5 plants great at purifying indoor air

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a problem that many of us are at risk to. In New Zealand, 80% of us live in urban areas, and on average, spend 90% of our time indoors.

This statistic alone forces us to stop and think: are we aware of the risks of an unhealthy indoor environment? Indoor environments can be up 10 times more polluted than outdoor environments, which highlights that it is not only outdoor air that pollutes indoor air.

What else commonly pollutes indoor air?

Some common aspects of SBS include:

• Trichloroethylene – Found in printing inks, paints and varnishes
• Formaldehyde – Found in paper bags, facial tissues and paper towels
• Benzene – Found in plastic resins, dyes and furniture wax
• Xylene – Found in rubber, leather and paint
• Ammonia – Found in window cleaners, floor waxes and fertilizers

Exposure to these toxins indoors is a bit of a scary thought. Luckily, there are aesthetically pleasing and affordable solutions (plants!) which work hard at removing these toxins, and enable productivity. Here are five specific plants that work especially well:

Pothos

Apart from a stunning look, Pothos are extremely effective at purifying indoor air. It fights against xylene, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene, and work beautifully in Green Walls. Green Walls allow for a greater quantity of plants, which contributes significantly to the sustainability of an indoor space. Green Walls and pothos are an opportunity to wow your staff and clients, too!

Peace Lily

Peace lilies are widely regarded as a fantastic plant for purifying the air. Peace lilies help remove trichloroethylene and formaldehyde. The peace lily thrives in low light areas, meaning low light areas indoors can still contribute significantly to purifying the air.

Kentia Palm

Kentia Palms are a popular plant and it's easy to see why. These palms can help add a tropical feel to an indoor space, and are beautiful to look at. They help remove chemicals such as formaldehyde in low, medium and high light environments.

Sansevieria Mother in Law's Toungue

Also referred to as the snake plant,  the Mother-in-Law's Tongue removes formaldehyde. In addition, this plant absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, making it a great choice for purifying the air. Like the Kentia Palm, it thrives in all light levels.

Bamboo Palm

Another wonderful addition to an indoor space, with medium light levels. The Bamboo Palm removes xylene and formaldehyde, and is also a fantastic humidifier.

These five plants can transform any indoor environment from one that is a health risk, to one that facilitates healthy and cleaner air for us to breathe and work in.