Benefits

There are lots of reasons to have plants indoors:

– Plants look great, softening sterile modern offices.

– Research shows that plants make people feel happier and less stressed, and employees who feel relaxed and mentally agile are more productive.

– Plants are also good for morale as they demonstrate that the company cares about the health and wellbeing of employees. They are likely to reduce sick days and absenteeism.

– They make visitors feel more comfortable and welcome. Many retailers believe they increase retail spend as relaxed shoppers are more likely to browse and buy.

– Plants protect you and your staff against sick building syndrome. Plants act like mini air conditioners, sucking up carbon dioxide and releasing fresh oxygen. NASA studies have shown that they also filter out volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene.

– Plants also release water vapour into the air, counteracting the drying effects of heating and air conditioning and bringing humidity closer to the ideal 30-60 percent range that prevents colds.

– They improve acoustics, reducing background noise by absorbing and deflecting sound.

– They are portable lightweight and multi-purpose. Use them as a friendly barrier to separate large areas into smaller “roomsâ€? hide ugly bits of your office or subtly guide people along a certain path.

– A well-designed indoor plant selection communicates a lot about your companies brand values. At the very least you will show that you are environmentally aware.

– They are inexpensive and low-maintenance. Aim for three large, floor-standing plants or six table-sized plants for every 10 square metres of floor space.