What inspired the creation of Aura's green walls, and how did the concept evolve into the current product?
My health issues actually sparked the idea for this project. As an asthmatic, one day I found myself struggling in a stuffy study room and had to leave because of the poor air quality. A friend casually suggested that having some plants around might help. That simple comment made me think, and I began researching further. I soon discovered the concept of breathing green walls and the incredible potential of air biofiltration. What started off as a lighthearted remark quickly evolved into a passionate pursuit, as I realized the extraordinary environmental and social benefits this biotechnology can have.
How does Aura’s system purify air naturally, and what pollutants does it target most effectively?
Through phytoremediation, the natural ability of plant roots to absorb pollutants, and our patented soil mix, we capture and eliminate a wide range of pollutants. This system effectively removes fine particulates (down to PM1) and harmful gases such as toluene, xylene, benzene, and formaldehyde. Once captured in our soil mix, these gases are absorbed by the plants, while water flushes away the particulates, continuously regenerating the biofilter and ensuring long-term air purification.
Can you explain the low-energy technology behind Aura’s green walls and how it makes them sustainable?
Currently, our green walls consume less than 10 watts per hour. This innovative biotechnology is exceptionally sustainable, because of a slower air flow, compared to conventional HVAC systems, which ensures pollutants are effectively captured by the soil mix while preventing the biofilter from becoming clogged or overly dry. Aside from the vents, the only mechanical component is a small water pump that runs for 10 minutes each day to maintain optimal conditions for the plants.
How are the green walls customized to meet the specific needs of different indoor spaces like offices, gyms, and homes?
Thanks to our modular design, we can install our breathing green walls in various settings to meet diverse needs. Crowded office areas like break rooms, intense spaces in gyms such as cardio rooms, and the living rooms are all ideal locations for our Sphera system. Moreover, by having multiple units across a space, we can ensure consistently fresh, clean air throughout the area.
What measurable environmental and health benefits have your green walls delivered, and do you have any data or case studies to share?
By integrating real, living plants, our green walls immediately contribute to decarbonization, and we’re actively trying to get carbon credits to further validate this benefit. Moreover, thanks to evaporative cooling, the cooler air released by our breathing green walls reduces the usage of air conditioning. In fact, one square meter of our green wall can lower the temperature by 4°C in a 10‑square‑meter area. Beyond energy savings, the health and social benefits are remarkable: being surrounded by real nature and breathing natural air can significantly alleviate stress symptoms such as anxiety, headaches, throat irritation, and other issues linked to poor indoor air quality. We are proud to say that in 2024 we installed a 2‑square‑meter integrated breathing green wall in a 20‑square‑meter room in Milan, and that space never needed air conditioning during the summer.
How do Aura’s green walls compare to other air purification systems in terms of efficiency, cost, and environmental impact?
Our purification performance is similar to that of mechanical filters, removing up to 90% of particulate matter and VOCs. Additionally, our breathing green walls absorb more than 1 kg of CO₂ per square meter annually. Maintenance is the only ongoing cost, as these systems require regular care to ensure plant health; when properly maintained, the biofilter can last up to five years. Combining low energy consumption, a long lifecycle, and substantial CO₂ uptake, our breathing green walls deliver a net positive carbon impact over time.
What are the next steps for Aura in terms of product development, scaling, and expanding into new markets?
We’ve seen strong interest from the private sector, which has motivated us to develop consumer products. These new offerings will be smart: equipped with sensors, connected to IoT devices, and controllable through an app. Designed with maximum modularity in mind, each individual plant serves as a biofilter. This approach cuts our raw material consumption (such as plastic and soil mix) by more than 50% while simplifying maintenance and logistics, allowing us to scale and expand into new markets without compromising purification performance. We’re excited to announce our upcoming entry into the Swiss market, where we have already won several contests, and we found it an ideal market with strong values in sustainability and openness to new innovations.
