Working in an office can take its toll, especially if you’re stuck in the same building, day after day. It’s hard to be in the office when the sun is shining and the weather is so nice.
In 1984, the World Health Organization created the term, “sick building syndrome,” which relates to complaints made relating to time spent inside an enclosed building environment, including ailments such as asthma, headaches and nausea.
Also in 1984, Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson coined the term, “biophilia,” in his book of the same name, which refers to humanity’s innate need for nature.
When you combine the two concepts, you’ll find that there’s a simple solution that can bring a positive outcome to the comfort and health of employees in the workplace.
As a Matter of Plants
“Plant-scaping” is known as a popular way to incorporate plants into an office environment.
Known as an inter-office plant care program, you may have also heard it referred to as a “living wall” or “green wall.” These terms refer to the idea of bringing natural elements into the workplace.
It’s been shown that plant-scaping can help to reduce stress, tension and anxiety, all the while increasing worker efficiency thanks to better air quality.
That’s right – healthy, living plants have the ability to clean the air you breathe, trapping and disposing of airborne contaminants found in every day products. Dust levels and man-made toxins within and office environment can be significantly reduced by plants.
How Does It Work?
Plants grow through a natural process known as photosynthesis, which converts sunlight into sugar. The plant absorbs carbon dioxide along with airborne contaminants and replaces it with oxygen.
The right type of plants for an office setting requires proper planning. Choose plants that are able to thrive in a workplace setting where air conditioning, heating and other environmental conditions must be taken into consideration:
- Cactus
- Succulents (such as hens and chicks)
- Ivy
- Spider plants
- Bamboo
There are many positive aspects to adding an inter-office plant care program into the workplace; it increases the overall productivity and focus of your business, and it also makes your workplace look fresh and inviting to clients and staff.
At the end of the day, a healthy office is a happy office.