💭 Why Renting Office Plants Is Smarter Than Buying
- eloise2118
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 16
When we think about healthy, sustainable office spaces, greenery is often one of the first elements that comes to mind. A tall plant welcoming visitors in the lobby, a desk cactus offering a small moment of calm — even small touches can make a difference.
But one question regularly comes up when companies start to green their workspaces:Is it better to rent office plants, or to buy them directly?
In recent years, more companies across Switzerland and Germany — from Zurich to Geneva to Berlin — have chosen to rent greenery instead of purchasing it outright.
Why? Several factors make plant rental a more strategic choice for modern offices.
Our Expert for this article: our Business Development Manager, Oscar Sarmiento! 🕴🏻
Oscar holds a Master’s in Business Innovation and plays a key role in our team. Known for his expertise and positive energy, he brings both motivation and fresh perspective to every project.
Less Work for You and Better Results for Your Office
Most people know that plants need more than just water once a week — but in busy office environments, ongoing care can quickly become a challenge. Rented plant setups typically come with professional maintenance, which includes selecting species based on space and light conditions, installing them correctly, and keeping them healthy over time.
This is particularly important in offices with varied light conditions or in buildings where indoor climate changes seasonally. The professional maintenance allows you and your colleagues to focus on business, and not to worry about browning leaves!
Flexible Design that Evolves With Your Needs
Workspaces evolve constantly: teams grow, furniture shifts, and layouts adapt to hybrid models. This flexibility is hard to match with static, owned greenery.
Companies that rent plants benefit from setups that can be scaled or reconfigured as their needs change. For example, rebranding, moving to a new space, or simply redesigning a meeting area would never be a problem for your green companions!
Predictable Costs
Buying plants might seem cheaper at first — until they start to die and need replacing.
With plant rental, you pay a transparent annual fee that covers everything: plant care, replacements, expert support — no hidden costs, no unpleasant surprises. And if a plant is not thriving? No problem - it gets replaced free of charge!
Backed by Greenery Professionals
Office plants do more than just look good — they can actively improve health, productivity, and environmental performance. But choosing the right species and placing them where they can truly thrive takes expert knowledge.
For example, at Oxygen at Work, our team of plant specialists, designers, and sustainability consultants supports hundreds of offices across Switzerland and Germany. Every plant concept we deliver is backed by years of experience and data-driven insights thanks to our sensor technology. It does not matter if it is for a small meeting room, or an entire floor.
Buying office plants is not wrong — for some companies, it can be a good fit. But for many, rental offers a more adaptive, low-maintenance, and strategically integrated approach. |
👔 Expert Insight: Oscar Sarmiento
Why are you the right person to talk about this subject?
Over the past two years at Oxygen at Work, I’ve had the chance to bring an innovative business model to life — one that supports companies in creating healthier, more sustainable offices. With my background from the University of St. Gallen and my experience in smart building management, I have always been a fan of service-based models. What I like the most is helping businesses make smarter long-term choices!
What is a common mistake that companies make when they are buying their own plants?
Many assume that buying plants is cheaper than renting. But they often overlook the opportunity costs — the time and resources needed for ongoing care, as well as the eventual cost of replacing unhealthy or dead plants. These hidden expenses can add up quickly, and they rarely contribute to the overall well-being of employees the way a well-maintained, thriving setup does.
If someone came to you with the question "Why should I rent office plants", what would be your winning argument?
Renting sets the right incentives. It gives companies the freedom to focus on their core work, while having the peace of mind that their plant concept will always look lush, healthy, and professional — without extra effort.
How does rental contribute to circular economy principles?
If a project ends or some changes need to be made on certain concepts, healthy plants are reused across different projects, thus extending their life cycle. When plants no longer meet aesthetic standards for office spaces, we collaborate with a Pflanzenbrocki (a plant second-hand partner) to give them a new home.
For those at the end of their life, we work with an energy provider to transform plant waste into biogas, which helps heat buildings. And it is not just the plants — pots are reused across projects too! The entire system is built to reduce waste and close the loop wherever possible.
What is the biggest benefit companies experience when they rent plants instead of buying?
Simply put: no worries. Plants are always well cared for, replaced if needed, and designed to support employee well-being. Companies never have to think about maintenance or appearance because this model just works.
