Plants for sound absorption
There’s a special kind of silence when you’re surrounded by walls of greenery. Be it in a tropical setting or wooded forest, the peacefulness of being surrounded by nature stands in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. Our work environments don’t usually emulate the aliveness of a forest; they’re quieter, varying between open office plans or walls and cubicles. No matter your office layout, sound absorption in the workplace can greatly impact employee wellness and productivity.
Wellness and sound absorption
A survey of 500 employees in Germany found that wellbeing is a top priority and employees overall want “less noise and improved office interior aesthetics.” Only 20% of those surveyed were content with the current looks and functionality of their office space.
Wellness in the workplace can be determined by many factors including perks, flexibility, office design, and social opportunities. Wellness can also come down to favorable work environments which can be achieved by improving office design. Time and time again, studies have shown that having plants present in the workplace boosts mood and productivity.
So what does this all have to do with sound absorption? One study from the University of Sydney found that a lack of sound privacy had the biggest negative impact on employee satisfaction while also pointing out that cubicles were not the most desirable solution either.
Quieter offices means more productivity and happier employees - so where do plants come in?
Green walls
Plantclub partner Butong understands the importance of green indoor spaces that also manage the acoustics of interiors. A leading designer in acoustic panels, Butong keeps sustainability and aesthetics in mind and recently offered their thoughts to Plantclub about how green walls could become the future of office design.
“The future of sustainable architecture is not one of slick & sterile facades, but one of organic and dynamic living organisms – nurturing nature and making it a natural presence in the urban setting. Butong panels help to reduce noise by absorption and with vertical gardens this quality is improved. Our panels have been tested to show that Butong Vertical Gardens are a class A-C in absorption. We at Butong think there is nothing better to be used on a wall than living greenery and noise attenuation also happens to be a well-known characteristic of plants.”
Butong Vertical garden at Karolinska. Courtesy of Butong
The ingenuity of Butong's designs lie in how they can combine technology and nature, something we look forward to seeing more of in the future of sustainable workplaces. Plantclub has also worked with a variety of other modular, ethically sourced materials geared toward blending aesthetics with sound absorption.
Among these is Para Vert, which Plantclub designers love for their dynamic, minimal design. Hanging planters like WallyGrow and room dividers like Pop Planters from Vestre also help to create visual flow while contributing to noise reduction.
Para Vert planters at the ParshipMeet Group headquarters in Hamburg.
Vertical gardens as room dividers are win-wins. Employee wellness is not only improved by reducing noise, but also by improving office design with the addition of plants.
Vestre vertical planters in London.
Wally Grow planters make up this office’s green wall.
The best plants for sound absorption
So if you want to apply these methods to your office or home office, where do you start? Even if you can’t commit to the full vertical wall, adding plants as natural barriers can be a step in the right direction.
Many great tropical plants and beginner plants are effective sound absorbers. Plantclub recommends species like Dracaena or Zamioculcas zamiifolia (ZZ plant).
Whether it’s for aesthetic purposes or sound absorption, a green wall communicates that the space has been designed with human needs in mind.
Plantclub.io provides you and your colleagues with the benefits of plants, wherever you work. Rent office plants and transform your space into a green oasis, with flexible monthly membership options to suit your size. Diversify your employee perks with a dedicated company store, where you can give green gifts and your team can buy plants for their home office. Book a time to chat with us today.
