In the midst of COVID work environment, we are seeing an increased demand for indoor plants. You might have witnessed this firsthand during a visit to the local garden center for the purchase of house plants. The human desire to stay connected with nature and a natural way of cleaning indoor air have a lot to do with the recent plant boom. As employees partially return to their offices and other indoor work environments, employers are taking the opportunity to make the workplace more inviting by adding indoor live plants. This is to help create an office environment that is more inviting and collaborative. Many companies have expanded their meeting space and/or converted cubicle spaces to an open work area where employees can come in just for collaborative meetings while keeping the flexibility of work from home. Plants are an essential part of this new design as well. For other companies where they do not have space to create open spaces, they are using plants to create work area separation. Think of a few cubicles next to each other with plants to soften the space.
Industries Are Now Spending More on Office Environment Than Ever Before
Historically, larger companies and property managers had a budget for indoor plants. However, we are seeing smaller warehouses, restaurants, hospitals, airports, boutique firms, and even a construction company with trailers adding plants to their indoor work environment. I have been told that adding plants has uplifted the spirit of staff and visitors in the office. Employees appreciate the efforts their companies are making to enhance the workplace environment. It continues to prove that the ROI on indoor office plants is very high.
What Studies suggest about Plants In The Workplace
Here is an article from WeWork, a co-sharing office concept and with a specialization in enhancing workplace environments. You should also note the reference made in the article to Apple and Amazon campuses.