Benholm is proud to be supporting an exciting new research study led by Nottingham Trent University (NTU), which aims to better understand how indoor plants can impact health and wellbeing in the workplace.
The study is being conducted in a purpose-built ‘green office’ featuring more than 20 plants and a living green wall. Researchers will monitor participants’ heart rate, blood pressure, and overall wellbeing as they work in this environment, and compare the results with those from a plant-free office setting. The findings could help inform future approaches to healthier, more human-centred office design.
We were delighted to contribute to the project by supplying and installing the plants, including species such as kentia palms, sansevieria, monsteras, and Dracaena Janet Craig—selected for their air-purifying properties and aesthetic appeal. In addition to installation, we provided guidance on plant selection, positioning, and care to ensure the office could support thriving greenery throughout the duration of the study.
Earlier this year, we were pleased to welcome Dr Tatsuya Matsuoka, visiting scholar at NTU from Shimizu Corporation in Japan, to our Falkirk HQ. During his visit, we discussed the practical considerations of integrating living plants into a research environment, including lighting, maintenance, and long-term health of the plants.
“While it’s commonly believed that being surrounded by nature is good for your health and wellbeing, we’re keen to design a methodology which can prove whether or not this is the case in an office environment,” said Dr Matsuoka.
“When you consider how many people work in offices around the world – whether onsite or from a home office – the implications for people’s wellbeing could be considerable. And with increasing interest in healthier work environments, our findings could help shape how offices of the future are designed and maintained for long-term health benefits.”
The project is led by Professor Emeritus Derek Clements-Croome, a visiting professor at NTU from the University of Reading, working alongside Dr Yangang Xing, associate professor at NTU, and Dr Matsuoka. The study is set to run through to December 2025, with results to be published and made available to the public.
“We are connected to nature and it affects us deeply in many ways physically and mentally. At a fundamental level, nature makes an impact on the brain and hence decision-making,” said Professor Clements-Croome.
Dr Xing added: “Biophilic design may not only support employee wellbeing but could also enhance productivity and job satisfaction over time. We hope that this study will pave the way for further international collaborative research into optimising inclusive biophilic design and will inform better designed workplaces to support human health, wellbeing, and contribute to one-planet health over time.”
As a company deeply committed to the benefits of nature in interior spaces, we’re honoured to play a role in supporting this important research and look forward to seeing the findings when they are published.
