Many people have experienced the mood-lifting sensation that comes from walking at a tree-filled park.

1. Access to Green Space Can
Improve Wellness in the
Workplace
U.S. Lawns

2. Many people have experienced the mood-lifting sensation that comes from walking at a tree-filled
park. It is no wonder, therefore, that plants and flowers are common in establishments where
individuals might want a pick me up, such as hospitals and workplaces.
Is there, however, a scientific basis for the belief that exposure to greenery is beneficial to an
employee? According to Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education’s
associate director Dr. Emma Seppälä and Johann Berlin of the TLEX institute, there is. They report in
Harvard Business Review that green spaces could enhance wellness in the workplace.

3. The Benefits of Green Space
Seppälä and Berlin say that greeneries profoundly improve mental and physical well-being, which is
why companies like Google prioritize biophilia as a core design principle. These interventions can
minimize everyday stress and boost general health.
Besides reducing stress and improving general health, green spaces make the workplace more
comfortable. An article by Dig This Design states that creating a green area where people come
together for lunch or coffee provides balance to the workday. Plants introduce moisture to the air,
which helps lower the overall temperature and boost levels of humidity, making the place cooler.
This can make employees more comfortable while working. If the plants are big enough, they can
minimize noise between work areas and act as a sound barrier.

4. Minimal Greenery Can Still be Beneficial
What if the workplace does not have a tree or a park near its vicinity? Seppälä and Berlin explain that
minimal access to green space can still provide health benefits. A study published in the Journal of
Experimental Psychology: Applied found that even the addition of office plants was enough to
increase employee productivity and well-being by 15 percent.
If potted plants are not a viable option, Seppälä and Berlin suggest encouraging staff to conduct
meetings outside the office or take the time to look at nature artwork or photography.

5. Sources:
https://uslawns.com/
https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2017/07/05/how-access-to-green-space-can-boost-wellness-in-the-
workplace/
https://hbr.org/2017/06/why-you-should-tell-your-team-to-take-a-break-and-go-outside
https://digthisdesign.net/interior-design/greenery-in-the-workplace-for-wellness-and-productivity/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264395358_The_Relative_Benefits_of_Green_Versus_Lea
n_Office_Space_Three_Field_Experiments