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The Most Sustainable Planting Scheme

The Most Sustainable Planting Scheme

At Planteria, sustainability isn’t just words on paper – it’s built into everything we do.

From the way we transport our technicians to the materials we use in our planting schemes, we’re committed to reducing environmental impact at every stage.

Here’s how we’re leading the industry with the most sustainable planting scheme available today.

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Walking Plant Technicians

100% Public Transport

While electric and hybrid vehicles are a step forward, we believe there’s an even smarter way to cut emissions and ease congestion.

That’s why we introduced our ‘walking technicians’—a team that travels entirely on foot or by public transport. No vans. No traffic. Just a more efficient and sustainable way to work.

They’re backed by one central shuttle, which delivers any replacement plants or equipment needed for the day. The result? We save more than 25,000 miles of van travel every year. That’s fewer emissions, less fuel, and cleaner air for everyone.

It’s a simple idea, but one that’s making a real difference.

Modus Office Plants

UK Grown Plants

Less Road MIles

The majority of indoor plants sold across Europe are grown in the Netherlands. It’s a long-standing supply chain – but one we’re working to shift.

By growing plants here in the UK, we cut down on transport miles, reduce emissions, and create local jobs. It means fresher plants, faster delivery, and better support for the British economy.

We believe the future of indoor planting should be greener in every sense of the word – and more rooted in local soil.

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Ecoponic Substrate

Saving our vulnerable peat-lands

Regular compost used for growing plants can contain up to 90% peat.

This peat is dug up from peatlands.  These natural wetlands are absolute vital for not only plants and wildlife, but also storing carbon.  It takes 1,000 years for one metre of peat to form!  But over 80% of the UK peatlands are already damaged.  

Our vulnerable peatlands are being excavated at the expense of our fragile environment.

Peatlands cover only around 3% of the world’s land area, but they store 30% of soil carbon.

A loss of only 5% of UK peatland carbon would be equal to the UK’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Sunset over a UK peat field - home to a host of wildlife and carbon storage.

At Planteria we knew we had to do our bit to protect our vulnerable peatlands and the wildlife that call them home.   We can now offer a zero-peat alternative to soil.  

We call it Ecoponic. 

what is ecoponic?

Officially classified as a Vulcaponic Substrate – it’s a recipe of pumice, zeolite and the perfect mixture of fertiliser for optimum plant growth.

Now almost 100% of the plant displays that go through our warehouse are planted in Ecoponic.  

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Ecoponic Substrate

Peat Free

Peat is commonly found in compost due to its water retention and nutritional qualities.  The natural wetlands where Peat is found is critical to the survival of plants and wildlife. Not only that, but peat bogs store huge amounts of carbon which must be kept in the ground to avoid contributing to climate change.  

Ecoponic is 100% soil free.  This helps to protect our vulnerable peatlands – protecting wildlife and reducing carbon emissions. 

Reduced Water use

Ecoponic is very efficient at storing water.  It can absorb up to 44% of it’s weight in water.  During the watering, the grains absorbed it and no water remains in the pot. The roots slowly absorb the moisture from the substrate. This not only benefits the plant, it also reduces the amount of water used.

Less chance of flies or pests

Flies and pests can be an incredibly annoying problem in an office environment.  As Ecoponic contains no organic material, there is almost no chance of soil-borne pests. 

Infinite Lifecycle

It is permanently structurally stable (it will not break down or compact) this keeps the soil more airy and allows the roots to absorb enough oxygen.     

Ecoponic can be reused and recycled infinitely.

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Recycled & Sustainable Planting Containers

We offer a wide range of planting containers designed with sustainability in mind—each one made using recycled or low-impact materials to reduce waste and lower your carbon footprint.

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Pots made 100% from recycled waste

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Pots made from recycled materials including marine debris, artificial grass, textiles and more

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Pots produced using 100% wind energy

 

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Living wall system largely made from recycled clothing

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Planters made from upcycled pallets

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Plants donated to the local community

We regularly donate surplus plants and flowers to local groups, schools, and those who need them most. Over the years, we’ve supported several schools by helping them green their classrooms and create outdoor nature areas for pupils to enjoy.

