Indoor air quality is one of the most consequential and consistently overlooked factors affecting commercial building performance. From volatile organic compounds emitted by furniture and carpets to CO2 build-up in poorly ventilated conference rooms, the invisible chemistry of the workplace profoundly shapes productivity, absenteeism and long-term occupant health.
Increasingly, building managers, sustainability officers and facilities teams are turning to biophilic design as a practical and cost-effective strategy to address these challenges. Strategically placed indoor plants do far more than improve aesthetics. They actively work to filter toxins, regulate humidity and reduce airborne particulates in ways that complement modern HVAC systems.
At Indoor Plant Solutions, we have been helping Australian businesses create healthier, greener commercial spaces for over 25 years. This article explores the science behind how indoor plants improve air quality, which species perform best and how a professional commercial plant hire programme can position your building to meet and exceed air quality benchmarks.
5x
Indoor air can be 5x more polluted than outdoor air (EPA)
87%
Of VOCs absorbed by plants within 24 hours in NASA studies
15%
Reduction in sick leave in biophilic workplaces
11%
Productivity gains in plant-enriched offices
Understanding Indoor Air Quality in Commercial Buildings
Commercial buildings face a unique set of air quality challenges that residential spaces rarely encounter at the same scale. Open-plan offices, high occupancy densities, synthetic furnishings, industrial cleaning products and recirculated HVAC air all contribute to a concentration of airborne pollutants that build up throughout the working day.
The primary culprits are volatile organic compounds emitted by paints, adhesives, carpets, printers, and office furniture, including benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Carbon dioxide exhaled by occupants is not always adequately diluted in under-ventilated spaces, leading to fatigue and reduced cognitive performance. Fine particulate matter penetrates deep into the respiratory tract, while biological contaminants, including mould spores and allergens, thrive in air conditioning systems or poorly maintained environments.
Low humidity is another common issue. Heated or air-conditioned environments often drop below the 40 to 60 percent relative humidity range recommended for occupant comfort, resulting in dry air, irritated mucous membranes, and increased viral transmission risk.
Australian standards aligned with the WELL Building Standard, NABERS Indoor Environment ratings and Green Star certification set measurable thresholds for pollutant concentrations, ventilation rates and thermal comfort. Meeting these standards is increasingly a contractual requirement for premium commercial tenancies and government-leased buildings.
The Science of How Plants Clean the Air
The foundational research on plants and air quality dates to NASA’s landmark 1989 Clean Air Study, which demonstrated that common houseplants could remove significant concentrations of volatile organic compounds from sealed test chambers. Decades of subsequent peer-reviewed research have refined our understanding of the biological mechanisms involved.
Plants absorb gaseous pollutants through stomata in their leaves, where microorganisms in the root zone and growing medium break down contaminants into nutrients the plant can use.
There are three primary biological mechanisms at work in every planted commercial space. The first is stomatal absorption. During photosynthesis, plants open tiny pores on leaf surfaces to exchange CO2 and oxygen. These same pores absorb VOCs like benzene and formaldehyde, which are then metabolised into harmless compounds within the plant tissue.
The second mechanism is rhizosphere microbial activity. The growing medium surrounding a plant’s root zone hosts a dense community of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that break down absorbed organic compounds into simpler molecules. This is often the more significant removal pathway in real-world conditions compared with laboratory settings.
The third mechanism is transpiration and humidity regulation. Plants release water vapour through their leaves in a process called transpiration. In commercial spaces with dry HVAC systems, a well-planted floor can raise relative humidity by 5 to 10 percentage points, reducing the irritation and viral transmission risk associated with excessively dry indoor environments.
A professionally maintained plant display performs significantly better than a neglected one. Leaf surface area, root health, growing medium quality and watering frequency all influence the rate at which plants filter air, which is why expert maintenance schedules are an essential part of any air quality-focused greenery strategy.
Which plants perform best for commercial air quality?
At Indoor Plant Solutions, our horticultural team selects species based on documented filtration performance, suitability for the light and temperature conditions of each specific space, and the durability needed for high-traffic commercial environments.
Peace Lily
Top VOC remover. Exceptional at removing benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Thrives in low light, ideal for interior offices away from windows.
Devil’s Ivy (Pothos)
Versatile filter. Highly effective against carbon monoxide, benzene and formaldehyde. Extremely hardy and suits almost any commercial environment.
Dracaena
Humidity regulator. Multiple species remove xylene, toluene and trichloroethylene while providing significant transpiration in dry spaces.
Zanzibar Gem (ZZ)
Low-light specialist. Outstanding resilience in minimal natural light. Removes VOCs steadily and requires minimal maintenance intervention.
Rubber Plant (Ficus)
Large-scale filtration. Large leaf surface area creates high stomatal absorption rates. A statement piece that works hard on air quality simultaneously.
Boston Fern
Humidity champion. One of the highest transpiration rates of any indoor plant, excellent for buildings with chronically low humidity readings.
Selection is always site-specific. Our team assesses ambient light levels, HVAC airflow patterns, temperature ranges, and occupancy schedules before recommending a species mix. Buildings pursuing Green Star or LEED certification benefit from our tailored plant selection reports, which document anticipated IAQ improvements as part of the credits submission process. Browse our full product range to explore available species and container options.
