Tagging sustainable solutions

Sustainable business practices are not new to the industry; many growers already conserve natural resources and minimize use of chemical pesticides by using organic fertilizers and reducing solid waste. Though, one area that is getting a lot of attention recently is plastic…all kinds of plastic.

The use of plastics in horticulture, known as “plasticulture,” continues to expand, as new uses are developed to improve growing conditions. It is a multibillion dollar industry, and hundreds of millions of pounds of plastic are used in horticultural applications every year.

But since plastic is not biodegradable, where does all that plastic go? According to an article by Amy Fulcher, et al, in American Nurseryman Magazine (Pulp or Plastic? February 2013), “Just one percent of horticulture plastics are recycled, in spite of the fact that plastic pots and trays are recyclable.” This means a lot of pots and tags are going to landfills, creating a serious environmental issue.

According to Arthur Cameron, professor, and Thomas A. Dudek, senior educator at Michigan State University’s department of horticulture, the fate of plastic is an issue that needs to be resolved. Over the past few years, new programs have been developed to increase recycling of horticulture plastic, and big box garden centers have instituted take-back programs. However, the infrastructure to support reclamation on a grand scale just isn’t there, according to the educators.

There is a lack of monetary motivation for waste management companies to offer reclamation programs. For waste management companies in certain states, putting plastic into landfills is actually more profitable than selling to recycling companies. While plastics certainly meet durability requirements for horticulture applications, many marketers are becoming more concerned about their use in terms of sustainability and environmental impact, as well as their burden on the waste stream.

As such, market demand for sustainable solutions is increasing. One solution that has become popular is bioplastic pots, which have been developed as a sustainable solution to petroleum-based plastic pots. Unfortunately, these solutions are not foolproof.

One issue is that market adoption of these products has been somewhat slow. While the terms biodegradable and compostable seem to have significant “cache,” reality does not live up to the hype, though it would be wonderful if all that plastic trash simply disappeared.

This is where “informed” sustainability comes into play.

The “Compostable Logo,” from the Biodegradable Products Institute and the U.S. Composting Council, identifies products that meet industry standards for breaking down quickly in a municipal compost facility, but biodegradable products largely aren’t being recycled due to a lack of composting collection programs. According to a report from MIT Sloan School of Management, only 10 percent of cities operate curbside composting collection programs. So where is the rest of that that bio-based plastic going? It probably ends up in landfills.
 

Identifying alternatives

If biodegradable plastics aren’t the solution, what is?

One answer comes from an unexpected group–paper manufacturers–who produce paper-based alternatives to plastic. The most obvious example is in product identification and labeling, where growers can replace plastic with paper. However, technical/specialty paper manufacturers have also developed alternative solutions, in the form of durable papers and boards, usable in a broad range of industries and applications. There are reinforced, durable, fiber-based substrates with value-added printable and/or functional coatings, which achieve high levels of durability and printability.

There are many advantages to using paper-based products. Papers are designed to provide a cost-competitive solution with maximum performance, while minimizing environmental impacts. Most of the durable paper options contain post-consumer recycled content and are Forest Stewardship Council certified–ensuring responsible use of forest resources.

Some mills are even producing these papers carbon neutral, using 100 percent renewable electricity. Furthermore, these products are more likely to be recycled than biodegradable plastics. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the recycling rate for plastic in the United States was 9 percent in 2012, in contrast to a more than 65 percent recycling rate for paper.

One example of where the horticultural industry can leverage use of natural fibers in place of plastic is durable hang tags. Designed as a replacement for HDPE, styrene and PLA, durable tags can be made from renewable wood fiber, which is ideal for high-moisture applications such as horticulture tags and wraps and exterior point-of-purchase (POP) signage, where quality printing and water resistance are required.

Although these products are made with paper, they perform much like plastic. They are designed for outdoor longevity as well as presentation. They’re weather-, fade- and curl-resistant, and may also include custom graphics because they can be printed on, using offset, digital, or thermal printers.

Much like biodegradable fiber-based pots, adoption of fiber-based plant identification tags has been slow. However, brands and consumers are demanding impactful, sustainable alternatives, so market demand is bound to grow.

According to a recent study by The Hartman Group, 84 percent of consumers said they consider sustainability when making purchasing decisions, but this especially needs to be a priority in the greenhouse. Cutting down on the use of plastic by switching to paper-based tags and labels is an effective measure growers can take in order to make their businesses more sustainable without sacrificing durability, aesthetics, or price.

Lisa Berghaus is manager of marketing communications at Monadnock Paper Mills, Bennington, N.H. For more: www.mpm.com