Multiple studies have shown just how great houseplants are for us. Yes, they look nice, but having them around also helps keep you healthier and happier. As such, TLR Coworking has invested in a new greenification project for 2023, writes TLR Family member Kelly O’Brien. Read on to find out how TLR is becoming a greener coworking space.
TLR Coworking has always prided itself on a willingness to try new things and explore areas of growth.
As such, the space is currently trialling a brand new greening plan, spearheaded by it’s member Sonja Breuer.
At its most simplistic, this plan involves the installation of plants, both big and small, across various key points of the TLR building – a space which spans one floor of community areas, one floor of coworking, half a floor of private offices, and a rooftop.
In reality, however, the plan is so much more.
Houseplants – the benefits
As mentioned previously, a whole host of scientific studies over the last few years have revealed that indoor plants actually help keep you healthier and happier, offering both psychological and physical health benefits that include:
- Improving your mood
- Reducing fatigue
- Lowering stress and anxiety
- Improving office performance and focus
- Boosting healing and pain tolerance
- Minimising the occurrence of headaches by improving air quality
- Easing dry skin and respiratory ailments caused by dry air
Our green-fingered guru Sonja also highlighted that flowers and plants can also inspire creativity, can help with noise control, and can help conceal/beautify unsightly or boring areas of a room.
She also cited a study which, amazingly, found that people were willing to pay more in retail areas that included trees.
Who is Sonja, and what does she do?
The amazing Sonja Breuer is a German lady, originally from Cologne, who now lives in Spain and has been a TLR Family member since May 2022.
She is extremely passionate about creating well-being in others, and in helping people flourish in their environment. That’s one of the reasons she founded Tapas Eco Farm, right here on the Costa del Sol.
“At Tapas Eco Farm we love growing plants. To say that we are passionate about growing plants is an understatement. We are practically possessed by our mission,” said Sonja.
“When it comes to growing foods, we opt for high nutrient dense foods with ecological methods, such as permaculture and Ayurveda – a tool which uses plants for enhanced well-being, both internally and externally.”
As such, part of Tapas Eco Farm also involves providing plants as a service.
Plants as a service – what’s involved
“Customers pay a monthly fee and get well-cared for plants that keep their space green and healthy,” explained Sonja.
“We grow the plants, deliver them to you, and take care of all maintenance, including watering, fertilisation, foliage dusting and cleaning, potting soil amendment, repotting, pruning, stalking, rotation for even growth… and more. And, if plant replacement is needed, it is done at our expense.”
Furthermore, Sonja explains that plants are essential for human beings to live on this planet, which is why we have a deep symbiosis with them in relation not only to food but also to shelter, clothing, and even medicine.
“Plants are living beings and a positive interaction with plants and humans seems to benefit both parties,” she said.
“An environment with plants is beneficial for human health… for mental, physical and emotional well-being. A world without plants would not be ideal living conditions for humans and animals.”
Creating a happier, healthier TLR
Sonja has installed plants in a myriad of spaces throughout TLR Coworking, predominantly on the ground floor (where you will find couches and a chill-out area, as well as the kitchen and ping pong table), the second floor (which contains hot desks, fixed desks, a meeting room, and various phone booths), as well as on the sunkissed rooftop.
Many members have already commented on the ongoing greenification, commenting on the “calming” presence of some of the larger plants, and expressing their general approval for the project.
Ben Kolp, owner of TLR Coworking, extended a huge thanks to Sonja for her company’s great work and helping to make TLR an even greener coworking space than it already was.
Resources & Studies to support greener coworking
- https://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/health-and-well-being-benefits-of-plants/#.ViUgv9KrRpg
- https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA161199013&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=87565811&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E5b188e15
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S096969891730067X
- https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/188774572.pdf
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041614001648
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S096969891730067X
About Kelly
With professional and educational backgrounds rooted in journalism, Kelly works as a freelance writer – crafting tech content, marketing pieces, social media texts, and newspaper articles.
Originally from Ireland, Kelly currently lives in Málaga and runs her own company – Kelly Mary Media OU. She has been a TLR Family member since August 2021 and, when she’s not knee deep in work, Kelly is off trotting around the globe, documenting her many weird and wonderful (and sometimes cat-accompanied) adventures on Facebook and Instagram.
To read more blog posts by TLR members, check out our blog feed here. You can also click here to learn more about TLR subscriptions.
2 Responses
Artículo interesante y de gran actualidad. Es probable que los coworkings ecológicos, que dan prioridad a la sostenibilidad ambiental, desempeñen un papel cada vez más importante en el futuro del trabajo. A medida que más personas y organizaciones se den cuenta de la importancia de las prácticas sostenibles, es probable que aumente la demanda de espacios de trabajo ecológicos que minimicen el impacto ambiental.
Y creo que una tendencia que probablemente continúe es el uso de fuentes de energía renovables para impulsar los espacios de coworking ecológicos. Esto podría incluir el uso de paneles solares, turbinas eólicas u otras formas de energía renovable para alimentar el espacio.
Gracias por enviar este mensaje “Coworking Bilbao”, esto es muy cierto. El co-working puede desempeñar un papel fundamental en las prácticas de sostenibilidad. De hecho, los millennials y la Generación Z cada vez dan más prioridad a la sostenibilidad y la responsabilidad ambiental en sus elecciones profesionales y expectativas laborales.Esperan que sus empleadores implementen iniciativas verdes. Estas podrían incluir medidas como la reducción de residuos, la conservación de energía, la promoción del reciclaje y la adopción de opciones de transporte sostenible, así como espacios de trabajo que generen oxígeno de manera más ecológica.