MIAMI, FL, April 18, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Costa Farms wants to help people have a better quality of life with the help of some "living green heroes" -- indoor houseplants.
To help educate people on how to have a better quality of life, Costa Farms, the largest provider of indoor plants in North America, has launched 'O2 For You: Houseplants With A Purpose'.
The "O2 for You" program is designed to spread awareness of the dangers of indoor air pollution and educate about the health benefits of having plants in the home and at work.
"We want to communicate the benefits of indoor houseplants," says Jose Smith, Costa Farms CEO. "Most people are unaware of all the pollutants that exist in the indoor air environment - the glue used on rugs, the tint used in photo copying in the office. We should be concerned equally about the indoor environment as we are the outdoors."
Considering the worldwide research on indoor air pollution, it should indeed be a concern. The National Safety Council reports that 90 percent of a person's time is spent indoors. The EPA found indoor air pollution to be up to 10 times higher - sometimes even worse - than the pollution outdoors.
"'O2 for You' was launched to help people associate the health benefits of indoor plants just as they do with blueberries and antioxidants," says Smith.
Horticulturists Dr. Stanley Kays, Dr. Bodie Pennisi and research associate D.S. Wang at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Science are conducting ongoing research into the ability of how houseplants remove volatile organic compounds from the air.
"We've just begun to scratch the surface on indoor plants and their unique ability to clean indoor air," says Pennisi. "What we're uncovering is the mechanism plants use to clean the air. People appreciate the foliage but it's the synergy between the microflora that live in the soil and the plant's ability to absorb mold and toxins that has a positive impact in cleaning the air."
According to a landmark NASA study, every 24 hours, indoor plants remove up to 87% of dangerous volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) found in common products like tobacco smoke, dry cleaning fluid, carpet glue, printer inks and other air pollutants.The study suggests at least one houseplant for every 100 square feet of living space for optimum effectiveness.
From man-on-the-street interviews to hundreds of plants donated last summer to new mothers in world-class hospitals in NYC and Philadelphia, the 'O2 For You' campaign has captured public attention. Costa Farms intends to continue spreading its message through national and regional media coverage, media tours, online social network marketing with YouTube videos and Facebook groups, and a new website: http://www.O2foryou.org.
"We plan to roll-out Phase II this spring, summer, and fall in hospitals and college campuses throughout America," says Smith. "We're excited that the message that indoor houseplants provide healthy benefits is catching on."
And that message is clear: Plants are more than just a pretty face. They help clean our indoor air and provide oxygen, which helps us have healthier lives.
Major retailers such as Lowe's, Home Depot, and Wal-mart as well as supermarket chains and independent garden centers will be launching the 'O2 for You: Houseplants with a Purpose' campaign this spring- nationwide. For additional information please visit: http://www.costafarms.com.
Costa Farms is the largest producer of indoor plants in North America and the second largest in the world. Founded in 1961 by Jose Costa, the 3rd generation family business specializes in foliage and bedding plants with operations domestically in S. Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and abroad in Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
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