In light of the 2024 International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on September 7th, Fellowes is excited to share the results of our annual Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) survey¹, which highlights the critical importance of IAQ in workplaces globally. This year’s theme, “Invest in #CleanAirNow,” serves as a powerful call to action, emphasizing the urgent need for increased investment, stronger policies, and shared responsibility to combat air pollution. 

Air pollution, both indoors and outdoors, has profound effects on our health, economy, and climate. Our indoor environments, where we spend the majority of our time, play a crucial role in our overall well-being. Without proper filtration systems, outdoor pollutants can easily infiltrate and circulate within indoor spaces, exacerbating health risks. This underscores the importance of collective action from governments, corporations, civil society, and individuals at local, national, and international levels to address air pollution and its detrimental impacts. 

The goals of International Day of Clean Air are to reduce air pollution, protect human health, and enhance climate change mitigation efforts. As we all share and breathe the same air, we have a collective responsibility to protect our atmosphere and ensure healthy air for everyone. Fellowes is proud to contribute to these efforts by once again publishing our exclusive “Fellowes 2024: International Day of Clean Air Survey,” which features insights from corporate workers across the US, Canada, UK, Italy, France, and Germany. 

Fellowes conducts this proprietary survey each year as part of its commitment to understanding workers’ needs and concerns to better help buildings meet those needs. “Indoor air quality (IAQ) impacts people’s everyday functioning,” says Arti Lyde, Global General Manager of Air Quality Management at Fellowes. “Our yearly survey allows us to understand global pain points concerning IAQ, follow developing trends in IAQ knowledge and concern levels, and contribute these insights to ongoing global IAQ discussions.” 

A Growing Concern for Workplace Air Quality 

One of the most striking results from this year’s survey is the perception of air cleanliness in workplaces. Only 35% of all respondents describe the indoor air at their workplace as “very clean,” a marginal increase from last year’s survey at 33%. When we break down this statistic by region, the problem is more starkly highlighted in Canada and Europe, with only 33% of Canadian respondents rating their air quality as very clean and only 27% of European respondents sharing the same sentiment. While 52% of U.S. respondents feel their indoor air is very clean this still leaves a large swath of the respondents that did not find the IAQ where they work up to their standards. 

When it comes to specific air quality concerns, North American workplaces seem to grapple with several key issues. The top reported indoor air problems in the U.S. and Canada include inconsistent temperatures (51%), stagnant air (35%), and visible signs of mold, stains, or dust (23%). These factors are not only detrimental to comfort but also indicate potential health risks. Aside from visible mold, water stains can be indicative of mold presence, which can present serious risk for people’s lungs and neurotoxicity.  

What Can Employers Do? 

The survey underscored a nearly unanimous belief that clean indoor air is a fundamental right for all employees. An overwhelming 92% of all respondents feel that it should be guaranteed, with U.S. and Canadian respondents slightly more vocal at 93%. Furthermore, 89% of respondents believe that it is the responsibility of building owners and employers to provide clean indoor air. 

This expectation is not just about comfort; it’s about health and well-being as well as productivity. A significant 90% of all respondents reported that clean indoor air helps them perform their best work, a slight increase from last year’s data. 

Workers across all surveyed regions are in support of employers taking proactive steps to ensure better air quality. A majority of respondents, especially those in Italy (72%), the UK (67%), and Germany (67%), believe that providing air purification units would significantly boost their confidence in workplace air quality. In the U.S., this sentiment is echoed by 60% of respondents, while 56% of Canadian employees agree. This reflects a growing expectation among employees that businesses should prioritize air quality to safeguard their employees’ health. Not only is putting the health and well-being of employees high on the priority list a best-practice, but a less stressed and healthier workplace has been proven to enhance productivity. In fact, there is a direct correlation between increased air filtrations and employee output, with a study referenced in Harvard Business Review correlating increased ventilation rates by 200% with an increase in productivity yielding an additional $6,500 per employee, per year. 

