Over the course of our lives, we spend an average of 250,000 hours locked up in the office .
The air in these enclosed spaces is often considered impure , because electronic devices, paints, air conditioning or heating systems release dust particles or other polluting substances.
Making workspaces more aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable, plants in the office also offer numerous advantages in terms of environmental purification , well-being , performance , and attractiveness .
Discover in this article how to implement a greening strategy in the office and which plants to prioritize .
What does the greening of an office consist of?
The greening of a space relies on the integration of plants and natural elements . It stems from biophilia , an ultra-trendy design movement that invites nature into our interiors.
In a green office , plants do not just play an ornamental role, but aim to make the environment more welcoming, comfortable and stimulating.
Why incorporate plants into the office?
Plants in the office have numerous benefits for the physiological and mental health of employees, their performance, as well as for the image and attractiveness of the company.
Impact of office plants on well-being and productivity
Adding greenery to workspaces primarily improves worker well-being and performance .
A survey of 385 Norwegians in 2007 and a Japanese study from 2019 show that plants in the office significantly reduce stress . In addition to calming employees, they contribute to their good mood and job satisfaction .
Biophilia also has a positive impact on employee productivity and creativity . Several studies, including one from the University of Exeter , highlight that incorporating natural elements into the office contributes to an increase in productivity of approximately 15%. Greenery and plants have a relaxing and inspiring effect, thus stimulating concentration and creativity.
Benefits of greening on air quality and physical health
Plants also improve the environmental conditions of offices , which is reflected in the physical health of employees . Moreover, thanks to their benefits for physical and mental health, they significantly reduce sick leave.
Most plants do, in fact, have air-purifying properties . They can absorb CO2 (50%), dust, mold, and bacteria (20%), and also regulate the room's humidity. In this way, they help purify the air and reduce respiratory illnesses, as described in Bill Wolverton's 1989 work for NASA . Therefore, it is recommended to have one plant approximately every 9 to 10 square meters or for every three people.
According to the American Chemical Society congress held in Philadelphia in 2016, plants can also eliminate certain pollutants , such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds), particularly formaldehyde, benzene and xylene, as well as electromagnetic fields, prolonged exposure to which promotes chronic fatigue, headaches, respiratory irritations, and even more serious health problems.
Beyond improving air quality, greening offices helps reduce ambient noise , a source of distraction, especially in open-plan spaces. Plants thus offer an attractive acoustic solution for professional environments.
Plant design to improve brand image and attractiveness for the company
By improving quality of work life (QWL) and employee satisfaction , plants help to strengthen the company's brand image and attractiveness .
Absenteeism and turnover decrease, while retention and attraction of new talent increase.
Plants allow you to create aesthetic, inspiring and adaptable spaces that reflect your values and commitments to your employees and the environment .
How to intelligently add greenery to your workspace?
While accessible to all businesses, greening professional offices still requires some preliminary research to take full advantage of its benefits.
Define a greening strategy
Clearly defining your business greening strategy is essential to adapting it to your space and budget . To do this, it's best to proceed in stages:
- Identify your needs and objectives: decoration, improvement of environmental conditions (air quality, humidity, acoustics), structuring of space, increased productivity and attractiveness, creation of quiet or relaxation areas…
- Diagnosing the space and its constraints: humidity levels, lighting, circulation…
- Map the areas to be planted with vegetation: individual workstations, reception areas, open-plan offices, meeting rooms or dining areas…
- Determine the most suitable plant density: neither too much nor too little to ensure visual balance and smooth circulation.
- Estimate your resources : overall budget for the plant project and human resources for maintenance.
Note: While adding greenery to an office may seem expensive, the return on investment is substantial and rapid.
Integrating plants in a natural and harmonious way
When adding greenery to a workspace, the idea is not to drown it in plants, but to integrate vegetation sparingly, in a natural and harmonious way .
You can play with heights, textures, and volumes to structure and energize your offices. Opt for plant-based furniture and modular, adaptable compositions that can be changed according to your desires and needs.
Among the possible landscaping options , you could, for example, install:
- A living wall in your reception area to highlight your company values,
- Plants in individual offices to improve concentration and air quality,
- XXL planters in open-plan offices to delineate spaces and absorb noise,
- Hanging lights in relaxation areas for a zen and airy decor.
- a terrace or a green rooftop for revitalizing outdoor breaks.
Take a holistic approach by combining plants with natural light, a harmonious color palette, and quality materials.
Choose plants that are suitable for the conditions and size of the office
Before even choosing your plants, you must determine:
- the temperature,
- brightness,
- the orientation of the areas to be planted with vegetation,
- the available surface area,
- your maintenance resources.
