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                    Green Day

GREEN ATTITUDE
OFFICE PLANTS AND WELL-BEING

Take a walk down the corridor at work. Do you notice many plants as you pass by different offices? Besides their aesthetic appeal, there are many reasons to have some greenery in your work environment. Where should we start?

BETH PE’OCH, UNOG

Indoor plants are becoming more and more appreciated for the “work” they do. Research into the beneficial attributes of plants was first conducted by NASA in the 1970s, where NASA scientists discovered that houseplants were able to purify polluted air and water. Since then many countries and authorities have developed their own research programmes.

Current research suggests that indoor plants are beneficial in emitting oxygen; cleaning the air; reducing stress levels; helping to reduce minor ailments; helping to reduce staff absence; helping to improve concentration and increase productivity; and reducing dust and noise pollution. Finally, they can be used to provide shade.

According to some experts, indoor air pollution and low humidity now rank as one of the top five threats to public health. And everyday in the office environment we are exposed to fumes as all sorts of materials and machines release harmful substances, such as formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, solvents, ozone and chemicals found in toner. Studies indicate that exposure to these chemicals can result in headache, fatigue, dizziness, irritated eyes and respiratory complaints. Unless measures are taken, this can often lead to poor concentration and even increases in sick leave.

Certain plants can help out as they release moisture into the air and absorb and break down harmful substances. Research shows that workers who spend over four hours a day in front of a computer screen feel better and are more productive when plants are placed near their monitor.
“The Greening the Great Indoors for Human Health and Wellbeing Report,” released by researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in January 2008, found that having indoor plants made workers happier and healthier. Researchers reported “clear reductions in feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and overall negativity among study participants with plants in their offices.” Even having only one plant made a difference, the research concluded. At the same time, a comparison group tested with no plants showed a trend towards increased stress.
These findings support previous studies that found having plants in the office reduced sick leave. A study carried out in a Norwegian hospital found that staff absence due to illness fell from 15% to 5% when plants were introduced into the workplace.

Ten best plants for the office
So which plants ‘work’ the best? Here’s a quick look at the “top ten.”
Areca Palm (besides removing chemical toxins from the air it also releases copious amounts of moisture into the air); Lady Palm (a slow grower and easy to maintain); Bamboo Palm (one of the top-rated plants tested for the removal of benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde); Rubber Plant (can tolerate dim light and cool temperatures); Dracaena Janet Graig (one of the best plants for removing trichloreoethylene, it can tolerate neglect and dimly-lit environments); English Ivy (releases lots of moisture into the air); Dwarf Date Palm (especially effective for the removal of xylene); Ficus Alii (helps purify the air and is easy to care for); Boston Fern (is the best for removing air pollutants, especially formaldehyde, and for adding humidity to the indoor environment although it needs a lot of attention); Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) (has a high transpiration rate and excels in the removal of alcohols, acetone, trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde).

Source: How to grow fresh air: 50 houseplants that purify your home or office. B.C. Wolverton. Penguin Books, 1996.

Greening the blue?
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has recently issued a memo encouraging all UN staff to get involved in “greening the blue.” In the memo he talks about the progress that has been made to make the UN more sustainable, and highlights achievements to date. With this year’s observance of World Environment Day on 5 June, a new website was launched: www.greeningtheblue.org. It brings together the latest information about what the UN system is doing and offers suggestions for individuals and organizations to get involved. It aims to serve as a platform for taking the “greening the blue” initiative further.

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