AIPH Spring Meeting Noordwijk, Netherlands 1 – 4 April, 2019

The AIPH Sustainability Conference Plastics in Ornamental Horticulture, Creating a Sustainable Supply Chain 2 April 2019, Noordwijk, the Netherlands

Plastics in the Retail Supply Chain: Plotting a Sustainable Future Dr. David Bek Reader in Sustainable Economies, Centre for Business in Society

Introduction ‘We reach for plastic unthinkingly, as postwar gardeners once reached for nicotine and DDT.’ Sally Nex, in Royal Horticultural Society magazine, ‘The Garden’, March 2019

Perspective: The Finite Earth

Visible from Space: Almeria’s Sea of Plastic

The Environmental Movement gains Momentum

The Brundtland Report 1987 "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"

Sub heading 20pt

True Sustainability: the 3 Ps Sustainability lies here

Sustainability – a view from South Africa https://youtu.be/8zFBEyB-GwU

The Anthropocene: A Global Crisis Soil, water, air… Depletion & pollution Climate change 1.5°C increase trajectory Substantial changes in weather patterns

Plastics: The Human Touch Plastics are everywhere!! Clothes, cars, electronics, houses, appliances, cosmetics…. Packaging, construction, transportation, healthcare, electronics…. Inexpensive, lightweight, high-performing Plastic production 1964-2014: 20x increase

Plastics and sustainability First the good news! Plastic packaging is lighter than alternative options so lower carbon footprint And plastic food packaging increases product shelf-life so less food waste. But… Only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling 95% of plastic packaging material value is lost after its first use.

Three dimensions of impact Climate Change The plastics industry uses about 6% of the world’s oil production – equivalent to the oil consumption of the global aviation sector. In 2012 emissions from production and after-use pathways amounted to 390 million tonnes of C02. Environmental Health 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean each year. Cost of plastics to the tourism, fishing and shipping industries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) = $1.3 billion Human Health Plastics contain a blend of additives which can include impurities and contaminants.

Attitudinal Change The Blue Planet Effect

Consumers European grocery shoppers: 73% of agree that grocery retailers use too much plastic in their packaging 64% think retailers should do more to educate consumers on why they use certain items in their packaging. 66% agree that it is appealing to shop with a grocery retailer which has pledged to cut down on plastic waste. Source: Mintel 2018 In a UK Populus poll: 55% said they would choose to shop at a supermarket which does not over-package products.

Retailer Responses UK – all retailers have adopted plastic reduction policies Tesco, all packaging recyclable or compostable by 2025 Sainsburys, reduce own-brand packaging by 50% by 2020 South Africa – Woolworths has a suite of policies All packaging to be either reusable or recyclable by 2022 Phase out single use plastic bags by 2020

Plastics in Horticulture Plastics are integral to the horticultural supply chain from production through to consumption. The ‘Sea of Plastic’ Pots, trays – the black plastic conundrum 300-400 million plastic pots go to landfill or incineration each year in the UK Only 9 out of 75 UK councils offering proper recycling facilities. But there are innovators pushing out solutions: Non-black plastic pots Biodegradable trays and packaging

Challenges Complicated! What can be recycled? Can it be recycled efficiently? Can it be recycled in your area? Innovations do not always solve the bigger problems. Some degradable plastics solve the disposal problem BUT can create greater emissions and take a long time to break down Consumers like idea of degradable pots Consumers don’t like it when they break easily

New Plastics Economy The 3 Rs Reuse Recycle Renewable sources

Case study: Small Scale Flower Growers Plastic usage Sheeting Polytunnels Pots Packaging Wrapping

Innovations and responses Biodegradable peat pots – cost?? Bulbs and seeds in cardboard and recyclable packaging Biodegradable eco-wrap Use of recycled plastic pots Evidence of innovation and change Response to market demands and awareness

Summary Plastics as a sustainability issue – 3Ps Climate change/carbon footprint impacts have to be the priority Consumers are broadly onside but can be fickle The status quo is not acceptable – there has to be change.

Call to Action What are we doing at Coventry University? Understanding consumers and their attitudes/responses to sustainability. Bio-plastics (seaweed, cassava etc) – engaging with innovation technically and also in terms of the ‘real-world’ interface, will ideas actually work? Supply chain waste management.

Call to Action What can you do? As a producer, as an industry, as an individual. Lobby Engage Trial, innovate Adapt Integrate sustainability into your business model Ultimately, don’t worry too much about consumers, or even legislation. Do the right things and these will take care of themselves. Don’t get too distracted by small measures with little impact – it is the big stuff that matters.

Thank you www.aiph.org