Density, Placement, and HVAC integration
A common misconception is that a handful of desk plants meaningfully transforms building-wide air quality. While individual plants do contribute, research consistently shows that density matters. Studies by the University of Technology Sydney suggest approximately one medium-to-large plant per 10 square metres of occupied floor area is needed to produce measurable IAQ improvements in typical office conditions.
Strategic placement amplifies results considerably. Positioning plants near air supply vents maximises the volume of air that passes across leaf surfaces. Clustering plants in reception areas, open-plan workplaces and meeting rooms targets the zones with the highest occupancy and CO2 accumulation. Living green walls concentrate a large amount of leaf surface area within a compact footprint, making them particularly efficient in space-constrained buildings. Plants positioned near printers, photocopiers and high-traffic corridors address the localised VOC hotspots these areas routinely generate.
During the initial site consultation, our team works alongside your facilities manager or interior designer to develop a placement plan that integrates with your existing HVAC layout rather than conflicting with it.
Green Star, WELL and NABERS: the Certification Connection
For building owners and tenants pursuing sustainability credentials, indoor plants are not merely decorative. They represent a documentable contribution to certification scores, and Indoor Plant Solutions’ services are specifically structured to support your compliance journey.
Under Green Star frameworks, credits are available for indoor environmental quality measures, including VOC reduction strategies and biophilic design elements. Our Twice as Green initiative restores and recirculates plants rather than disposing of them, contributing directly to sustainable materials credits and reducing project waste.
The WELL Building Standard includes explicit requirements for air quality, including restrictions on VOC sources and benchmarks for CO2 levels. A professionally maintained indoor plant programme addresses both the removal of existing VOCs and the creation of a measurable improvement in ambient air chemistry over time.
Under NABERS Indoor Environment ratings, occupant satisfaction, thermal comfort and air quality are all assessed. Buildings with active biophilic programmes consistently report higher occupant satisfaction scores, a metric that feeds directly into NABERS ratings and, in turn, lease negotiations and building valuations. Learn more about our certification support on our sustainability page.
The Business Case: Productivity, Retention and Brand
The commercial argument for indoor plants extends well beyond compliance. Research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that enriching a lean office space with plants improved productivity by 15 percent, a figure attributed to improvements in air quality, acoustic comfort and psychological wellbeing. A separate study from the World Green Building Council linked poor indoor air quality to a 6 to 9 percent reduction in cognitive function, translating directly into measurable output losses for knowledge-work businesses.
Staff retention is another underappreciated factor. In competitive talent markets, the physical quality of the workplace influences whether employees choose to stay or leave. Biophilic environments signal an employer’s investment in staff wellbeing, a message that resonates strongly with younger workforces who increasingly prioritise health and sustainability in their employment decisions.
For client-facing spaces, the impression that a thoughtfully planted environment creates is immediate and powerful. A reception area or boardroom with healthy, professionally maintained greenery communicates attention to detail, environmental responsibility and commitment to quality. These associations matter for professional services firms, financial institutions and any business where first impressions carry commercial weight.
Sectors including healthcare, banking, retail and education all benefit from the combined functional and experiential improvements that a well-designed indoor plant programme delivers. Our industries page explores the specific challenges and solutions relevant to each sector in depth.
How Indoor Plant Solutions Delivers Results
Our end-to-end service model is designed to eliminate guesswork and guarantee outcomes. The process begins with a thorough site visit during which our team assesses lighting, airflow, temperature and spatial constraints before producing a tailored proposal. Installation is handled entirely by our team, with careful attention to placement, pot selection and a clean, professional finish.
Ongoing professional maintenance visits every two to four weeks ensure plants remain healthy and performing at their best. Services include watering with sub-irrigation systems where appropriate, fertilising, pruning, pest and disease management and leaf cleaning. If a plant is not thriving, we replace it at no additional cost under our quality guarantee.
With our own specialty nursery growing plants specifically for commercial indoor conditions, and a team of over 150 staff servicing Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and beyond, we have the scale and expertise to deliver consistent results across single sites and national portfolios alike.
FAQs
How do indoor plants improve air quality in commercial buildings?
Indoor plants improve air quality by absorbing pollutants such as volatile organic compounds through their leaves and root systems. Microorganisms in the soil break down these toxins, while plants also help regulate humidity and oxygen levels.
Can indoor plants replace HVAC systems?
No, indoor plants do not replace HVAC systems. They complement them by improving air quality naturally, helping to reduce pollutants and enhance overall indoor environmental conditions.
How many plants are needed to improve indoor air quality?
For measurable impact, studies suggest around one medium to large plant per 10 square metres. The exact number depends on space size, occupancy and ventilation.
Which indoor plants are best for air quality?
Plants such as Peace Lily, Devil’s Ivy, Dracaena, Rubber Plant and Boston Fern are commonly used in commercial spaces due to their ability to filter pollutants and adapt to indoor conditions.
Does plant maintenance affect air quality performance?
Yes, proper maintenance is essential. Healthy, well-maintained plants are significantly more effective at filtering air, while neglected plants lose their ability to perform and may negatively impact the environment.