Plant Life
How Office Plants Produce Happiness and Productivity
The Science of Space
The Science of Space explores how intentional design can turn any work environment into a holistic experience. Office greenery increases workplace happiness and heightens productivity, and many of the most successful companies in the world are are incorporating living walls, indoor plants and courtyard landscaping into their office layouts.
Apple planted over 9,000 trees at its Silicon Valley campus, Amazon’s Seattle headquarters contains “spheres” of over 40,000 plants from around the world, and greenery is a staple in all We Work co-working spaces.
But the trend is about more than just aesthetics. There are real mental and physical benefits.
We Work office space in Sydney, Australia
The Benefits of Plant Power
In 1989 research by NASA scientist Bill Wolverton declared plants to be a “promising economic solution to indoor air pollution.” Scientists found that plants were adept at removing chemicals such as benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air, making it cleaner for humans to breathe.
More recent research led by Dr. Fraser Torpy at the University of Technology, Sydney found that plants can help reduce carbon dioxide levels by about 10% in air-conditioned offices, and by about 25% in buildings without air conditioning.
One of the first studies into the long-term effects of office plants was conducted in 2014 by researchers in Australia, the UK, and the Netherlands. It examined three office environments over several months and found greenery significantly increases workplace satisfaction in employees, heightens self-reported concentration levels, and improves perceived air quality.
Indoor Plants Reduce Stress
Attention restoration theory suggests that even just images of nature can shift the brain into a different processing mode, making one feel more relaxed and better able to concentrate.
A study by the Agricultural University of Norway in the 1990s found that the introduction of plants to an office was linked to a 25% decrease in symptoms of ill health, including fatigue, concentration problems, and eye and nose irritation. And in 2010, a similar study found significant reductions in stress among workers when plants were introduced into their workspace.
Results included:
a 37% fall in reported tension and anxiety;
a 58% drop in depression or dejection;
a 44% decrease in anger and hostility;
and a 38% reduction in fatigue.
In 2015, the Human Spaces report found that in offices with natural elements, employees scored 15% higher for creativity than those in offices that didn’t include plant life.
The Color of Love and Money
Proponents of color psychology argue that the color green has a relaxing and calming effect.
Every color has a story, and the history of green in our society is a particularly interesting one. Since ancient times, humans have been trying to reproduce the color of Chlorophyll, which gives plants their luminous green. But the color green is notoriously difficult to manufacture as a pigment. The hue is dangerous to create, and its pigments have been some of the most poisonous in history.
In ancient Egypt, green was the symbol of regeneration and rebirth. Egyptians tried using the copper mineral malachite to paint tomb walls, but it was expensive and turned black over time. Next, the ancient Romans soaked copper plates in wine to create a green pigment, but it was never the bright green of natural plant life.
In the Middle Ages, the color of one’s clothing indicated a person’s social rank and profession. Green was worn by merchants and bankers. Brides in green dresses in paintings from the 1400’s indicated status and wealth, but the green in paintings from the this time and the Early Renaissance fades with time.
Finally, in 1775, Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele invented a beautiful, bright green hue called Scheel’s Green. But it was deadly, as it was made with the toxic chemical, arsenite. It was extremely popular by the end of the 19th century, but came with a price. Scheele’s Green was used on paper, wall hangings, fabric, and even children’s toys. Unfortunately, 19th century journals contain countless reports of children becoming ill in bright green rooms, and ladies in green dresses becoming sick from consuming the toxic vapors. Historians believe the pigment caused the death of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1821, as his bedroom wallpaper featured the deadly hue.
It didn’t get any better at the end of the 19th century. A similar pigment called Paris Green replaced Scheele’s Green. This pigment was used by French Impressionists such as Monet, Cezaanne, and Renoir to create their lush green landscapes. But some scientists and chemists believe the pigment may have been responsible for these painters illnesses, including Monet’s blindness. Eventually, Paris Green was banned in the 1960’s.
Today, green is associated with the color of Venus, and love in some astrological circles, but for most, it represents being environmentally conscious. The color has become a symbol of sustainability and eco-friendliness. However, many versions of the color green are still damaging to the environment. Despite all the modern advances in technology and pigments producing green is remains difficult, and many hues continue to feature toxic substances. A very popular green today often used in plastics and paper is called Pigment Green 7, and contains chlorine which can lead to illness and even death if consumed.
Despite its pigments history as a harmful chemical, green is still associated with feelings such as vitality, freshness, health, and calm. And the very best way to get the benefits of bathing your psychology and physiology with this historically venerated color - is with real plant life.
So get a potted plant, and imbue your work space with verdant, energy-giving, stress-relieving beauty. Because in this department, man has not yet managed to imitate nature. And as the Chinese proverb says, “He who plants a garden, plants happiness”.
“The future will either be green, or not at all.”
Bob Brown