The benefits of office plants
Greenery is the latest trend in office design and employer branding. More and more companies recognize the benefits of office plants and adopt aspects of biophilic design—the concept of connecting man-made spaces to our natural environment.
Creating a beautiful space where people want to work is reason enough. But plants aren’t simply an aesthetic feature—from stress relief to better air quality, bringing a touch of nature indoors has an impressive range of effects. Here’s how office greening could help your workplace to flourish.
Plants boost productivity
In terms of office design, “sometimes less is just less.” Research proves a measurable impact of plants on productivity, trashing the philosophy that “lean” workplaces are better. By introducing indoor plants to stripped-back office spaces, productivity increased by 15%.
You don’t need a forest to reap these benefits. Just one plant per square meter substantially improved employee performance on a number of basic tests. If every person can see one plant from their desk, workers are better engaged with their environment and work more effectively.
Plants improve air quality
Fill your office with air-improving houseplants and you’ll see an impact on performance, as well as employee wellbeing. Air pollution is incredibly damaging to our brains, and actually causes productivity levels to drop. Add a touch of greenery and you’ll have a healthier, more productive workforce.
Energy-saving measures often lead to office spaces having low levels of ventilation. As workers breathe out, higher concentrations of carbon dioxide build up in the air. A study found "dramatic reductions" in cognitive function and decision-making abilities when workers were exposed to high levels of CO2.
Better office air quality means healthier employees. A report published by Wageningen University & Research showed that people whose workspace features plants report sick less often (a decrease from 36% to 16%).
So using plants that improve air quality in the workplace will help you stay both healthy and focused.
Plants relieve stress
Being close to nature is proven to enhance wellbeing, reduce anxiety, and even increase our tolerance to pain. On top of the physical health benefits of office plants, landscaping your workplace will improve the mood of your employees and help relieve stress.
Workplace stress could cost the European Union up to €613 billion each year through sick leave, low productivity, and health and social care payments. A recent study carried out in Japan showed a significant reduction in stress and anxiety levels when office workers were each given a desk plant.
Indoor plants in the office help mitigate the damaging effects of work-related stress—bringing the natural world inside is a simple and cost effective way to boost the mood in your workplace.
Plants improve office acoustics
Ever found it hard to concentrate on your work when you’re surrounded by the constant buzzing of conversation? Us too. Plants help tackle this distracting background chatter and improve office acoustics.
One of the benefits of having plants in your office is the reduction in noise pollution that clever arrangement of indoor plants can achieve. By placing large potted plants around the edges of a room, your greenery will absorb sound and bring noise levels down so you can stay focused.
Plants are attractive
Of course one of the greatest advantages of plants in the office is the stunning visual effect of office greening. Attractive offices are more enticing to prospective workers, and could be a deciding factor in whether people choose to join your company. By creating a beautiful workplace, your brand will appeal to new talent.
A global study into the connection between wellbeing, productivity, and office design shows how important workplace aesthetics really are. One third of respondents said workplace design would affect their decision to apply somewhere or not. Natural light and living indoor plants were named as the two most important factors in office aesthetics.
Plants are also an easy way to divide your office into different areas. This is not purely practical: innovative office design is shown to boost creativity by creating spaces where workers can slow down, allowing their ideas to blossom. So get creative with your workplace, and grow your business too.
Now you know a bit about the benefits of office plants, here’s how Plantclub membership can help your company to thrive.
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.