Ecotribo (plant pots made from fishing waste)
Instead of contributing to the plastic waste problem, why not choose innovative plant pots made from upcycled waste? Choose artisan makers of plant pots, who are doing just that!
Ecotribo makes plant pots from fishing waste!
Don’t leave full watering cans around, as small creatures could drown.
Many plants (including all bulbs and sago palm) are unsafe near animals (read more on pet-friendly gardens). Avoid facing indoor foliage to outdoor gardens, to stop birds flying into windows.
Myth: indoor plants don’t ‘clean the air’
Be careful what you read in the media about ‘indoor plants to clear the air’. This is a 30-year old myth based on old NASA technology (the only way this could happen, would be if you literally covered a room in so many plants that you wouldn’t be able to see or move!)
Where to recycle plastic plant pots
Enter your postcode at Recycle Now to find out where – some gardening centres accept them. Black plant pots (like black bin bags) can’t be recycled, as sorting machines don’t recognise the colour, so they have to go in your normal rubbish bin.
Each year, over 500 million plastic plant pots (and trays) are thrown away in the UK, generating waste at landfills or incineration depots. Yet most councils don’t accept them, due to being ‘contaminated with soil’.
Mini plant pots (made from Dorset waste)
Theses mini plant pots are quite the charm! Not only is they a colourful way to display your favourite plants, but they are made from waste that’s collected by the maker, from the streets and beach from Dorset where she lives. Help to make the areas safer for wildlife and marine creatures.
Choose from green, blue or peach colours. Once discarded and now redesigned, these pots are hand-poured with care, the subtle swirls of colour tell a quiet tale of transformation.
Keep unsafe flowers away from pets
Many plants (including sago palm) and flowers are unsafe near pets, so be aware of this before buying/growing flowers, or gifting to others. PDSA has tips for pet-safe gardens. Find lists of plants/flowers that are toxic to:
Also never face indoor plants to face outdoor gardens, to help stop birds flying into glass windows.
Where to recycle plastic plant pots
Enter your postcode at Recycle Now (some garden centres accept them). Black plant pots (like black bin bags) can’t be recycled, as sorting machines don’t recognise the colour, so they have to go in your bin.
Each year, over 500 million plastic plant pots (and trays) are thrown away in the UK, generating waste at landfills or incineration depots. Yet most councils don’t accept them, due to being ‘contaminated with soil’.
Recycled plastic coasters
The matching coasters are ideal to brighten up desks and coffee tables, also made from waste. The swirling patterns echo coral reefs, and no batches are the same. Sold in sets of four.
More zero waste plant pots
The Eco Planter Company creates delightful plant pots, all made with clean energy in a variety of styles and sizes. Made from organic and recycled materials, using a low-waste process.
The planters are made from a wood and corn-based bioplastic composite, which makes them as durable and water-resistant as plastic, but far better for the planet. They look, feel and smell like wood (they can be industrially composted, look for take-back schemes at garden centres and councils).
POSIpot is not a pot to grow plants in, but more a transportation sleeve, to replace plastic pots that are sold in garden centres (90% of plastic pots sold in garden centres are used only to transport pots home, then binned within hours). This leads to waste of 500 million plastic pots in circulation each year.
These eco pots instead are made from recycled cardboard. They are flat-packed and assembled to use to make round or square pots, and are designed to slow water absorption, so plants can sit outside for around a week. The fine roots then rapidly break down, when planted.
POTR is a range of pots inspired by origami, often made from ghost fishing waste. Sent through the letterbox, it springs into life on opening, just insert the wicking straw into the soil to watch plants thrive.
It’s tall and stable enough to hold a litre of water for a bouquet of flowers, the soft silicone rim is kind to stems.
