Hort Month

Biodegradable

Garden products manufacturer Stewart has introduced the first commercially viable 100 per cent biodegradable plastic flowerpot to the market.
The British manufacturing company is investing in and underwriting the extra cost of the biodegradable flowerpots to promote and encourage sustainable gardening. The flowerpots cost more to produce than the firm’s traditional products, but will be sold to the trade and to consumers for exactly the same price.
Starting with its entire range of flowerpots and saucers, the Bio Pots are available in terracotta, green and black, and Stewart has produced a Bio Pot merchandiser and free fact sheet to help retailers promote them. Hundreds of Garden Centres around the UK along with Wilkinsons have already signed up to stock the new, sustainable range.
Stewart managing director, Lee Mowle, said: “The core Stewart range is a starting point for us. There is huge potential to make all our products biodegradable if we can get the right economies of scale. We’re not charging a premium for ‘green’ products or reducing the appearance or functionality: Bio Pots don’t look second rate and they cost the same as a normal flowerpot.”

 (Stewart products are available from Homebase, Wyevale, Wilkinsons and over 600 independent Garden Centres in the UK and Eire)