Guest blog: The Benefits of Plants

Article by Katie Le Chevalier of Planteria Group

At Planteria Group, we’ve been specialists in Planting and Floristry for the workplace since 1977 and in the last ten years in particular, we’ve seen a growing appreciation for plants as part of the strategy for overall workplace wellbeing, as well as improving the aesthetic of any space. Plants are so much more than just the finishing touches for a well-designed space, they are an essential element, bringing many benefits for the people who occupy it.

Peldon Rose’s Office of the Future report revealed that 20% of respondents chose ‘back to nature’ as their preferred working environment. This presents a good case for including plants, moss walls, or green walls as part of your holistic workplace wellbeing strategy. Here are 5 more reasons to include them.

1. Psychological benefits, reducing stress and promoting health and well-being
   Our modern lifestyles and city living means that we spend around 90% of our time indoors and we are often disconnected from nature which is not good for our health (lack of vitamin D producing sunlight, fresh air and exercise included) or for our stress levels. By adding a variety of plants and into the environment we live and work in we are connecting ourselves to nature which supports the function of our autonomic nervous system, reducing our stress levels.

2. Increase in productivity, creativity and happiness
   It is proven that a vibrant, welcoming environment has positive effects on the speed at which we work and improves mood. studies show that employees who are exposed to plants within the workplace, actively engage with their surroundings, are more productive and have a more positive outlook at work. These studies looked into ‘lean offices’ vs green offices and showed that productivity could be increased by up to 15%. The relative benefits of green versus lean office space: Three field experiments

3. A welcoming and inviting environment for employees, visitors and clients
   Having a space that is pleasant to be in and attractive to visitors has a positive effect on business and improves perception of a company’s green credentials. Wellbeing is now regarded by most organisations as a priority not just a trend and living their brand values helps an organisation to attract and retain talent.

4. Improve air quality and reduce allergens
   As shown in NASA’s Clean Air Study, plants provide a natural way of removing VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) from the air and also reduces the presence of aggravating allergens. NASA research suggests efficient air cleaning is accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet of home or office space.

5. Reduce sickness and absence at work
   One study by Elzeyadi at the University of Oregon found that 10% of employee absences could be attributed to architectural elements that did not connect with nature. A recent Norwegian research study tested what happened when plants were placed into and then removed from offices. When plants were present headaches, coughs, sore throats, fatigue and dry skin all reduced. Several similar studies around the world have found similar results.

Planteria are a family-run business of experts, specialising in design-led planting services that uses the best quality plants and flowers, adding the vibrant biophilic elements that help your workforce to thrive. Working closely with the design team at Peldon Rose, Planteria have infused biophilia into projects such as; Matches Fashion, and Pret A Manger for Peldon Rose.