Packaging, especially plastic, needs to be designed responsibly, where every decision taken ensures that we minimise our impact on the environment. Wherever possible we try to create circular solutions, where our packaging avoids going into landfill.
Over the last four years Evergreen Garden Care has revisited every single piece of product packaging. We consider the amount of recycled plastic that can be used without impacting on the integrity of the plastic, we need to ensure the triggers still work for example. It is important to educate our consumers on how to dispose of the packaging responsibly and we are constantly looking at more sustainable ways to store our product. Plastic protects our products, especially those stored in damp sheds!
Recycle responsibly
We want to make sure our packaging is recycled. Clear on pack recycling communication is vital so our labels now show what action our customers should take to recycle responsibly. The majority of our products produced in the last 3 years now show a recycle label on pack and by 2023 all updated and new products will have instructions. For packaging that does not show the logo, just go to our product pages on lovethegarden.com and you will find the following logo for each product…
Sadly not everything can be recycled at home, especially soft plastics like sachets, and for those products we ask consumers to take their packaging to supermarkets. However compost bags, due to the dirt inside cannot be recycled at supermarkets, so in the last year Evergreen Garden Care has trialled a recycling scheme where consumers can bring back their compost bags so they can be recycled.
There are always challenges when it comes to plastics, however we tackle these head on, encouraging change and finding solutions. For example, currently some of our weed killer products cannot be recycled so we are consulting with DEFRA to review the guidelines.
Using cardboard from sustainable forests
For many years we have been purchasing cardboard from sustainable forests from now on you may start to see logos on packaging and on our website.
Increasing recycled material in packaging
If we encourage our consumers to recycle it’s essential that Evergreen Garden Care creates packaging which contains some of that recycled material. 90% of our products now contain at least 30% recycled material which is collected from consumers’ homes. To find out how much is in each product look out for the following images found on every product page of this website…
How can you help reduce the impact of plastic packaging?
Over the years we have favoured ready to use products, which are quick and easy to use however they do increase the amount of plastic packaging. Although this packaging can be recycled, surely it would be better to be more sustainable and go for products where the packaging lasts for longer. By chosing a concentrated product you can significantly reduce the amount of packaging you use. For example if you use our concentrated Miracle-Gro all purpose plant food instead of our Miracle-Gro Pour and Feed you can reduce the number of bottles by 6. Or if you choose a soluble product this reduces plastic packaging by 20 bottles.
We are also encouraging the use of reuse and refill for our packaging. In 2021 we launched a new Eco Refill Tube for our Miracle-Gro 2 in 1 Nourish & Protect range. By reusing the sprayer and simply refilling with the tube you are reducing the amount of plastic you use by 94%. Look out for the packs in store.
For some products we also encourage reuse and refill, when perhaps you might have previously thrown away the container. For example our spreader is not just a one use wonder it can be kept for many years by simply refilling it with our cardboard cartons. We now have the reuse and refill logo on pack to remind people to start taking a positive change.
We can all make a difference to how we use our packaging, yet here are Evergreen Garden Care we are not stopping here. Watch this space for more exciting packaging initiatives – the future is certainly bright!
