Every hour, we perform the simplest and most essential of actions 900 times: we breathe. And yet, when do we ever take the time to think about the air around us? The latest addition to the NatéoSanté range, the Air Coach indoor air quality (IAQ) monitor with predictive intelligence makes indoor air quality analysis accessible and easy to understand, and shows you how to quickly improve it, making it an ally for your employees’ quality of life at work and your organization’s CSR.
An Interview with Thierry Ricci, Founding President of NatéoSanté
NatéoSanté the French specialist in indoor air quality in the workplace. The project began with the story of one man, Thierry Ricci, the brand’s founder. His chronic allergies led him to take an interest in the air he breathes. He then became aware of the pollutants in the air and quickly made the connection between his health and what he was inhaling.
He then drew on his skills as an electronics engineer to design and manufacture his first air purifier. Since its founding in 2009, the company has been committed to promoting the health and well-being of its users by developing innovative and environmentally friendly products. Based in France, the company manufactures two lines of air purifiers in France: EOLIS Air Manager and Hygeolis, as well as its latest innovation: the Air Coach, an indoor air quality monitor with predictive intelligence.
“What is essential is invisible to the eye,” wrote Saint-Exupéry. Yet this invisible essential—the air we breathe—is not always very healthy. Air, our most vital resource, is particularly polluted, especially indoors. In our open-plan offices, it is even 10 to 20 times more polluted than outside!
As early as 2016, the Indoor Air Quality Observatory (OQAI) was trying to warn us: our indoor environments are 5 to 10 times more polluted than the outdoor environment. In their crosshairs were harmful substances emitted by building materials (adhesives, varnishes, paints, etc.), decorative materials (wallpaper, carpeting, etc.), and manufactured goods (tables, chairs, etc.). A grim reality that raises questions. Could it be that the air we breathe—vital to our survival—is also the very air that is poisoning us?
It seems we’re not all on the same page when it comes to this issue. “Some organizations—and this is, of course, tied to their specific sectors—are concerned about their indoor air quality. I’m thinking of the healthcare sector, public facilities, daycare centers, and schools,” explains Thierry Ricci. The service sector—and offices in particular—are the ones that are largely overlooked. “Yet studies show that it would take more than five years for the air breathed in a newly constructed building to be completely free of all its emissions!” he notes with dismay.
That is precisely the issue. We need to realize that the air we breathe plays a role in our health. The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the composition of the air we breathe. Research into the virus revealed that it spreads via nanoparticles in the air. Some business leaders then acknowledged that air quality is a key factor in employee safety. It ensures that employees can return to work with peace of mind and gives them the assurance that their employer is committed to a quality-of-life-at-work initiative.
In an era marked by new ways of working (flexible office arrangements), challenges related to workplace well-being, CSR transitions, and issues surrounding corporate image and recruitment, optimizing indoor air quality (IAQ) in the workplace has become a top priority. Indeed, one cannot discuss workplace well-being—or, more broadly, CSR policy—without addressing indoor air quality and environmental comfort. These issues are just as important as other aspects covered by CSR, both from the perspective of employee health and environmental stewardship.
After this initial realization, Thierry Ricci nevertheless continued to encounter people who asked themselves: Does this apply to me? Is my air clean? What concrete steps can I take to ensure it is? “I then decided to make the invisible visible, and I created Air Coach. The information had to be irrefutable, clear, and easy to understand so that people could take action right away.” That is why, thanks to its sensors, Air Coach displays educational pollutant gauges (carbon dioxide, Volatile Organic Compounds, fine particles, and formaldehyde) and calculates a Health Risk Index (risk of airborne virus transmission). A light signal provides a preventive alert if thresholds are about to be exceeded. In this case, the monitor’s LED turns yellow or even orange, making it clear—no matter where you are in the room—that it’s time to act immediately. A true educational tool, Air Coach will guide you by providing advice and best practices to quickly purify your air.
The device can be mounted on a wall or simply placed on a desk or counter. Placed in a meeting room, this smart solution can easily measure CO2 levels and other pollutants, and will alert you if air quality is deteriorating (if there are too many people in the room, for example). Air Coach can be paired with a suite of services, such as access to an online monitoring platform and reports, personalized support from an expert, access to training tools, and assistance five days a week. At a time when recruiters are struggling to attract talent and employees are reluctant to return to the office, Air Coach is a real source of reassurance. NatéoSanté to restore air to its essential role: allowing us to breathe, work, and live with complete peace of mind,” concludes Thierry Ricci.
ABOUT NatéoSanté
Designer and manufacturer of professional air purifiers
NatéoSanté , a French designer and manufacturer of indoor air quality solutions, NatéoSanté professionals since 2009. Committed to eco-design and local production, NatéoSanté every day to empower everyone to take control of the air they breathe.
At the intersection of societal challenges, environmental conservation, and health for all, the company—a leader in indoor air quality—operates in more than 50 countries. NatéoSanté with all types of professionals, particularly businesses and local governments, and meets the most demanding specifications.
NatéoSanté indoor air quality solutions—whether air quality monitors or air purifiers—have been specifically designed and developed with the unique challenges faced by professionals in mind. Their teams of experts support them before, during, and after the implementation of IAQ solutions tailored to their needs.
In 2022, NatéoSanté awarded the Ecovadis Gold Medal, a testament to its commitment to corporate social responsibility. This certification helps professionals make more sustainable purchasing decisions.
Air Coach, 3 models + NatéoConnect service package, starting at €390 (excluding tax)
NatéoSanté exhibiting at Préventica Paris 2023, booth E21