The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has published a white paper outlining the key areas for action that could set in train what’s needed to enable UK ornamental horticulture to maximise its full potential in combatting the climate and biodiversity crises.
It develops the sustainability themes and issues discussed at an HTA roundtable event, sponsored by Easitill Ltd. The meeting saw leading industry figures from horticultural and environmental organisations collectively examine the opportunities and challenges that sustainability presents for horticulture.
David Denny, HTA director of research and insights, who chaired the event, says: “Our event provided a forum for people from inside and outside of horticulture to discuss the challenges of achieving greater sustainability and the opportunities it presents. The white paper summarises that discussion and we’re using it to inform our plans for taking our Sustainability Roadmap for horticulture forwards. It considers how much we could achieve; there are some great things going on in horticulture, but there’s so much more opportunity for us. That’s especially so where greater sustainability can be accelerated by working with government, policy makers and environmental organisations to achieve common goals.”
Summarising the key moments of the discussion, the white paper highlights where industry and policymakers could work together to ensure the contribution to the planet from horticulture is maximised in a sustainable way.
The horticulture and landscaping industry has huge potential to benefit the UK economically, environmentally and socially and the capacity to underwrite half of the goals of the UK government’s 25-year environment plan. Net zero presents an opportunity for the UK horticulture industry to expand its output, but this expansion needs to be sustainable, and the industry must build on its work to reduce waste and its responsible use of resources, with government playing a key part in accelerating this.
A key take-away from the white paper is that there is real benefit in individual businesses collectively making small changes to make a valuable difference and together gaining substantive progress as a sector.
