CENTRES OF ATTENTION!
Pressure mounts on eco-standards of garden products sold in retail outlets
The environmental credentials and sustainability of products and plants sold through garden centres and other retail outlets are under mounting political and public pressure. The main issues of peat use in composts, recycling of plastics, especially black plastic pots, and biosecurity issues pertaining to pests and diseases on imported plants, were scrutinised in a recent edition of ITV’s topical series Tonight.
Called The Trouble With Garden Centres?, the programme profiled the three issues, discussing them with trade representatives, lobbyists and allotment gardeners. Gardeners expressed surprise and shock at the impact of the peat industry on Irish bog landscapes, voicing confusion or disappointment after trying alternatives. They were equally frustrated by their futile attempts to recycle black plastic pots at garden centre chains.
Industry representatives have hit back at the programme
calling it ‘one-sided’ and ‘unrepresentative’, with little opportunity for the industry to showcase what they were doing.
Work behind the scenes by industry players will see number of initiatives are being rolled out, with industry body the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) in the vanguard, working with agri-body DEFRA. Gardeners will also see new products, particularly from compost manufacturers, go on sale from spring next year.
With gardening market growth set to expand from £6 billion to £7.5 billion by 2024, it's hoped the new measures will help reduce the industry’s impact on the environment. Gardeners are also being urged to play their part by changing the way they garden and the products they use.
Marketing intelligence body Mintel observed that currently ‘22 per cent of gardeners would choose a retailer based on eco-factors.’
Peat in growing media
The environmental impact of peat mining has long been a concern. In 2012 government introduced a voluntary 2020 target for peat to be phased out of growing media for home gardeners, but this proved impossible to meet.
Effective and consistent alternatives to peat proved challenging to produce, with early products highly variable. Improved technologies has seen composts based on pulverised softwood fibre, milled bark, coir and green waste introduced, reducing peat use to 56 per cent, according to the HTA. Next year Irish producer Bord na Mona will launch six new peat-free composts, with packaging containing 30 per cent recycled plastic. Other new composts and reduced-peat formulations will also appear, with improved and more consistent labelling introduced.
Recycling plastic
With black plastic pots not being able to be recycled, and garden centre chains often declining the return of pots on biosecurity and scale grounds, industry has opted for introducing taupe-coloured pots which can be scanned and recycled. Increased use of recycled plastics in horticultural products will continue to be introduced. Gardeners are also encouraged to reuse plastic pots or use recycled or biodegradable products when possible.
Alien pests and diseases
With widespread alarm at the prospect of devastating diseases such as xylella and rose rosette virus entering the UK, stringent controls are being introduced regarding plant imports to improve biosecurity. A plant passport system is being introduced on December 14, covering every plant traded into and around the UK, with traders needing to register their business with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Gardeners are also being urged to buy British and look for the labels promoting home-grown sources.