Sustainability

Environmental Stewardship

The green industry earns its name by advocating for eco-friendly practices, and we’re proud to be part of it. Our operations are dedicated to sustainable production and environmental care, particularly around our beautiful West Michigan location.

Non-Invasive Plant Introductions

We prioritize introducing non-invasive and native plant varieties. Examples include:

Recycling Initiatives

Our recycling programs aim to repurpose materials and minimize waste:

Bulk Recycling

  • Pallets: 1,680 pallets as of October 2024, with an estimated 1,900 by year-end.
  • Plastic Trays: 200,000–300,000 lbs in 2022, and 109,800 lbs as of August 2024.
  • Old Tags: 12,000 lbs in 2022.
  • Metal: 12,620 lbs of steel and 1,555 lbs of copper recycled.

Arrowaste Recycling

  • Facility Cardboard: Two 8-yard dumpsters, collected weekly, amounting to approximately 62,400 lbs annually.
  • Office Mixed Recyclables: Estimated 325 lbs monthly, totaling 3,900 lbs annually.

Small-Scale Recycling

  • Old Shirts: Two pallets recycled.
  • Computer Equipment: Regularly recycled as part of our e-waste program.

Sustainable Plastic Use

Our commitment to sustainable plastics includes innovative packaging and materials that reduce waste and environmental impact.

Bloomprint Packages

  • Plastic Reduction: Each package uses 80% less plastic than conventional nursery containers.
  • Energy-Efficient Transport: Foldable packaging allows higher density packing per truckload.
  • Water Efficiency: The design reduces water needs, and natural air pruning prevents root girdling.

Recyclable, Compostable Poly Materials

  • Smart Plastic Technology: Plant wrap bags are biodegradable within 6–42 months, leaving no microplastics.
  • Pallet Wrap Material: The same technology is used in pallet wrap, further reducing waste.

Greenguard-Certified Stickers

  • Eco-Friendly Materials: PVC-free and halogen-free to minimize pollution.
  • Long Lifecycle: With a three-year durability, our Greenguard Gold Certified stickers use low-impact inks.

Waste Reduction & Energy Conservation

We continuously refine our practices to reduce waste and energy consumption.

  • Waste Reduction: Reusable flats and grower pots, along with cutlery and plates in all breakrooms.
  • Water Efficiency: Our 90,000 sq ft flood floor keeps water off foliage to lower pesticide needs and filters and reuses water with ionized copper treatment to prevent fungal growth.
  • Energy Conservation:
    • Automatic lights turn off after hours.
    • High-efficiency LED lighting.
    • Natural light use in offices to reduce energy.
    • Our efficient boiler heats the flood floor and propagation areas.
    • Heat retention curtains in propagation greenhouses conserve warmth on cold nights.
    • Double-poly insulated greenhouses and heat-retentive curtains conserve energy.
    • Ventable Westbrooks reduce the need for fans.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Our IPM practices help us manage pests naturally and sustainably.

  • Biological Controls and Banker Plants for natural pest management.
  • Rice Hulls at plant bases for pest prevention.
  • Sticky Tape Insect Traps on greenhouse booms.
  • Pesticide/Herbicide Rotations to reduce chemical reliance. 

Through these methods, we proudly embrace our role as environmental stewards, actively seeking new ways to reduce our ecological footprint. Our staff are also empowered to develop innovative solutions for pest control and waste management, fostering sustainability throughout our operations.