Greenairy Says Plant Towers Cut Office VOC Levels 50%
Greenairy says its plant towers cut office VOC averages and peaks 50% in Singapore pilots, with mass production and first installs planned by mid-2027.
Summary
Engineering students Tanvi Thombre and Lakshya Saraf founded Greenairy after Thombre’s best friend fainted and was hospitalized following exposure to fumes from laser cutters, 3D printers and soldering irons in their university makerspace. The startup targets carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, benzine and other volatile organic compounds in sealed schools, offices, hotels, salons and commercial buildings. Its towers draw air through plants and microbes that break down gases without replacement filters or harmful by-products, the founders say. Conventional purifiers capture dust and pollen but remove only limited VOCs, which are linked to chronic disease and sick building syndrome. Harvard research cited by Thombre associates cleaner indoor air with better cognition and productivity.
Short-term Singapore pilots used RESET certified monitors across three offices equipped with Greenairy towers, a medical grade ionizer or a HEPA purifier. Greenairy recorded the lowest VOC levels, fastest removal and an immediate 50% reduction in daily averages and peaks during office hours, with further gains as plants and microbes matured. TÜV SÜD has validated the findings, which Greenairy plans to publish before certification and large-scale manufacturing. Thombre is testing in Singapore while Saraf fundraises in Berkeley, California; both expect to relocate to Singapore and install the first mass-produced towers for customers in the first half of 2027. Greenairy will join Startup Battlefield 200 in San Francisco from October 13 to 15, 2026.
Positives
- Singapore pilots recorded a 50% reduction in both daily average and peak VOC levels during normal office hours.
- RESET certified monitoring found Greenairy’s office had lower VOC levels and faster removal than ionizer and HEPA equipped offices.
- TÜV SÜD has validated Greenairy’s findings, with publication and certification planned before large-scale manufacturing.
- Plant and microbial filtration requires no replacement filters and produces no harmful by-products, according to Greenairy.
- First mass-produced towers and customer installations in Singapore are targeted for the first half of 2027.
Risks & concerns
- Greenairy’s evidence comes from short-term Singapore pilots comparing three offices, limiting conclusions about performance across larger buildings.
- Full TÜV SÜD validated results remain unpublished, leaving independent scrutiny pending.
- Large-scale manufacturing cannot begin until certification is completed.
- Pricing, tower capacity, coverage area and long-term maintenance requirements remain unspecified.
- The founders currently operate from Singapore and Berkeley, adding execution complexity before their planned 2027 relocation.