Geest Potplanten, a renowned Dutch nursery specializing in a wide variety of green plants, multiflora, and regular phalaenopsis in 12cm pots, has taken a substantial step in reducing their environmental footprint. By transitioning to a novel orchid-growing pot composed of 30% less plastic, the company has achieved a remarkable reduction in packaging materials for their crop.
Esther van Geest, a representative of Geest Potplanten, underscores the nursery’s ongoing commitment to minimizing the environmental impact of their cultivation practices. “We are always looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of our crops,” she explains. This objective is met by implementing not only smarter energy management and crop protection techniques but also by actively reducing packaging to curb waste.
The catalyst for this sustainable shift was the introduction of a lighter nursery pot by Amevo, a development that piqued Geest Potplanten’s interest. The lighter pot offered the nursery an opportunity to explore its suitability while maintaining high-quality growing results. Esther explains, “While testing the pot, the growing results also turned out to be extremely good. The choice was then quickly made for us.” Notably, the new pot is crafted from recycled material, specifically Post Industrial Recyclate. However, the innovative production method renders this pot 30% lighter, without compromising the shelf life of the nursery’s products.
Traditionally, a 12cm growing pot for orchids typically weighs around 17 grams. In contrast, Amevo’s newly introduced growing pot weighs approximately 12 grams. This reduction in weight translates into substantial savings in plastic usage for Geest Potplanten. The transition to these lighter pots is estimated to save the nursery around 15,000 kilograms of Polypropylene annually.
Geest Potplanten’s commitment to environmental responsibility, coupled with their adoption of innovative, sustainable growing practices, exemplifies their dedication to reducing their environmental footprint and promoting sustainable horticulture.