In This Issue
Does Tesco actually know what to do with Dobbies?
Two garden centre group bosses reveal different approaches to running successful businesses
May campaign plans to harness enthusiasm of young gardeners
Sales boost as April sunshine encourages gardeners to be active
Fabulous Baker Brothers are Weber’s first UK ambassadors
Growing media suppliers to test responsible sourcing calculator
Tulip mosaic commemorates Bomber Command operation to free Netherlands
Workforce Agencies win first Smart Garden sales award
Graduate Sales Person - England
Horticulture Quality Controller - Northamptonshire
Plant Buyer - South East England
Technical Manager/Buyer - Suffolk
Watch out...furniture thieves about
Growing activity drives garden product sales
Bumper year for tomatoes - 105% up on last year
Growing media sales set for a record month
The Gardens Group is doing its bit for pollinators
Edible Garden Show returns to Stoneleigh venue
Squires donation means salad days for Surrey kids in care
UK wildlife experts head to States for first time show
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
Food critic Charles Campion to speak at the HTA Catering Conference
ExCeL-lent turnout for Natural & Organic Products Europe
Gluten-free loaves and rolls service offered to garden centres
Relief chef wanted at Monkton Elm Garden Centre
Situations Vacant
Graduate Sales Person - England
£18k-£22k per annum
Read more»
Horticulture Quality Controller - Northamptonshire
£Competitive - Dependent on Experience
Read more»
Plant Buyer - South East England
Dependent on Experience
Read more»
Technical Manager/Buyer - Suffolk
£40k-50k per annum
Read more»
Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news.  Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700

 


Growing media suppliers to test responsible sourcing calculator

The calculator was developed by the ‘P4 Group’, which was set up following a recommendation from the Sustainable Growing Media Taskforce (SGMTF).

Steve Harper, chair of the GMA, said the group had been tasked with developing a tool that could be used to assess the environmental values of growing media. “The result is this ‘calculator’ that enables manufacturers to measure and score seven criteria for the key materials used in products: energy usage, water usage, social compliance, habitat and biodiversity, renewability, pollution and resource use. These scores are combined and weighted to give an overall score for the product.”

Version 1 of the calculator and supporting guidance notes and documents have been published on the HTA website and are ready to be trialled. “A number of GMA members have already nominated materials to test,” Harper added, “and we hope to feed these results back at a launch event on 30 June 2015 at Stoneleigh Park.”

The trial will allow manufacturers to see how the tool works and will guide the setting of benchmarks for the overall scores. Ongoing work to set benchmarks and develop a b2b scheme based on the outputs of the calculator will be taken forward by a new steering group (the Responsible Sourcing Scheme Steering Group). This group has representatives from manufacturers, retailers, government, interest groups and growing media experts and will be meeting on 21 May to take forward P4s work. The intention is to develop a b2b tool for the industry to replace the existing Growing Media Initiative.

Development of a standard methodology for the quality testing of growing media products – another project identified through the work of the SGMTF – is also progressing. A draft based on the results of earlier studies has already been developed and results should be available by mid to late October this year. “These projects demonstrate the industry’s commitment to ensuring we produce growing media that is not only fit for purpose but that is sourced with environmental considerations at its heart,” Harper said

Finally, 2014 data from a project that is mapping peat usage year on year is due to be released towards the end of April. Unusually good weather conditions enabling longer harvest periods last year, so there could be an increase on the previous year. The GMA will review the findings at it summer meeting and will be formulating a response to the Government’s Policy Review which takes place over the summer.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Del.icio.us Digg
Email Software by Newsweaver