Our plants and pots are also popular in the community. Locals often give old containers a new life, reusing and repurposing them so the plants can keep growing in new homes. It’s a simple way to share the benefits of greenery while reducing waste.

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Ecovadis

As part of our commitment to society, our people and the environment, Planteria has completed a thorough assessment of its business sustainability practices through EcoVadis, a global leader in business sustainability assessments. The EcoVadis assessment includes 21 sustainability criteria across four core themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement.

We are pleased to announce that we have received our EcoVadis rating in 2025.

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plant grow pots 100% recycled

Zero waste to landfill

We are a zero waste to landfill company, and we take that seriously at every stage of our work.

In the Netherlands alone, over 3 billion plastic plant grow pots are used each year. Most planting companies send these pots to general waste, claiming they are too difficult to recycle due to mixed materials or contamination.

At Planteria, we do things differently. Every single grow pot that comes through our nursery is sorted and recycled properly. We work with specialist recycling partners to make sure these plastics stay out of landfill and are given a new purpose.

It takes more effort, but it’s the right thing to do. And it’s one more way we reduce waste across our supply chain.

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pollinator friendly planting

Planting for the planet

Planting to support biodiversity is more than just good for the environment — it’s a great way to bring people together. It offers a hands-on opportunity for staff to get involved, whether by helping choose the plants, taking part in planting days, or simply enjoying the wildlife that follows.

We’ve seen it spark real interest and conversation across teams. It brings life to terraces and outdoor areas, turning them into spaces people want to spend time in. The result is not just a boost for nature, but a lift in staff engagement and well-being too

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habitats for nature

making the office a destination (for nature)

Make your site a destination for pollinators with our bespoke pollinator habitats.  Handcrafted, bespoke made here in the UK with sustainably grown wood from managed forests.  Custom made in the shape of your logo, name or nearly any shape you chose!

We can also craft the perfect design for you, incorporating sustainable and nature supporting products such as bee baths, bird boxes, worm buffets, bird feeders and more. 

This is the perfect pairing for our bee friendly planting schemes.  

Read More

Discover ways to enhance your office environment with our expert insights on biophilic design, wellbeing, sustainability and the world of plants.

Can I have a Living Wall?  And What ‘Green Wall’ alternatives are there?

Without a doubt, living walls look stunning and provide large swathes of real planting from floor to ceiling, creating a real impact…

A living wall can have numerous benefits in business environments; they can help to make staff more productive in the workplace and are equally important in improving the perception of your brand. In this article, you can find out the main points to consider when thinking about a living wall for your space, and why it could be important for your staff or guests.

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Can I have a living wall?

Almost definitely yes! Or at least, the effect that a living wall can give. We create bespoke walls for your requirements, though there will be some spaces more suited to live living walls than others.

A living wall works best in a well-lit space with plenty of room and fresh air circulating. For example, entrance atriums and large reception areas with hard or concrete floors. It is ideal to install them when a building is being constructed so that the irrigation system can be put in and the living wall placed on top. This can also off-set some of the cost, as the wall won’t need plastering and painting.

If you have a carpeted area or a space with lower light levels, such as a restaurant or traditional carpeted office reception, you could consider an artificial living wall instead. These look beautiful and give a very similar effect, creating the same kind of wow factor. For office spaces, moss walls also make an excellent option for giving a high impact finish, they are easy to retrofit and require minimal ongoing maintenance.

Another option to include real, live planting without the commitment and expense of a full living wall, is to opt for live dividers or panels. These are self-contained green modular products and give a great effect. These can be replanted on a regular basis to give a different look and so can be treated like art installations. You can also use them to give seasonal variation to your location…

tall green wall in a clean white entry space

Where is the best location for different types of green walls?

The best type of wall for you will depend on your location and the requirements of the plants you select. For example, some plants need more light than others so if you are planning to place your living wall in a bright and airy reception, you will have lots of options for the type of plants you can use.  For dark areas, you may need a growing light. You can also opt for moss walls or artificial living walls as these are perfect options for many spaces. Moss walls look exquisite when executed by professional plant technicians like Planteria. With lots of colour options and three different types of moss to choose from; bun moss, flat moss or reindeer moss, there are lots of variations to make your wall unique. You can also include your logo or a message and have something bespoke and specific to your company.

