According to the latest HTA trend report (Peak Plastic? Changing consumer perspectives of plastic and recycling) 95% of consumers agree that it’s important for businesses to design products that have less plastic in. 

A pertinent issue for the garden industry, highlighted recently on BBC Gardeners’ World, the topic features on the programme at the forthcoming Cultivating Retail Conference which takes place on 13 November at East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham.

There will be a panel session on plastics in horticulture picking up on topics such as the recycling of pots and packaging, the introduction of new taupe pots, labelling and the development of alternatives.

Panellists include:  David Chilvers from The Bransford Webbs Plant Company, Andy Merrick from Farplants, Adam Wigglesworth from Aylett Nurseries, Mark Portman from Evergreen and Nick Mathias from Floramedia.

Joining the programme is environmental campaigner and charity ambassador, Trewin Restorick. Founder of Global Action Plan and the founding CEO of Hubbub, a charity which makes environmental issues fun, Trewin’s history of working in environmental change and his ability to actively engage his audience makes him well placed to discuss green issues.

A frequent media commentator on environmental issues Trewin was formerly Recycling Co-ordinator for Friends of the Earth where he established the first blue box kerbside recycling scheme in the UK and created Paper Round, an office-based recycling scheme in London which has a turnover of £3 million. Trewin will highlight some of the projects used to engage communities and businesses in environmental issues – many of which can be used in a garden centre environment.

The HTA trend report, ‘Peak Plastic?, which looks at what is driving concern about plastics, and what consumers expect from business in terms of packaging and plastic can be downloaded from the Cultivating Retail page on the HTA website - https://hta.org.uk/event_listing/cultivating-retail.html

Cultivating Retail is for retailers, growers and suppliers and covers issues and opportunities across the garden supply chain. Hosted by Channel 4 news presenter by Cathy Newman further sessions cover topics such as ‘Is your supply chain millennial ready, mobile advertising, supply chain learnings from the fresh produce sector, supply chain panel session and innovative and experiential retail.

The day after the conference there is the opportunity for delegates to do a self-guided tour of Blue Diamond’s East Bridgford site to view their Christmas experience in full flow.

For further details about Cultivating Retail and to book your place please visit www.hta.org.uk/cultivatingretail