Not all plants thrive in office conditions. Therefore, choose plants that meet your space and time constraints.
Integrate plants into your overall QWL and CSR approach
Your greening project certainly has an aesthetic function, but it must also be part of your QWL and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) strategy .
Putting plants in an office is not an end in itself; it must serve different purposes, with the aim of creating a healthy and sustainable workspace.
What plants are recommended for professional offices?
Not all plants are suitable for workspaces. Certain varieties, which are more resistant and require less water and light, may be preferable.
Their choice should be based on environmental conditions, but also on your objectives.
Top 5 plants for the office
|
Plants |
Interview |
Brightness |
Air purification |
Visual appearance |
Suitable areas |
|
Sansevieria or mother-in-law's tongue |
Very low |
Low to medium |
Yes (carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde…) |
Graphic foliage, grows vertically |
Corridors, open-plan offices, dimly lit offices |
|
Ficus Benjamina |
Weak |
Average |
Yes (formaldehyde, benzene…) Acoustic improvement |
Imposing foliage, focal point |
Individual offices, open-plan offices, reception areas |
|
Pothos |
AVERAGE |
Average |
Yes (benzene, carbon monoxide) |
Drooping foliage |
Shelves, pendant lights, dimly lit desks |
|
Monstera Deliciosa |
AVERAGE |
Average |
Partial |
Graphic and voluminous sheets |
Offices, passageways, reception areas |
|
Aloe vera |
Very easy |
Average |
Yes (carbon monoxide, formaldehyde) |
Succulent Compact |
Individual offices, small spaces, a zen corner |
Easy-care plants adapted to low-light areas
In the office, light and resources dedicated to plant care can be limited. Therefore, it can be advantageous to choose hardy and undemanding species , such as:
The Ficus Benjamina
Easy to care for, it doesn't require much water or special soil. Popular and inexpensive, the Ficus Benjamina also has air-purifying properties.
The Pothos
Adapted to low-light environments, this plant can even survive with only artificial light. Easy to care for, it requires very little water. Its drooping, yellow-tinged leaves make it an excellent choice for shelves or hanging baskets.
The Dieffenbachia
Easy to care for, it should be misted in dry or hot conditions and placed near a window, but not in direct sunlight. Its large, yellow-tinged leaves will add a decorative touch to your office. Handle it with gloves, as its leaves are toxic.
The Monstera Deliciosa
Easy to care for, it should not be placed in direct sunlight. Although very hardy, it will still need some fertilizer and occasional misting with lukewarm water to ensure its longevity and promote growth. Its finely cut leaves will add a striking, graphic touch to your workspace.
Sansevieria (or Mother-in-law's tongue)
Extremely hardy, it tolerates low light and missed waterings without any problem; monthly watering is usually sufficient. This is why it can be placed in a hallway or any area without regular monitoring.
Aloe vera
Belonging to the succulent family, it is particularly easy to care for. Requiring little water, it can easily survive periods of missed watering. In addition to being inexpensive, aloe vera can propagate, increasing its longevity.
Plants with a strong visual impact for open-plan offices or reception areas
Do you want to add greenery to a large area, for example, an open-plan office or a reception area? Opt for plants with a strong visual impact that can help structure and energize the space, such as:
Bamboo
Its vertical and slender growth makes it an ideal choice for dividing spaces. This natural partition will have the advantage of decorating your office while still allowing light to pass through.
Sansevieria (or Mother-in-law's tongue)
Growing vertically without becoming too large, its leaves can reach up to 1.5 meters in height. Adorned with graphic marbling in shades of green and cream, they bring brightness to the room.
Indoor palm trees
For example, Foster's Kentia can give a majestic look to an open space thanks to its height and spread, each reaching up to 3 meters.
The Dracena
Reaching a height of 2 meters, this exotic plant creates privacy in an open-plan office. Furthermore, it has the advantage of adapting to both bright light and partial shade.
The Ficus Benjamina
Its impressive foliage allows it to improve acoustics and create a focal point.
The Monstera
Capable of reaching a significant height and possessing great ornamental power, this plant is widely used to decorate passageways and reception areas.
Ivy
This climbing plant can be used as a living wall or partition, taking advantage of its insulating and sound-absorbing properties, even in dimly lit spaces. Its air-purifying qualities are also appreciated, as it is capable of absorbing formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene.
Options for small spaces or individual offices
While imposing plants are preferred in large spaces to bring rhythm or structure, in small spaces and individual offices, the focus is on ornamental discretion.
