GREEN BREATH: HARNESSING INDOOR PLANTS TO PURIFY WORKSHOP ENVIRONMENTS IN SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING
D.S.B. Ratnayake*
Industrial Engineering Training Institute, National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority, Katubedda, Moratuwa,Sri Lanka
Session: Technical Session A
Abstract
On the global scale, indoor air pollution in industrial workshops constitutes a significant occupational and environmental concern. Sustainable manufacturing approaches, including biophilic interventions such as the integration of indoor plants, have been explored for their capacity to enhance air quality in a natural manner. This systematic review reflects empirical evidence on the effectiveness of indoor plants in purifying air and boosting health and comfort in built environments, with a particular emphasis on their applicability in manufacturing workshops. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2025 were identified across multiple databases, and those meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed.Findings suggest that certain plant species, including “Spider Plant” (Chlorophytum comosum), “Snake Plant” (Sansevieria trifasciata), and “Golden Pothos” (Epipremnum aureum), effectively suppress concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide (CO2), and particulate matter. In addition, psychological benefits such as stress reduction among workers and improved job satisfaction were consistently observed. Although indoor plants have been widely studied, their application in workshop environments remains underexplored. The review concludes that indoor plants have considerable potential to play a supporting role in sustainable manufacturing, especially in small and medium enterprises, but should be accompanied by traditional air handling systems.
Keywords: biophilic design, indoor air quality, indoor plants, phytoremediation, sustainable manufacturing
DOI: 10.64752/RRBW1321