We’ve all heard about the damage caused by plastic bags – and since the UK introduced a tax on them in 2014, their use has dropped by an incredible 98% – but what about the everyday items that still slip under the radar, like the humble plastic plant pot?
Every year, more than 500 million plastic plant pots are thrown away in the UK. The majority of them end up in landfill, where they can take hundreds of years to break down. Many councils won’t even accept them in household recycling. It’s a growing problem, and one many gardeners don’t even realise they’re contributing to.
At The Natural Gardener, we believe it’s time to give the humble plastic plant pot a rethink, and we have a natural solution ready to go.
Why Your Plastic Plant Pot is a Growing Concern
Despite good intentions, a plastic plant pot are not easily recyclable. Made from materials like polypropylene and polystyrene, they’re often dyed black, a colour which confuses sorting machines and prevents recycling altogether. As a result, the majority of used pots end up either in landfill or incinerated, where they release harmful emissions and create long-term waste.
With more than 92% of local councils refusing to collect plastic pots in kerbside recycling, it’s clear the system isn’t working. It’s time for gardeners to take the lead in reducing plastic waste, starting right at the roots.
A Natural Pot That’s Better for the Planet
If you’re looking to reduce your impact, switching to natural coir pots is one of the easiest and most effective steps you can take. Our coir pots are made from coconut husk, a natural by-product of the coconut industry. They’re completely plastic-free, biodegradable and break down in the soil, leaving nothing behind but enriched earth.
Instead of sitting in landfill for centuries, a coir pots and planters like ours returns to the earth, improving soil health while cutting waste. It’s a win-win for you and the environment.
Co-founder of The Natural Gardener, Joe Collison, explains: “We created our coir pots in 2008 as a direct response to the growing plastic crisis in gardening. Every pot we sell is one less plastic item in landfill and one more step towards a sustainable future.”
How Natural Pots Perform in the Garden
Worried about switching to a natural pot? Don’t be, our coir pots are strong enough to support seedlings and young plants, yet soft enough to allow roots to grow through the fibres.
That means:
- You can plant the entire natural pot directly into the ground, no root shock or transplanting stress
- Coir absorbs moisture, helping retain water around the roots
- There’s no clean-up or disposal needed, just let nature do its thing
Whether you’re growing herbs on a windowsill or starting vegetables in a greenhouse, a natural pot gives you all the performance of plastic without any of the guilt.
Should a Plastic Plant Pot Be Taxed?
The plastic bag tax changed habits almost overnight. Now, we’re asking the question: should plastic pots be taxed too?
We think the answer is yes. That’s why we’ve launched a public petition calling for a tax on plastic plant pots, just like the one on single-use bags. By making plastic pots less convenient and less appealing, we can encourage widespread change across the gardening world, or at least drive change to make plastic pots more easily recycled.
We’ve already submitted our petition and are currently awaiting a government response. But we need your support to push it further.
What You Can Do Right Now
The power to reduce plastic waste starts in your own garden. Here’s how to take action today:
- Switch to a natural pot for your planting and propagation
- Support our petition to introduce a plastic pot tax
- Encourage local garden centres to stock eco-friendly alternatives
- Share this message with fellow gardeners, friends and family
It might seem like a small change, but every plastic pot we avoid is a win for the planet.
Let’s Grow a Greener Future
The gardening community has always been close to nature. Now, we need to make sure our tools and materials reflect those values. By choosing a natural pot over a plastic one, we can reduce waste, enrich the soil and grow with the planet in mind.
Shop Our Range of Biodegradable, Natural Pots
Are you ready to make the switch? Click here to browse our coir pot collection and grow the natural way.
Back Our Petition for a Plastic Plant Pot Tax
Together, we can turn policy into progress. Let’s make the plastic pot a thing of the past. Click here to sign our petition now.
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