It’s no coincidence that the words ‘greenery’ and ‘wellbeing’ are so commonly used together in the same sentence.
That’s because various studies have demonstrated the incredible capability of plants to improve a broad range of aspects relating to our mental and physical health.
With the growing demand for biophilic design—infusing natural elements into the built environment—the benefits of adding greenery to corporate spaces are becoming a popular talking point.
Planteria designs, installs and maintains greenery within commercial buildings in the UK.
Allow us to inspire you with the many ways that greenery can enhance wellbeing in your commercial space.
Health Benefits Of Green Spaces In Work Environments
Just like plants, we humans are also living beings. Yet, most of us find ourselves spending an increasing amount of time both indoors as well as looking at a screen.
In a busy or stressful work environment, greenery can provide that much-needed reconnection with our natural world and ultimately our own needs.
Stress Reduction
A study published by ScienceDirect found that indoor plants were shown to reduce stress and improve wellbeing. This is important, given the study also reported that poor mental health accounted for 55% of all lost working days.
We’re all built to handle stress to a degree. But so often, we become chronically stressed resulting in a variety of mental and physical symptoms.
Plants are being used to combat stress at work. For example, workers at a Sydney university reported a 37% reduction in stress following the introduction of plants into their workspace.
Overall, adding plants into a working environment can have transformative effects on how stressed employees feel. That’s because greenery reconnects people with nature, and also lowers cortisol in the process.
Mental Health And Cognitive Benefits
Workplaces should be productive and engaging places to spend time in.
According to a University of Exeter study, plants can be integral to that aim as they are capable of boosting wellbeing at work by up to 47%.
Being exposed to greenery in the workplace can improve focus while also reducing stress and anxiety. In combination, plants can boost employee wellbeing in a number of ways to make people happier and more productive at work.
Improved Air Quality
In recent years, we’ve started to pay more attention to the air quality within our buildings, since we are not only what we eat but also what we breathe.
The NASA Clean Air Study found that in addition to plants being able to absorb carbon dioxide, plants can also remove other harmful pollutants from the air.
In corporate spaces, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) including formaldehyde can be found in practically all aspects of the building. For instance in carpets, furnishings and paint.
Alongside being mindful of the building materials and cleaning products used, adding greenery can help purify the air. This includes removing other types of air pollutants which may be present due to the urban location of the office space.
Productivity Gains Through Greenery
The presence of greenery is designed to enrich and engage us. Therefore, it is perhaps understandable why plants have an impact on productivity, especially compared to workspaces which are devoid of any natural elements.
Having re-imagined corporate spaces across the UK through the infusion of greenery, these are some of the top benefits plants can have in terms of building more productive and engaged teams.
Enhanced Focus and Cognitive Function
Greenery can be extremely energising, often resulting in improved cognitive function.
The science behind why greenery enhances focus is related to a concept called attention restoration. It is based on research by the American Psychological Association which showed that people who work in an environment which features plants show higher cognitive performance in terms of accuracy and speed.
The positive impact on cognitive function when we are exposed to greenery doesn’t just end with our working lives. That’s because the University of Edinburgh also found that gardening is also linked to having sharper cognitive function later in life.
Reduced Absenteeism and Presenteeism
When our workplaces encourage us to have better mental and physical health through the use of greenery, this can also result in reduced absenteeism.
RICS added that 10% of all employee absences can be attributed to working environments that do not connect with nature.
Since greenery can be used to help people feel less stressed and happier at work, it can be a vital tool in engaging and retaining employees.
Furthermore, the benefits of adding greenery in healthcare settings to encourage patients to recover faster also extend to when greenery is used in corporate spaces.
Creativity Boost
Connecting with nature can also enhance creativity, which is essential for problem solving within the workplace.
Something many people experience is how energising a walk outside can be when they are stuck on a particular task. Adding plants into a workspace can work much the same to inspire our creative thinking, whether the plants appear in the office itself or within exterior break areas.
One study found that when plants were placed in a student computer lab, students worked 12% faster.
Design Principles For Incorporating Greenery Effectively
To maximise the outcome of any project to improve wellbeing in the workplace, basic design principles should be factored in.
The benefits of working with the greenery experts here at Planteria means we’ll do this on your behalf.
However, if you are based outside of the UK these are some of the top things to look out for.
Plant Selection And Placement
As biophilia experts, one of the key things we do for our clients is curate our plant selections based on their objectives for the space.
In the case of plants which increase productivity, we can not only select the most suitable varieties, but also ensure they are strategically distributed throughout your corporate setting.
Low maintenance plants like snake plants, pothos and ZZ plants are ideal for offices, especially as they are tolerant of low lighting conditions. However, there is an endless array of plant varieties to explore, all with different colours, heights and textures.
Biophilic Design Elements Beyond Plants
Plants are an integral part of biophilic design, but they are not the only way to connect your employees with nature.
Additional aspects to consider include access to natural light, views of nature, natural materials, natural colours, organic shapes, air quality and acoustic comfort.
Ultimately, when all of these elements are optimised in addition to the use of greenery, it contributes towards a more cohesive and productive working environment.
