10 Reasons to have indoor plants in your office

Indoor air is almost always more polluted than outdoor air. It contains toxins (volatile organic compounds - VOCs) emitted from plastics/synthetics in furniture, fittings, computers printers and more.

International research, including our own at University of Technology Sydney, has conclusively demonstrated that indoor plants reduce urban indoor air pollution and CO2 levels.

Indoor plants in your office or home can reduce VOCs by over 80% and reduce CO2 by 10 to 20% and CO (carbon monoxide) by up to 90%

Indoor plants directly raise spirits increasing productivity and performance Stress in the workplace reduces productivity and performance and can lead to illness. In a study conducted by UTS it was found that when indoor plants were placed in offices the staff surveyed showed significant reductions, from 30% to 65%, in the feelings of hostility, anger, depression, and confusion.

The same staff experienced increased feelings of vigour and /or enthusiasm.

Overall, significant reduction in negative mood scores occurred after plants were placed in offices. On the contrary a control group who had no plants in their offices scored an increase of negativity by 20 – 40%.

A number of overseas studies have also shown that sick leave absences are reduced and productivity, as measured by computer tasks, is increase where indoor plants are present in the workplace. Symptoms of coughing, wheezing, sore eyes, nose throat pain perception, lower blood pressure, reduced attention and fatigue were all significantly reduced.

Improve scores on sorting tasks creative thinking tests examinations computer task productivity 12% attentiveness 27%.

Aesthetically pleasing work places utilising indoor plant presence result in lower staff turnover. When surveyed staff reported having decreased feelings of wanting to quit when they had plants in their office.

International research has proven that the introduction of plants into the workplace environment increases productivity by up to 12% and attentiveness by up to 27%.

In addition, plants have directly measurable benefits for the personal wellbeing of your staff and clients.

Research shows plants contribute to almost all factors of indoor environment quality.

Surveys show plants in the foyer and office spaces give the perception that the company is trustworthy, warm and welcoming, stable and balanced, well run, patient and caring, concerned for staff welfare, comfortable to work with, prepared to spend money on added beauty, not mean, providing a healthier cleaner atmosphere.

Humidity is another important and often underestimated factor in human health. When humidity levels are too low, individuals are more likely to develop viral infections; when humidity is too high, vulnerability to other disease increases.

Plants tend to control humidity to within the optimum range for human health.

Indoor plants release moisture into the environment and create humidity levels matching the recommended human comfort range of 30 – 60%

Certain plants, such as cacti, spathaphylum and maiden hair ferns absorb radiation from computers and printers.

A maiden hair fern absorbs 20 micrograms of formaldehyde per hour and it is considered the most effective natural cleaner.

If you work with paint or have smokers around you, you should consider maiden hair fern. This plant also absorbs Xylene and Toluene released by monitors and printers.

Plants cool by a process called transpiration, which, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, decreases air temperature in offices by ten degrees

According to the International Society of Arboriculture, the net cooling effect of one young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20- hours a day. The proper selection and placement of plant materials can lower heating and cooling costs by as much as 20%.