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Tonight’s GW

FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
in Problem solving
I’m totally loving the nursery featured on tonight’s GW and how they are tackling the plastic problem. Totally inspirational! I know it’s all ‘old fashioned’ but what a wonderful example of a local scheme making it work! I’d be completely up for this and paying a little more for the privilege! Especially love the cardboard pots option! 
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  • WonkyWombleWonkyWomble Posts: 4,478
    I've just watched it and totally agree with you Flinster. Really logical, no Easter, you buy what you need weigh method is one I can't understand why we ever got rid of! I'm in the middle of designing a non plastic seed reusable seed tray after being totally inspired! Let's hope people of influence were watching!
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,228
    The reason it stopped is it's old fashioned, the younger folk dont like the idea of things not being packaged, and it is time consuming and expensive ,staff wise, to run and a little more messy in a shop. Yes I have experience of such a system. It's not bad just takes more experienced staff to run.
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    seed tray is intriguing! 😀
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    Im not sure things changed because of consumer demand, or because younger folk demanded it,  I think expense/mess/waste/mechanisation/profit margins etc was the driving factor that changed the face of shopping experience,  it’s just marketed that way to convince us it’s better and more convenient/cheaper/cleaner/modern and we swallowed it for the most part!

    Im just waiting for GMveg with an integral bar code... to save on packaging obviously! 😫
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,744
    edited April 2019
    I'm not sure we can blame "younger people"
    I started working in a garden centre in 1979 and we were moving from loose bedding wrapped in paper to prepacks.
    The folk buying stuff then will now be in their 60s, 70s or older, if they're still alive.
    Devon.
  • GrannybeeGrannybee Posts: 328
    What a genius nurseryman! He should be consulting with ALL garden centres over cardboard replacement pots. The idea could be adapted for bigger pots too. Also love the seed tray idea and compost refills. The old ways were not always the best - or so we were led to believe. I do hope other garden centres copy / use the ideas too.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,228
    I like the idea of less plastic ( I do reuse the ones I get) and would welcome cardboard pots, but as Monti said we need pots that will last for a few weeks and allow root growth (I always break the sides of peat pots as I too have pulled up pot bound plants at the end of the season) through them. They also need to come in bigger sizes as here it's only seed/potting on  pots available 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,633
    I found that section of the programme fascinating, however it was very disappointing to hear, that the much vaunted recyclable taupe pots, are not going to be accepted by councils, for recycling.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    Yes, I agree there needs to be greater choice and better alternatives, but that won’t happen until the industry as a whole is forced to find them, as it means investment. In the meantime having scoop buy/reusable self fill compost bags as options could have a huge impact. When you think how many compost bags one person would get through in a season...
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,527
    punkdoc said:
    I found that section of the programme fascinating, however it was very disappointing to hear, that the much vaunted recyclable taupe pots, are not going to be accepted by councils, for recycling.
    Our council takes flower pots and black plastic,so I wonder why others don't?

    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
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