Space Optimisation
When approaching any kind of architectural or interior design project, there also needs to be a consideration of how the space is used.
A clever aspect of plants is that they can be added not just to pots in offices, but also to larger architectural structures such as walls and ceilings.
Greenery can also be incorporated into all aspects of a building such as entrances, lobbies and break rooms to ensure every corner of the space benefits from biophilia.
Case Studies And Examples Of Successful Green Spaces
Depending on where you live in the world, you may have already seen some incredible examples of greenery being used to improve wellbeing in buildings near you. For instance, in offices, healthcare centres or transport hubs.
Here in the UK where the Planteria team are based, there is also a growing awareness of how biophilia can positively impact the workplace.
These are some of the local and global projects that have caught our attention.
Google’s London Office
In recent years, even the corporate giants have focused on biophilic design to get the best out of their people. Google is one such example, as it has recently completed a brand new office construction in Central London. Dubbed ‘The Landscraper’, it features 3,800 sqm of green roof space. The biophilic approach at Google is designed to increase employee satisfaction and retention, with the exterior planting also helping to boost biodiversity.
Amazon’s Seattle Spheres
Another well known example of corporate biophilic design is Amazon’s The Spheres (also known as Seattle Spheres) which is home to 40,000 plants. The idea behind The Spheres was to replace the one thing that is often forgotten about in corporate environments—a connection with nature. This captivating space in the heart of Seattle is designed to promote wellbeing and creative thinking, with employees also being given access to a greenhouse-like setting for meetings.
Hospitality Industry Example (Interface)
At Cranfield University, flooring company Interface was tasked with redesigning a key area of the building to encourage independent thinking as well as better collaboration among students. Biophilic design was implemented throughout, including flooding the space with natural light and adding lots of plants. The design was a huge success for both staff and students.
Greenery Wellbeing FAQs
Curious to learn more about how infusing greenery into your building can improve wellbeing? We’ve answered some common queries below.
However, if you are currently redeveloping a corporate space in the UK, our biophilia experts can also advise you personally. Please contact us to find out more.
Why Add Plants In The Workplace For Wellbeing?
Our cities are often inshort supply of nature. Not interacting with nature especially when we feel stressed or burdened with work can actually intensify any negative impacts on our mental and physical health.
Plants are the easiest way to connect employees with the natural world, and can encourage them to be more productive and engaged at work. Crucially, plants also support our wider wellbeing needs, including the need we all have to pause and reset at various points in the day.
From reducing stress to purifying the air, plants can provide an untold number of wellbeing benefits in the workplace. All of which can make that workspace a much more attractive place to spend time in.
What Are Some Corporate Biophilic Design Benefits?
As an architect, developer or decision-maker involved in the design of a corporate space, ROI is likely a top factor when considering biophilic design.
Biophilic design can help your project meet an endless number of objectives from sustainability requirements to reducing employee turnover. That’s because plants make workspaces engaging places to spend time in. By connecting teams with nature, they also become better connected with each other.
Ultimately, biophilic design seeks to enhance the built environment for the benefit of everyone who uses the space. Therefore, its benefits within a corporate setting cannot be underestimated.
How To Improve Employee Wellness With Greenery
The short answer is to add greenery to your commercial space! It is a well known fact that being surrounded by greenery is good for us, not least when it comes to promoting better mental and physical health.
If you want to reduce absenteeism among your employees, and also encourage them to be at their best at work, greenery is definitely the way to go.
Whether greenery is installed on its own or to complement other wellbeing measures in the workplace, it can have a transformative impact on any corporate environment.
Office Plants Productivity – What’s The Link?
Adding plants into an office space makes workplaces more productive places to be.
Plants possess incredible capabilities to reduce mental fatigue, improve concentration and encourage creativity. However, they also work to inhibit stress which in itself can also boost productivity.
Depending on the layout of your commercial space, our biophilia experts can get strategic with the types of plants we install to meet different objects.
For instance, some spaces can be made to feel more energetic and productive, whereas others can allow for calm and relaxation. In tandem, we can ensure your office plants make your workplace feel inviting but most of all an inspiring place to work.
What Are Some Wellbeing Benefits Of Biophilic Design?
Incorporating nature into your building through biophilic design has many associated wellbeing benefits.
Various studies have shown biophilia has the potential to lower stress, enhance mood, boost cognitive function, improve air quality, reduce sickness and even promote faster healing of physical ailments.
If there is a particular aspect you are looking to achieve within your commercial space, allow the experts here at Planteria to help! Based on your objectives, we can suggest the most suitable plant varieties and installation techniques to improve wellbeing.
Planteria – Discover Our Commercial Greenery Services For UK Businesses
Are you involved in the redevelopment or management of a commercial building? Discover how our commercial plants can uplift your space, including to improve wellbeing.
Planteria is based in Essex and operates across London as well as the wider UK.
Our services include Christmas plants, exterior planting, flowers for businesses, green walls indoor plants, office plant displays and more.
Get a free quote for any of our services by filling in our contact form or giving us a call on 0345 505 3333.
