News Increasingly now people and organisations are appreciating the many benefits of introducing selected living plants into the work and leisure space. Not only will plants make an interior space more attractive and enjoyable to be in, they also give us some significant health benefits too. Here’s a short list; Research has shown that plants in the workplace can help us concentrate better, leading to improved creativity and productivity in the workplace. So who knows, your company could benefit massively from a new business idea generated by an employee staring at one of our interior plant installations! Plants do absorb harmful pollutants and toxins from the air such as formaldehyde, benzene and nitrogen dioxide – helping provide a healthier environment Plants will also absorb noise and mitigate dust levels as well as masking unpleasant smells – all these help to make a more comfortable workplace environment. Interior plant installations have also been linked with the reduction in fatigue, stress, headaches and dry coughs – all of which have been linked to ‘Sick Building Syndrome’. Other benefits that can be derived from putting plants into the workplace;.. Plants may help to reduce absenteeism. Research has show that putting plants in buildings can significantly reduce absence from work. Amazingly just a few good-quality plants positioned in the areas where people work or take breaks seem to do the trick. Exactly why this has such a beneficial effect is most likely a subtle but complex mix of the physiological and psychological. But undoubtedly being around plants certainly seems to reduce stress and engender a feeling of well being in most people. It may also be down to the fact that the employer has been prepared to spend money on something that has no obvious function other than to make the workplace more attractive may also be a contributing factor, because thoughtful employers who are prepared to do this are more likely to have more loyal and dedicated staff. Part of our human make up is to enjoy the look and presence of plants; they are aesthetically pleasing. Plants soften sterile interiors, they create a focal point and they can be used to divide areas or screen. They bring nature to work. Just as importantly, they have been shown to significantly improve the air quality inside buildings by absorbing toxins and raising humidity. There is strong evidence to show that office plants help to reduce the effects of Sick Building Syndrome, itself the result of toxins, dry air and dust. Controlled experiments have demonstrated that the presence of office plants really does increase productivity and reduce absenteeism at work. For more details of research into the benefits of office plants in the workplace visit www.plants-for-people.org or www.airsopure.nl. .