Here’s some more reading material on living walls to get you inspired for your new project:

It’s Alive! Buildings with Living Walls

Moss Walls: Q & A

 

What is A living picture and what types of living walls are there?

A living picture is a self-contained piece of art with a frame and a central section of planting. Living pictures look beautiful and can be hung singularly or in groups.  Also available in this type of product are living panels and dividers. These are easy to maintain and a cheaper option than a full-scale living wall. There are lots of options for different types of planting and it can be regularly changed to give different effects throughout the year. If you move offices, you can even take these with you which you can’t do with a traditional built-in living wall.

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When would I opt for Moss wall?

We supply sixteen different colours of preserved moss which can be used to beautifully create bespoke walls and even replicate your logo. Most moss is not recommended for use in exterior positions, but for interiors it is easy to manage and control. It is lightweight and fairly straightforward to install, making it ideal for most office environment.

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Why would I choose an artificial living wall?

An artificial living wall brings many of the design benefits of a real living wall, with far less maintenance or ongoing costs associated with a real living wall. Obviously, an artificial plant does not grow, and you won’t reap the benefits of the air cleansing and CO2 absorption that you get with real planting. You also need to consider that artificial planting, made from plastics, is not as environmentally friendly as the real deal. However, just like interior furnishings, they last a long time and can be moved with you if you are moving offices, so this should be weighed up in your considerations.

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Which are best and why?

There is no right answer to this question as whether you opt for a traditional built in living wall with its own Irrigation system, an artificial living wall, a living picture,  panel, divider, or moss wall, will largely depend on your vision for your premises and the constraints of your environment and budget.

When planning in your green wall, you need to ask your plant provider questions like:

  • Is this right for my space?
  • How much will it cost to install?
  • What will the monthly cost of ongoing maintenance be?
  • What possible issues might occur that I need to keep in mind for the future?

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If you would like to discuss your location and options to help you decide which is best for you, please get in touch with Planteria group today for a free consultation and quotation service.

Top Ten Scary Plants

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We love plants; they’re calming, they improve your décor, and they reduce C02 levels in the home and office. But there are plenty of plants that you wouldn’t want to find in your office at 9 am on a Monday morning. With Halloween fast upon us, this blog will take a look at nature’s finest arboreal warriors. Perhaps you’ll appreciate your office peace lily a little more after seeing these horrors.

10) Cuscuta – Strangle Tarestrangle tare

Often appearing overgrown and tangled, Strangle Tare isn’t harmful to human beings, but it is certainly scary to read about. Occupying a ghost-like role in plant life, the Strangle Tare will leech the life out of its host plant(s), detaching itself from its own roots in order to survive solely on the hard work of other vegetations. Strangle Tare thrives in hot climates, and there are only four species native to Northern Europe.

9) Utricularia – Bladderwortbladder wort

Everyone has heard of venus fly traps, but did you know about Bladderwort? Bladderwort flowers, like venus fly traps, feed on whatever prey they can catch in their snapdragon-esque maws. You won’t see bladderwort on land though, Bladderwort lives in fresh water, so next time you go wild swimming, remember the carnivorous Bladderwort!

8) Dering Woods – Screaming Wooddering woods

Dering Woods sits next to Pluckley, England’s most haunted village, in Kent. Dering and Pluckley purportedly house between twelve and sixteen ghostly residents between them, alongside the 1,069 living people who reside there. However, the trees themselves don’t seem to have any bearing on how this woods came to be a hotspot for the supernatural; if anything, what’s really scary is how its ghoulish reputation has led to its destruction. Campers looking for a thrill descend on the Screaming Wood with hopes of meeting a famous ghost, leaving a trail of litter in their wake. Pluckley village has spent £6,000 on litter clearing, and a further £41,000 has been sunk into trying to protect Dering Woods from future ghost hunters. So if you go down to the woods today, you’d better go with an eco-friendly attitude, the ghosts and residents will both be grateful!

