The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
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As Europe’s ornamental horticulture sector adapts to growing environmental pressures, France’s inter-branch association VALHOR continues to lead coordinated efforts in sustainability, particularly around packaging and recycling. With over 200,000 professionals represented across horticulture, sales, and landscaping, VALHOR is advancing a robust framework for eco-design and waste reduction.
VALHOR’s strategy for good plastic management in the plant sector is based, on the one hand, on the eco-design of products, and, on the other hand, on the effective recycling of professional and household waste, with particular attention paid to horticultural pots. To achieve this, several strong commitments have been made by the French industry alongside its partners. Key milestones include the elimination of carbon black plastics (targeted by 2024), complete phase-out of polystyrene in containers by 2025, and a requirement for a minimum of 75 per cent recycled material in each pot by 2030.
Florent Moreau, President of VALHOR, said: “The proper management of plastic in the plant sector has been at the heart of VALHOR’s CSR strategy since the end of 2018. The flowers, plants, trees and shrubs that we produce, sell and use in our landscaping improve the living environment of our citizens and contribute to their physical and mental well-being.
Nevertheless, the vast majority of these plants are produced in plastic pots, and we must be exemplary in the ecodesign of our products to limit the quantities of plastic placed on the market and ensure the effective recycling of these pots. This is why the sector has developed several partnerships in recent years, with pot manufacturers, eco-organisations or representatives of local authorities. For example, considerable progress was made in just two years to stop using carbon black, which prevents the detection of horticultural pots in French sorting centres, or to stop using polystyrene in buckets and trays because this resin is more difficult and more expensive to recycle than polypropylene.
We are now closely following the regulatory context, with the publication of the European PPWR regulation, which changes the status of horticultural pots and the implementation of the REP ‘professional packaging’ sector provided for by the AGEC law.
We are seeking some clarification from the public authorities to adapt our strategy and initiatives with our partners to this new situation.”
This proactive approach is supported by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), which is working with VALHOR to implement a “first steps” approach to the simplified eco-design of horticultural pots in 2025. This includes conducting life cycle assessments (LCAs) of plastic and bio-sourced pots, and the development of a decision-making tool for plant professionals.
This initiative complements VALHOR’s broader certification and sustainability work, including the Plante Bleue label—France’s leading environmental and social certification for ornamental plant production. Covering more than 8,000 hectares and involving 300 companies, the scheme ensures responsible practices in biodiversity, fertilisation, crop protection, water, waste and energy management, as well as social and societal topics.
As VALHOR continues to collaborate with manufacturers, eco-organisations and local authorities, its efforts are setting a strong example of how coordinated industry action can drive real progress in sustainable horticultural practices. From advancing circular packaging solutions to strengthening environmental certification, VALHOR remains at the forefront of change in France’s green sector.
This article was first published in the April 2025 issue of FloraCulture International.
