20 december 2024
In November, two meetings were organised on potting soil and growing media for Dutch (garden) retail and wholesale. On 14 November, the retailers came together in Veenendaal and the wholesalers gathered on 27 November in Nootdorp. Chairman of the day Merthus Bezemer of GTC+ guided these afternoons on themes including environmental impact, sustainability and potting soil in the future.
The afternoons started with stimulating statements by Merthus Bezemer of GTC+, who invited the participants to actively participate in the discussions.
The current international laws and regulations and CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) were explained. In the first meeting by Frank van der Heide (Tuinbranche Nederland) and in the second meeting by Floor Schamp of VGB (Dutch Association of Wholesalers in Floricultural Products). Due to supply chain responsibility, the sector as a whole will be affected by CSRD.
Han de Groot (VPN, Association of Potting Soil and Substrate Manufacturers in the Netherlands) provided insight into the state of affairs of the Dutch covenant on the environmental impact of potting soil and growing media signed at the end of 2022 and the transition to renewable raw materials. The Netherlands is leading the way with this covenant between government, business, quality marks and an NGO and the substrate sector is taking its responsibility. The efforts to the covenant objectives for 2025 are on track.
One of the presentations was provided by RHP, quality mark and knowledge centre for substrates. On 14 November by Managing Director Martine Holtkamp and on 27 November by Operational Director Marco Zevenhoven. They highlighted the challenges and opportunities with the use of renewable raw materials, with the main highlights being the finding of usable new raw materials in large volumes, the importance of maintaining product quality and safety to minimise culture damage, possible solutions for the shelf life of plants in future potting soils in the store and at the consumer's home and the upcoming substrate footprint based on the LCA tool (life cycle analysis) developed by Growing Media Europe for a fair comparison of the environmental impact of raw materials.
Hein Boon of Responsibly Produced Peat underlined the importance of responsibly produced peat and its contribution to reducing its environmental impact. Only 0.05% of the world's peatlands are used for substrate production. Peat with the RPP label is extracted exclusively from already drained, degraded peatlands, thereby avoiding negative consequences on adjacent nature areas with high natural values. After use, the best possible destination with maximum environmental benefits is applied, in consultation with local communities and NGOs. This means a better future for already degraded areas. In the best case, restoration of nature and biodiversity of the peatlands. A concept scheme has also been developed for responsibly produced coir, which will be tested by five companies at eight locations until April 2025. Other substrate raw materials will follow.
Ted Vollebregt (VPN and formerly Klasmann-Deilmann) and Folkert Moll (Kekkilä-BVB) shared practical insights on the raw materials transition within the substrate industry. Substrate producers strive to reduce their environmental impact by paying attention to energy consumption, materials used, emissions to air, water and soil, and transportation. Next year, producers will use the same dataset thanks to the LCA tool that is under development, which will ensure more uniformity in data on sustainability. The use of renewable raw materials is increasing, while the quality and availability of substrate raw materials must be guaranteed. Responsibly produced peat is an essential backbone for safe, high-quality growing media. These substrates are crucial for a healthy, efficient food supply worldwide and for biodiversity and climate-resilient, green urban areas.
Frank van der Heide and Megan James presented the Dutch consumer campaign ‘Aardige aarde’ on behalf of Tuinbranche Nederland, with the aim of making consumers aware and informing them about what is in potting soil and the choices they can make in it, explaining the goals of the covenant and getting there. The campaign will start next year in various Dutch stores (garden centres and home improvement stores) and online via a website and social media. The reason for this consumer campaign is the covenant.
Elise Wieringa and Peter den Boer (Intratuin) shared their ambitions as a market player in the field of sustainability on 14 November. Joëlle Schneider of Royal Lemkes spoke for the group of wholesalers on 27 November. As a trading partner in plants for large-scale
retail, Royal Lemkes works with around 800 growers. Sustainability priorities differ from retailer to retailer. In order to gain more insight into the composition of the substrate that comes with the plant in the pot, both companies indicated that they needed uniform data and data exchange about the substrate mixtures between substrate supplier, grower and themselves.
With these meetings, the first steps have been taken in sharing insights and exchanging ideas in the chain around the environmental impact of potting soil and growing media.
