As a unripened industry , the horticulture sector can and should lead the way in sustainable business practices and effort to reduce mood change , says the Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) , which today found its industriousness - leading direction on how this could be achieved .
Building on the unattackable base that already exist in UK gardening and landscaping , the HTA has worked with its members to develop its first ever Sustainability Roadmap .
This ground - breaking work identifies five key area to place horticulture and landscaping at the forefront of sustainable business pattern . Designed as a fabric for collaboration , with challenging targets for 2025 , accomplishment against the roadmap ’s goal will make a significant part to the government ’s 25 Year Environment Plan .
HTA Chairman , James Barnes , called on the industriousness to embrace the ethos of the roadmap , allege : “ Horticulture has an intrinsic connection to the environment - we are a residential district who cares about the natural public and it is in our interestingness to safeguard its future tense .
“ The Prime Minister latterly announced his ten - level plan for a unripened industrial revolution - I believe we have an essential role to play in the Government ’s plan to transition to a greener saving . As a sector which contributes around £ 24 billion to the UK ’s GDP and stomach over half a million job , we must demonstrate how we offer existent opportunity for unripened work and a more sustainable saving as the UK recovers from the impact of Covid . ”
The roadmap tolerate the enormous pace already strike towards a more sustainable industry .
It will , for model , be central to making further progress in tackle issues such as habit of plastics . The HTA has for some time been puzzle out with member and stakeholders to acquire industry - go solutions for the re - usance and recycling of horticultural charge plate and with local government and the waste manufacture to increase kerbside recycling of plastics used in horticulture .
The roadmap outlines a destination to see 40 % or more of the combine free weight of plant quite a little and packaging , garden chemicals containers , and grow culture medium bags source from recycled credit card , by 2025 .
The Sustainability Roadmap focuses on five areas and are a verbatim answer to the threat of climate change , shaping pollution , water stress , and biodiversity loss , all of which position hazard to our wellness and environment :
They are decisive , both in damage of their commercial grandness to the industry and in terms of the potential difference for create a difference to the environment .
Environment Minister , Rebecca Pow , said “ Sustainable business , the environs , and decarbonisation are at the heart of governance insurance policy . As we build back greener from the coronavirus pandemic , we continue to make pregnant progress implement our 25 Year Environment Plan and speed our journeying to net zero emission .
“ We receive the decorative horticulture and landscaping manufacture taking a principal on this through the Horticultural Trades Association ’s Sustainability Roadmap and the actions being taken to protect the born environment and fighting climate change . ”
The roadmap is a framework through which the HTA will extradite resources , slip studies , data , grooming and services for extremity to enable them to increase their environmental , commercial and social sustainability . The organisation is encouraging all its members to connect the sustainability journey to 2025 and contribute what they can , no matter of the size or type of business . The latest information and imagination on sustainability are available at : hta.org.uk/sustainability
“ Not only is it in our interest to collaborate on ambitious targets , but the climate exigency intend people will justifiedly look to us for the highest standard . Sustainability can be accomplish by balancing shock on people , planet and profit . When businesses work towards this and all three aspects of sustainability are in post and reciprocally supportive , we can give birth lasting benefit to the environment , ” conclude James Barnes .
For more information : Horticultural Trades AssociationHorticulture House19 High StreetThealeReadingWest BerkshireRG7 5AHT : +44 ( 0)118 930 3132Fax : +44 ( 0)118 932 3453NGGV : +44 ( 0)118 930 2092www.the-hta.org.uk