7) Armillaria Solidipes – Humongous Fungushumongous fungus

The colloquially named Humongous Fungus spreads itself in the American underground of Malheur National Forest. A mushroom that transcends millennia, the Humongous Fungus is considered to be somewhere between 1,900 and 8,650 years old and covers an area of 3.7 square miles. If you ever get to see these Oregon woodlands, try not to think too much about the expanse of mushroom growing secretly beneath you.

6) Actaea Pachypoda – White Baneberry, Doll’s Eyes

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These creepy berries are aptly named; looking like eyeballs on flesh-red stems, these berries will watch you unceremoniously as you walk through hardwood forests in the USA or Canada. As if they weren’t already unsettling enough, these plants are highly toxic to human beings, causing cardiac arrest or death upon their ingestion.

5) Hydnellum Peckii – Bleeding Tooth Fungusblooding tooth fungus

Mushrooms are already rather odd-looking plants, known for having multiple poisonous variants, but mushrooms can be somewhat charming in the context of being described as fairy houses. The Hydnellum Peckii, by contrast, isn’t going to be considered a suitable home for any fairy. Like its nickname implies, this fungi produces a gross, jammy substance from its pores.

4) Nicotiana Tabacum – Tobaccotobacco plant

All parts of the Tobacco plant are incredibly poisonous, especially its leaves. Even though it’s so poisonous, tobacco continues to be used worldwide, and is estimated to cause more than five million deaths per year. Tobacco might not be visually scary, but it is deadly.

3) Amorphophallus Titanum – Corpse Flowercorpse flower

The Corpse Flower is infamous. It is known for having the largest flower on Earth, but also for emitting the most foul aroma of rotting flesh! The Corpse Flower can reach a whopping three metres in height. The Corpse Flower’s odd aroma is an evolutionary effect which grew to attract carnivorous insects in order to achieve pollination. Even weirder, the Corpse Flower can warm itself up to further resemble dead flesh when attracting flies and dung beetles.

2) Mammillaria Elongata Cristata – Brain Cactusbrain cactus

Just as the name implies, the brain cactus looks freakishly similar to a human organ – the brain. Brain cacti aren’t actually dangerous to humans (aside from the prickly spikes) so you could keep them as indoor office plants if you wanted, but you should first consider the history of how the Brain Cacti develop.

Brain cacti are a type of ‘Cristata’ cacti that form into these brain-esque shapes if they are injured at a young age. Unable to grow past the painful experiences of their youth, the brain cacti grow into a twisted and convoluted shape.

1) Algae Bloom – Red Tidered tide algal bloom

‘Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight. Red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning.’ This old saying, was a way for shepherds to predict the next day’s weather. The Red Tide, however, is always an omen of ill portent, irrelevant of what time of day it strikes. Red Tide is toxic algae rising up from the sea floor, which can occur after a particularly bad storm. The Red Tide isn’t especially pleasing to look at, being somewhat reminiscent of the shower scene in Psycho, but what’s more horrifying is the destruction that reveals itself two weeks following: fish and marine life will begin to wash up dead on shores and beaches, having been killed by the toxic algae in their water.

These are the top ten scariest plants in the world. Insect-pollinated plants are good greenery for hay fever and asthma sufferers, but your employees would probably not be too happy if they had to share their workspace with the magnificent Corpse Flower. When looking to choose the perfect indoor office plants, consider getting in contact with Planteria instead.

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If you’re looking for more material on scary plants, why not to turn to literature and film?

1) 1907, The Willows, by Algernon Blackwood

2) 1962, The Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson

3) 2000, House of Leaves, by M. Z. Danielewski

4) 2008, The Happening, by M. Night Shyamalan

5) 2011, A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness

6) 2015 (Uk), The Vegetarian, By Han Kang (translated by Deborah Smith)

7) 2016, The Forest, by Jason Zada

 

Introducing our feathered residents…!

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There’s nothing like fresh, truly free range eggs from happy chickens allowed to roam the six acres at our Head Office nursery. These birds are real characters and provide us with some extra amusement. Promise we’ll keep them away from answering the phones..!