{"id":121599,"date":"2023-01-27T07:29:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-27T06:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=121599"},"modified":"2023-01-24T13:34:25","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T12:34:25","slug":"do-plants-clean-the-air-the-future-of-air-purifying-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/do-plants-clean-the-air-the-future-of-air-purifying-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Plants Clean the Air? The Future of Air Purifying Plants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2023\/01\/Bildschirmfoto-2023-01-24-um-12.28.36.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121619\" width=\"793\" height=\"439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2023\/01\/Bildschirmfoto-2023-01-24-um-12.28.36.png 1270w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2023\/01\/Bildschirmfoto-2023-01-24-um-12.28.36-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2023\/01\/Bildschirmfoto-2023-01-24-um-12.28.36-1024x568.png 1024w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2023\/01\/Bildschirmfoto-2023-01-24-um-12.28.36-150x83.png 150w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2023\/01\/Bildschirmfoto-2023-01-24-um-12.28.36-768x426.png 768w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2023\/01\/Bildschirmfoto-2023-01-24-um-12.28.36-400x222.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 793px) 100vw, 793px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s be honest: plants are awesome. These green leafy living organisms don\u2019t only look great on your windowsill but are an essential resource \u2014 we rely on them for food, medicine, habitat, our climate, and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Plus, recent studies have proven that houseplants&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4419447\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">offer health benefits<\/a> like improving concentration and productivity, reducing stress levels, and boosting your mood. But that\u2019s not all \u2014 scientists investigated the capacity of plants to reduce air pollution, and found that plants do have some compelling air purification capacities.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interested in learning more? Neoplants has you covered. Whether you\u2019re on a mission to improve the air quality in a large room or a small living space, this article will tell you everything you need to know about how a plant can become an air cleaner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-are-air-pollutants\">What Are Air Pollutants?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/air-pollution#tab=tab_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Air Pollution<\/a> can be understood as the contamination of several sources by any physical, chemical, or biological agent that changes the natural characteristics of the atmosphere and that has a negative impact on the environment, or our health \u2014 so, what exactly are air pollutants?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, air pollutants are small substances <a href=\"https:\/\/stats.oecd.org\/glossary\/detail.asp?ID=85#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in the&nbsp;air<\/a>, that have the potential to harm human beings, animals, plants, and even buildings. These pollutants take various forms, such as gases, small or large particles, or liquid droplets, and infiltrate the fresh air we breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there are many, the U.S. Clean Air Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six common air pollutants. These air sabotagers are found all over the world. The six pollutants are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Particulate matter (aka particle pollution)<\/li><li>Ground-level ozone<\/li><li>Carbon monoxide<\/li><li>Sulfur dioxide<\/li><li>Nitrogen dioxide<\/li><li>Lead<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These pollutants can come from several sources, but most air pollution is created by humans and human activity, taking the form of emissions from factories, planes, cars, cigarette smoke, or aerosol cans. Other things that can pollute the air include wildfires, dust mites, mold spores, wood-burning fireplaces, and even pet dander or pet hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When released into the environment, ambient air quality decreases, leaving folks susceptible to the many symptoms and side effects notoriously caused by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/15-11-2019-what-are-health-consequences-of-air-pollution-on-populations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">air pollution<\/a>, such as an increased risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer, just to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reducing air pollutants is of the utmost importance \u2014 especially considering that indoor air pollution is up to five times higher than outdoor air pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"can-houseplants-remove-indoor-air-pollution\">Can Houseplants Remove Indoor Air Pollution?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The EPA reports that Americans spend up to&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/report-environment\/indoor-air-quality\" target=\"_blank\">90% of their times indoors<\/a>,  where pollutant levels can be significantly greater than outside air \u2014 and that\u2019s just one of the many reasons why it\u2019s so important to ensure clean indoor air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You could look into an energy-efficient filtration system (such as an air purifier with a washable HEPA filter) to help trap and remove pollutants and allergens. However, there\u2019s a catch \u2014 you need to make sure you have an adequate system for your specific room size, in addition to changing out the air purifier filter regularly via replacement filters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are far too small to filter out, meaning if you get a portable air purifier with HEPA filtration, the breathing air in your indoor spaces can still be compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the best air purifiers can still leave your breathing air at a less-than-ideal level of pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, we have plants. Through photosynthesis, plants convert light and carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2<\/sub>) into food to fuel growth and release oxygen (O<sub>2<\/sub>) along the way. And in addition to removing CO<sub>2<\/sub> and creating O<sub>2<\/sub>, some plants absorb other pollutants, leaving the ambient air a little cleaner.<br><br>That said, the truth is that you\u2019d need many houseplants to have any real impact. In one study, several potted plants were tested, and snake plants and spider plants were among <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/citations\/19930073077\" target=\"_blank\">the&nbsp;best performing against VOCs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Neoplants, we used the same experimental setup to compare Neo P1 to the best performing houseplants and assess its capacity to remove VOCs \u2014 and results showed that Neo P1 <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1RbNU1iiJ9ZdST9BAp07_iZbhtIx0mWr_\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">is up to&nbsp;30 times better<\/a> than even the best potted plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-do-neoplants-work\">How Do Neoplants Work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Neoplants are plants designed to fight air pollution by capturing and recycling VOCs like toluene, benzene, xylene, and formaldehyde from the air so you and your family can breathe a little easier. In other words, it&#8217;s like an air purifier \u2014 with greenery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Genetic Engineering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to genetic engineering of the Golden Pothos, our revolutionary Neo P1 plant, the first and only bioengineered plant to purify indoor air, works to recycle toxic VOCs into amino acids, and sugar.