but feeling sick and not performing well). There is a direct connection between an absence of natural elements at work and 10% of employee absences, based on an American study. Presenteeism costs UK businesses £1 billion annually, which is 1.3 times higher than absenteeism, according to a Foresight study of mental capital and well-being. This clearly shows that having a healthier workforce contributes to employers saving significant amounts of money.


Attracting And Retaining Staff


The office design influences a third of office workers when deciding on where to work. As at least one of the elements of office design (natural light being the most important) plants were included in the list as well. Plants can be an important factor in determining where people choose to work. Companies such as Apple and Google have realized that biophilic principles are essential to achieving a creative atmosphere at their workplaces so that they can attract talented employees.The use of indoor plants can also save employers a lot of money when it comes to staff turnover.


Purifying The Air


During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air. As an example, you can install a living green wall that extracts approximately 1 liter per square meter. Per year, they remove 2.3 kg of CO2 from the air and produce 1.7 kg of oxygen.Also, indoor plants filter the air by reducing harmful toxins. According to a NASA study conducted in 1989, interior plants absorb. VOCs such as trichloroethylene (TCE), formaldehyde, and benzene. There is a history of all these chemicals causing health problems such as irritation to the skin, eyes, and nose. NASA's study found that indoor plants absorb VOCs through their leaves and soil, thereby reducing air pollution and toxicity.