Among the plants best suited to small, enclosed spaces are:
- Ferns: For example, the round-leaved Pellea, with a maximum height of 40 cm, can be placed, hung or grown in a terrarium.
- Succulents: Easy to care for, these small succulent plants come in many forms, such as echeverias, lithops or pebble plants.
- Indoor bonsai trees: Known for their small size, despite their diversity, it's best to choose smaller varieties for small offices. Bonsai trees will bring a touch of zen to your workspace without requiring much maintenance.
To save space and play with height, you can also opt for hanging plants.
Air-purifying plants to clean the workspace
If your goal is to purify the air in your office , be aware that there are air-purifying plants , such as:
The Spathiphyllum or Moonflower
This plant is very attractive and floriferous, and it fights against pollutants. In particular, it absorbs ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene.
Ideal for offices and enclosed spaces such as meeting rooms, it requires little light and watering once a week for easy maintenance.
Ficus Elastica or rubber
This species is also not lacking in absorbing pollutants, particularly formaldehyde, toluene, xylene or ammonia.
Robust and imposing, it is particularly suitable for open spaces and reception areas to structure the space while purifying the ambient air.
The Sansevieria
This air-purifying plant is effective against carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and trichloroethylene. In addition, it releases oxygen and regulates ambient humidity.
Chlorophytum comosum or Spider Plant
A champion of “pollution control”, this plant absorbs carbon monoxide, VOCs and formaldehyde.
Easy to maintain, it nevertheless needs to be placed in a bright area. It is particularly suitable for shared offices and collaborative spaces.
The Dracaena Marginata
This species helps to purify space by removing formaldehyde, xylene, trichloroethylene and benzene.
With its graphic and vertical silhouette, it is perfect for structuring the space of an open-plan office with large windows.
Aloe vera
This succulent has a dual purifying function by absorbing certain pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, and also by reducing electromagnetic waves emitted by computers and printers. In addition, it releases oxygen.
The Pothos
This “anti-pollution” agent helps to purify offices by absorbing benzene and carbon monoxide.
Tips and best practices for maintaining office plants and improving project sustainability
Setting up a plant project is good. Maintaining it over time is even better.
Discover our tips to ensure its durability and maintenance over the long term .
Choosing the right location
Location plays a crucial role in the longevity of plants . Therefore, it should not be chosen lightly.
Indeed, depending on the species, plants require more or less light, heat or humidity.
Therefore, plant your plants taking into account their specific needs. Generally speaking, it is not recommended to place plants in drafts or in walkways, as they risk being knocked over.
Daily plant care
Apart from location, keeping plants alive in the long term requires regular maintenance .
You must acquire a minimum of knowledge regarding the needs of each selected species, particularly in terms of watering (dosage, frequency), substrate, fertilizer, and leaf cleaning.
Too little or too much water is a common cause of plant death. To help with this, you can use a hygrometer. This instrument measures soil moisture at different depths, allowing you to adjust watering accordingly.
To boost plant growth and resistance, and also to combat pests, it is sometimes necessary to resort to solutions, preferably natural ones. For example, against scale insects, you can use a mixture of black soap, hot water, alcohol, and citronella essential oil.
From time to time, clean the leaves with a damp cloth and remove any dead (yellowed or withered) leaves.
Note: If you have no resources for maintenance, you can invest in preserved plants . The sap of these natural plants is replaced with a vegetable glycerin-based solution to preserve their freshness and appearance for several years without any special care.
Involve employees
Maintaining plants in professional offices should not depend on a single person. On the contrary, it is more relevant to consider the greening project as a collective project , involving all employees or, at least, those who wish to be involved.
In addition to facilitating maintenance, this collective empowerment helps to strengthen commitment and the sense of belonging to the company , but also to raise employee awareness of well-being and slow-work .
However, while involving employees in this endeavor is essential, it must be based on some best practices such as:
- Appoint a point person: this person, with a green thumb and a passion for plants, can give the necessary maintenance advice and motivate the team.
- Establish a collective routine: organize the sharing of tasks, for example, using a watering schedule. This helps avoid uncoordinated individual initiatives and also ensures continuity of care despite everyone being on leave.
- Organize workshops (optional) to strengthen collaboration, share a fun moment and raise employee awareness of the benefits of plants.
Conclusion
Integrating plants into workspaces is not just a trend, it is a real investment in quality of life, company image and performance.
A green office offers employees a more calming, healthier and more pleasant environment, but also one that is more conducive to concentration, creativity and productivity.