IAQ’s Big Impact on Workplace Dynamics 

Most notably, the quality of indoor air is increasingly influencing workplace dynamics and employee retention, the latter of which has been a significant concern for businesses since the global pandemic.  In the U.S., 64% of employees stated they would consider leaving their current job due to poor indoor air quality—a sharp rise from last year’s 34%. Moreover, 67% of hybrid workers indicated that visible improvements in air quality management would make them more inclined to work from the office more frequently. This data suggests that improving IAQ could be a key strategy for employers looking to attract and retain talent in an increasingly competitive job market. 

Finally, our survey found that transparency is key: 82% of all respondents said it’s important for employers to share information about the quality of air in their workplaces. Among U.S. and Canadian employees, this figure jumps to 85%, demonstrating a strong desire for openness and accountability in air quality management. This aligns with the trend of using real-time IAQ data and visible air purification units, which 71% of U.S. respondents cited as factors that help them feel more confident about their workplace’s air quality. 

Celebrate International Day of Clean Air 2024 and Get Involved 

Interested in ways to make a difference towards better Indoor Air Quality? Here are three easy ways you can get involved: 

#1 – Educate and Spread Awareness  

Education empowers people to advocate for themselves and make decisions for the betterment of our collective health. Share information about clean air’s significance through social media and in conversations with your customers. Easy-to-understand and data-driven visuals are particularly effective in raising awareness about the health, environmental, and economic benefits of clean air. 

#2 – Promote Green Practices at Work  

After you’ve educated yourself and others about how inadequate air quality at work can impact your health, it’s time to encourage tracking and traceability in order to get a better understanding of your or your customer’s building environment. Encourage investment in IAQ monitoring as a first step in understanding where to improve indoor air quality in their workplace. Staying informed about air quality with real-time data can help direct resources to the right place, ensuring more effective decision-making and, ultimately, IAQ management. 

Strive for healthy building certifications like WELL, LEED, or Fitwell certifications. See how Array can help meet the air quality standards of these certifications.  

#3 – Participate in Local Air Quality Events  

Look for local events, workshops, and seminars to attend where you can learn more about the air quality issues most impacting your community and potential solutions. There are plenty of organizations nation-wide that are planting trees and maintaining green spaces to absorb outdoor pollutants and release oxygen, enhancing urban air quality and providing shaded, pleasant community spaces. Getting involved within your community not only further enhances your education on the topic, but will help you feel empowered in bettering the health of you and those around you.  

In a world grappling with air pollution’s far-reaching impact, International Clean Air Day emerges as a beacon of hope. Our observance underscores the urgency of collaborative action to combat air pollution, improve indoor and outdoor air quality, safeguard health, preserve ecosystems, and drive sustainable development. At Fellowes, we remain committed to promoting healthy air in workplaces worldwide. As we celebrate International Day of Clean Air, let’s remember that everyone deserves to breathe clean, safe air—it’s not just a preference but a fundamental right. We encourage businesses to continue prioritizing IAQ and adopt strategies that promote a healthier, more productive work environment.  

Join us in celebrating Clean Air Day on September 7th and throughout the entire month!  

You can get started on your clean indoor air journey with a free air quality assessment from Fellowes. Learn more here: https://www.fellowes.com/us/en/catalog/air-quality-management/services/pg/indoor-air-quality-assessment.  

By translating the survey data into actionable insights, Fellowes continues to support workplaces in their journey toward healthier environments. Thank you for joining us in our mission to make clean air a reality for all. 

1. Fellowes fielded the 2024 Annual International Day of Clean Air survey online between August 6 and August 13, 2024, using the SurveyMonkey Audience panel. The survey included 1,994 respondents from the U.S., Canada, France, UK, Italy, and Germany, with a margin of error of +/- 2.2% at a 95% confidence level. The survey targeted adults 18+ who work indoors at least one full day per week. ↩︎