<br>All plants typically metabolize CO2 \u2014 but the DNA of our revolutionary plant has been meticulously engineered to add new enzymes that can also metabolize VOCs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A product of cutting-edge biological sciences and proven to clean your home\u2019s ambient air (which is more than can be said for air purifying machines),&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/neoplants.com\/product\" target=\"_blank\">Neo P1<\/a> captures and recycles VOCs with unprecedented efficiency so that you can rest easy knowing that the air you breathe is a little cleaner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pollutant-Absorbing Soil<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to increase Neo P1\u2019s purifying capacity, it operates in tandem with its own unique microbiome, which is found in the soil close to the plant\u2019s roots. It is this incredible microbiome that we\u2019ve added to Neo P1 that increases its air-purifying capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maximize Passive Airflow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Neo P1 also includes an innovative shell made from eco-friendly, biodegradable PLA Flax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This shell is masterfully-crafted with air vents located on the bottom to maximize the exchange of air between the room and the soil, while also increasing root growth and maintaining Neo P1\u2019s overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Let\u2019s Compare<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how does Neo P1 compare to other houseplants?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll be honest \u2014 when it comes to cleaning ambient air, Neo P1 simply can\u2019t be beat, as it\u2019s been carefully bioengineered by our incredible team of scientists to target, capture and recycle some of the most dangerous indoor pollutants.<br>Some houseplants are able to capture pollutants, but Neo P1 operates with a new set of enzymes, microbiome, and a unique planter design that make it 30 times more efficient than the best purifying houseplant. And unlike regular plants that typically metabolize CO2, Neo P1 converts VOCs <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1RbNU1iiJ9ZdST9BAp07_iZbhtIx0mWr_\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">into useful metabolites<\/a>, making it an incredibly powerful plant and an elegant way to purify the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, Neo P1 is up to 30 times more powerful than most air-purifying houseplants. Plus, it\u2019s good for the environment and gorgeous for your home. We\u2019ve engineered a new era of plants, and Neo P1 is the first of its kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"breathe-easy-with-neoplants\">Breathe Easy With Neoplants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless you have a ton of regular potted plants around your home, chances are your green leafy babies aren\u2019t doing much in terms of combating air pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So if you\u2019re relying on a houseplant or two to reduce levels of volatile organic compounds in your home (which are commonly found in household products, personal care items, and building materials), you may want to consider other methods to clean the air \u2014 such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/neoplants.com\/product\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Neo P1.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bioengineered to efficiently capture and recycle the most dangerous VOCs, Neo P1 results from cutting-edge metabolism engineering and directed evolution of beneficial bacterial strains, forming Neo P1\u2019s microbiome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The combination of these two features enabled us to drastically increase the plant&#8217;s air purification power and capabilities. As a result, we bring you Neo P1 \u2014 the world\u2019s first and only plant designed to purify the air in your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/neoplants.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Join us<\/a> in our mission to bring this radically new way of breathing cleaner air to life. And don\u2019t forget to join our waitlist to have a chance to get Neo P1 when our pre-orders open!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Interaction with indoor plants may reduce psychological and physiological stress by suppressing autonomic nervous system activity in young adults: a randomized crossover study <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4419447\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PMC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Air pollution <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/air-pollution#tab=tab_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WHO<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>OECD Glossary of Statistical Terms &#8211; Air pollutants Definition <a href=\"https:\/\/stats.oecd.org\/glossary\/detail.asp?ID=85\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OECD<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Health consequences of air pollution on populations <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/15-11-2019-what-are-health-consequences-of-air-pollution-on-populations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WHO<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Indoor Air Quality <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/report-environment\/indoor-air-quality#note2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">US EPA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement <a href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/citations\/19930073077\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let\u2019s be honest: plants are awesome. These green leafy living organisms don\u2019t only look great on your windowsill but are an essential resource \u2014 we rely on them for food, medicine, habitat, our climate, and more. Plus, recent studies have proven that houseplants&nbsp;offer health benefits like improving concentration and productivity, reducing stress levels, and boosting [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","nova_meta_subtitle":"Recent studies have proven that houseplants offer health benefits like improving concentration and productivity, reducing stress levels, and boosting your mood","footnotes":""},"categories":[5572],"tags":[11270,5842,5847,5796],"supplier":[3827,21657,295,1214,2714],"class_list":["post-121599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bio-based","tag-biodegradability","tag-biomass","tag-bioplastics","tag-biotechnology","supplier-nasa","supplier-neoplants","supplier-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-oecd","supplier-united-states-environmental-protection-agency-epa","supplier-world-health-organization-who"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121599"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121599\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121599"},{"taxonomy":"supplier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/supplier?post=121599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}