The floriculture sector is shifting up a gear towards a sustainable future. To get a more concrete picture of this, we conducted a survey among 253 Dutch and Belgian growers of indoor, outdoor and perennial plants. 135 growers completed the questions. What efforts are they making? What are they running into? In this article, we take a closer look at packaging developments. What are the trends and challenges? What is the situation with recycled plastic, cardboard trays and reducing packaging material? We dive into the results.
Recycled plastic: a strong but changing trend
High use of recycled material
The good news: 87.2 per cent of growers surveyed use recycled plastic in their trays or sleeves. Trays in particular often contain 80 to 100 per cent recycled material and are also mostly recyclable. But there is still room for improvement. Especially with sleeves. Because not all growers use recycled material for these or have recyclable options. Some are still working on switching to sleeves with a higher percentage of recycled plastic, such as 70 per cent.
“87.2 per cent of growers who participated in the survey use recycled plastic in their trays or sleeves. An excellent result, but could still be better”
Knowledge as an obstacle
It is striking that not all companies are fully aware of the composition of their packaging materials. This indicates a need for more information and guidance on how to make packaging more sustainable.
Cardboard trays: opinions are divided
Challenges
53.4 per cent of surveyed growers can supply products in cardboard trays. Why do almost half still not opt for this? The reasons vary: cost, availability or practical limitations of cardboard play a role.
Divided sector
The almost equal split between growers who do and do not use cardboard trays shows that there is room for growth. Still, the choice between recycled plastic and cardboard remains complex: cardboard is not always the most environmentally friendly option due to water consumption and deforestation.
Less packaging, more impact
Focus on plastic reduction
The less plastic, the better. Many growers are taking the necessary steps. For instance, by delivering plants ‘loose on the trolley’ or using thinner plastic (e.g. from 50 microns to 35 microns). Alternatives such as cardboard and recyclable or recycled materials are also on the rise.
Reuse and innovation
Reuse is key: some companies encourage consumers to return trays to their points of sale for reuse and/or recycling. A few go even further and make the move to multi-use trays like the Europlant tray or Florentino tray. In addition, innovative solutions are being tested (or are already in use), such as vacuum pots requiring less plastic in production and pre-stretched wrapping film . Labelling directly on the pot, without additional sticks, is another smart step to reduce waste.
Customer as driver
However, customer and thus market demand is proving crucial. For example, some growers supply plants without trays or sleeves if customers want this.
Conclusion: building a sustainable future together
The survey shows that our industry is fully committed to making packaging more sustainable. Recycled plastic and cardboard are increasingly used, but not without challenges. There is certainly still room for improvement.
“The road to sustainable packaging is a joint effort. By sharing knowledge, embracing innovations and remaining aware of the impact, our industry can make a major contribution to a more sustainable future.”
Innovation and customer-driven initiatives play an important role in progress. The road to sustainable packaging is a joint effort. By sharing knowledge, embracing innovations and remaining aware of the impact, our industry can make a major contribution to a more sustainable future.