Our Commitment to Sustainability
We’re excited to share a video produced by Braintree District Council, where Oliver discusses our commitment to sustainability. The video also features Farmer Matthew, who grows the fresh vegetables at Olivers Kitchen Garden. We’re proud to highlight this collaboration and showcase the positive impact of sustainable farming practices in our community.
Reduced Carbon Footprint By Growing Plants At Our Production Nursery
Our Production Nursery is located 2 miles from our Plant Centre. Growing the majority of our plants on-site in our own Peat-Free growing media reduces the need for us to import a large number of plants with a hefty carbon footprint!
This also means that we can return tired plants to our Nursery where they can be potted on and looked after to bring them back to their best, meaning that our wastage levels remain very low.
We don’t force plants, which uses a large amount of heat and light energy. Not only is this better for the environment, but it also results in longer-lasting plants that are better acclimatised to the local weather.
Peat Free Compost
We are now Peat-Free at our Production Nursery and after extensive trials we are now bagging our own blend of professional compost. You can learn more about our Olivers Professional 100% Peat-Free Compost here.
Low Energy Lighting
The grow lights we use at our Production Nursery are fitted with LED bulbs. The bulbs emit the optimum wavelengths of light needed for photosynthesis, which are red, blue and far-red, this is why the lights appear pink.
Our LEDs are far more efficient than sodium bulbs, not only do they produce specific desired wavelengths, but they also have significantly reduced heat loss by comparison. The lights also use a sensor so they turn on and off as needed.
Biological Pest Control & Organic Feed
At Olivers Plants, we minimise environmental impact by using biological pest control instead of chemicals. We introduce natural predators to manage pests like aphids, scale insects, spider mites, and more.
We also use natural products, such as Invigorator, to prevent powdery mildew and a biological fungicide to combat fungal diseases. Application methods include mixing predators in water or placing slow-release sachets among plants, chosen based on conditions and plant needs.
Our plants often retain these natural protectors after purchase, providing ongoing pest defence. We clean our greenhouses with natural enzymes and use organic feed and fertilisers throughout the nursery.
Protect Your Plants Naturally
Our Sustainability Continues at Home
As part of our commitment to sustainable growing, we offer the same natural pest control and disease protection products for you to use at home. These eco-friendly solutions are available on our Webshop and at our Plant Centre, helping you nurture your plants while protecting the environment.
Soil Improver & Manure Bagged By Us
Wherever possible, we try to source products locally. Manure comes from our livestock, the soil improver and woodchip are both sourced from the surrounding area, reducing the distances that our products travel to reach us and supporting the local economy.
Harvesting Rainwater
Both at the Plant Centre and Nursery, we harvest as much rainwater as possible to feed our irrigation systems.
We have recently constructed a new water tank at the Nursery which will store and filter more than 1 million litres of rainwater, along with excess surface water runoff collected on site.
A water collection system has also been implemented at the Plant Centre that harvests surface runoff from the ground and redirects it back into the irrigation. The water is then used to irrigate the Plant Centre and the Kitchen Garden.
Did You Know?
Our plant labels are fully recyclable
Once you are finished with them, they can go into your home recycling
Recyclable Labels
The informative stick-in and clip-on labels that we use on a large number of our plants are made from a fully recyclable material so they can go straight in your kerbside recycling.
We have also invested in 3 new printers that reduce our wastage by printing the exact desired number of labels and we are printing them edge to edge.
In 2022 we also invested in a bespoke cutting machine to enable us to cut more precisely and create less waste.
Recyclable Pots & Trays
To reduce our plastic consumption, we reuse plastic pots and trays to transport plants between the Nursery and the Plant Centre.
We expect these trays to last for many years, and we will use them countless times. Pots that we can’t reuse are bailed up and sent to the recycling mill.
Pot trays bought from us can be returned for reuse, or we can recycle them.
Additionally, we provide cardboard trays for customers to take away. These are compostable and biodegradable.
We are also researching paper plant sleeves for transporting houseplants.
Less Food Miles & Better Results for Our Customers
Our Kitchen Garden supplies fresh vegetables to our Black Horse Café — meaning our ingredients travel just 100 yards!
We also use the garden to test different varieties, helping us identify which grow best in local soil. This means our customers benefit too, with better chances of success when growing their own crops.
Heating System
We use innovative technology for the heating at our Black Horse Café. We use two separate systems that work in unison.
We use an air source heat pump to produce hot water and heating and we use a MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery) unit to ventilate the Café.
The air volume in the building is renewed every hour and the heat from the air being discharged is utilised to heat the incoming fresh air, reducing the need for any fossil fuels.
We’re continually expanding our sustainability efforts – stay updated on our latest green initiatives:
