Have We Designed Nature Out of the Workplace? with Sadig Alakbarov & Vanessa Lindbeck
The workplace is changing faster than the conversations guiding it. We’re stepping up with a sharper plan for Season Seven: weekly episodes designed to spark action, challenge assumptions, and give you practical tools to build spaces and businesses that actually work.
Most workplaces are packed with technology, furniture, and polished surfaces, yet they still feel strangely exhausting. It’s because there is a very important yet simple missing ingredient: nature.Â
Sid sits down with Sadig, founder and CEO of Greenmood, and Vanessa, who leads sales and market development in North America, to talk about what it takes to bring biophilic design into commercial interiors in a way that’s practical, sustainable, and genuinely helpful for people.
They get specific about preserved plants and moss and how both are made. Sadig walks through the harvesting and stabilization process where the plant’s natural water content is replaced with a water-based, non-toxic glycerin solution, helping the foliage keep its softness, flexibility, and fresh look. Vanessa adds what designers often need most: clear education, real-world performance expectations, and resources that make specifying biophilic elements easier across workplace design, hospitality, and healthcare environments.
Then they move beyond aesthetics into function.Â
They talk about acoustic value and why certain moss products can deliver serious sound absorption, with NRC ratings that compete with many synthetic acoustic panels. The trio also explores cork as a sustainable, recycled and recyclable material that supports acoustic comfort, furniture, and modular space-dividing solutions.Â
If you care about employee wellbeing, stress reduction, and creating spaces people genuinely want to inhabit, this conversation connects the dots. What’s one biophilic element you’d add to your workspace first?
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In this episode:Â
[00:00] Why Offices Feel Unnatural
[02:07] Meet Greenmood And Hear Their Mission
[02:56] From Azerbaijan To Building A Brand
[07:17] Preserved Plants And Naming Greenmood
[13:38] Defining Biophilic Design And Benefits
[19:13] The Glycerin Preservation Process Explained
[30:38] Acoustics Plus Nature Plus Sustainable Cork
[40:58] What’s Next And How To Connect
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is biophilic design, and why does it matter in the workplace?
Biophilic design is an approach to creating indoor environments that intentionally connect people with nature through elements such as plants, natural materials, lighting, and organic textures. In the workplace, these features can contribute to a calmer, more welcoming environment while supporting comfort, focus, and the overall employee experience. Rather than treating greenery as decoration, biophilic design considers how natural elements can improve the way people experience a space.
How do preserved plants differ from living or artificial plants?
Preserved plants are real plants that undergo a stabilization process to maintain their natural appearance, texture, and flexibility without requiring the watering and ongoing care associated with living plants. Greenmood uses a water-based, nontoxic glycerin process that replaces the plant’s natural sap and water content. The result provides a natural alternative to artificial greenery while making biophilic design easier to incorporate into commercial interiors.
Can preserved moss and other natural materials improve workplace acoustics?
Yes. Certain preserved moss products and natural materials such as cork have sound-absorbing properties that can help improve acoustic comfort in commercial spaces. Greenmood provides noise reduction coefficient ratings for its products, allowing designers and dealers to evaluate their acoustic performance. These solutions can combine visual appeal, natural materials, and acoustic functionality within a single application.
Does biophilic design include more than plants and green walls?
Absolutely. Biophilic design can incorporate natural materials, acoustic solutions, lighting, furniture, wall applications, ceiling elements, and other features that help people feel more connected to nature. Preserved foliage and moss are part of the conversation, but materials such as cork and products made with recycled content can also support a more thoughtful, nature-inspired approach to workplace design.
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Connect with Sadig & Vanessa:
GreenmoodÂ
InstagramÂ
LinkedIn
Email
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 Connect with Sid:
www.sidmeadows.com
Sid on LinkedIn
Sid on Instagram
Sid on YouTube
The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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