Plants create a feel-good atmosphere in the workplace

Lean office was yesterday: It's not just stressed-out city dwellers who long for the calming effect of plants in their surroundings. Nature and forests in particular are good for us humans. We recover more quickly in green spaces, relax and perceive our surroundings much more positively. In Japan, forest bathing is considered healing, and more and more people are discovering the calming and meditative effect of nature here in Germany too.

Ein grünes Büro – gestaltet mit WINI Büromöbeln

Green plants in the office

Green plants not only look good, they also improve employees' well-being, creativity and productivity. They have a calming effect and can reduce stress.

Scientists were able to prove this positive effect for the first time in 2014 under real office conditions: Simply placing green plants in a rather sparsely furnished office can increase the productivity of the employees working there by up to 15 %. Their satisfaction and commitment in the workplace improves, and with it their identification with your company.

Better air quality

However, the influence of plants on air quality and humidity is apparently far less than Long assumed. Office plants do indeed improve the indoor climate by reducing the carbon dioxide content in the air, binding dust and improving humidity, among other things. Some plants are even able to filter pollutants. However, the cleaning effects demonstrated in a 1989 NASA study have now been put into perspective by two Dutch scientists: As the NASA study was carried out under laboratory conditions in the smallest of rooms, the results were virtually impossible to prove, they said. For a clear effect, one would need jungle-like zones in the room.

Even if the objectively measurable air improvement is small: the participants in the 2014 study reported significantly better air quality as soon as plants were in the room. This subjective improvement and also the gesture of appreciation that many associate with a green office are important factors influencing well-being in the workplace, creative work and productivity.

Room greening also changes the room acoustics

There are a variety of solutions for positioning green plants in the office: Hanging plants, floor plants, plants on cabinets or even Vertical greenery such as plant walls and plant pictures.

The greenery in the room also influences the acoustics by having a sound-shielding and, above all, sound-absorbing effect at high frequencies. The combination of green plants and acoustic panels, as offered by office furniture manufacturer WINI, creates a particularly protected working atmosphere: Its plant boxes are based on the WINEA MAXX storage system and can be combined with panels from the WINEA SONIC acoustic system (German Design Award Winner 2019). They are available in various heights, widths and depths and can be positioned Free-standing on the floor or on top of the Cabinet. Plant inserts ensure uncomplicated care and protect furniture and floor from moisture.