Why plants in your workplace could be beneficial to your business

The first national lockdown saw a spike in houseplant sales as the country’s non-essential workforce was forced to either work from home or spend their newly acquired free time adding to a space that they were now confined to. Greenery, and the responsibility to tend and care for something, became a sort of escapism during a time that was uncertain and ever-changing.

If you are not lucky enough to stare at a green scene out of your window, the options to bring a greenspace inside are endless. With the houseplant market dramatically expanding, (with an increase in sales by 82% from July 2019 to July 2020, according to the Garden Centre Association), there is now a whole host of exotic plant options to choose from, which were not previously accessible. Patch Plants, a leading online indoor plant retailer saw a drastic increase in sales during the lockdown, sell all sorts of marvels from Alocasia stingrays to Fiddle-Leaf Figs.

Now is the time to create a green sanctuary in your workspace, whether that is at home or in the office. Not only are indoor plants appealing to the eye, they also provide a host of other benefits including:

• Helping to reduce stress
• • Active interaction, touching and smelling, with indoor plants can reduce physiological and psychological stress (Study by the Journal of Physiological Anthropology)
• Increase productivity and creativeness
• • A study by the University of Exeter found productivity was increased by 15% when surrounded by greenery in the office (Science Daily)
• Aiding in the reduction of noise levels
• • The Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea found, in an experimental study, that the vibration of a sound wave is absorbed by leaves, branches and soil – potentially aiding in the prevention of office noise distractions (Hanyang University Study)

“Businesses should rethink their lean [stark minimalism] processes, not only for the health of the employees, but for the financial health of the organization.” (Science Daily)

Nature is well-known to harbour creativity, and many businesses have latched on to this idea.

In January 2018, on a larger and more extravagant scale, Amazon headquarters in Seattle, Washington, unveiled their “Spheres”. The Spheres compromise of around 40,000 plants from more than 30 countries to create an urban oasis for their employees, in a bid to increase the desire to arrive at work. Amazon’s head horticulturist, Ron Gagliardo, wanted to cultivate a manmade jungle to relieve the stress associated with running a successful business. This feeds in to the idea that by inspiring employees, and reimaging a traditional office space, productivity as well as the visual attractiveness for prospective employees can be advanced.

This can lead the way in becoming a model for smaller businesses to base their offices on, albeit significantly downscaled.

Lets aim to move away from an entirely concrete jungle and put efforts into creating a more nature-driven environment in our workplaces, to benefit ourselves and our businesses, even if it is just a few small indoor plants.