HTA Sustainability Matters – Green is the new black!

The HTA has announced a one-day event ‘Sustainability Matters’ which will take place at Horticulture House in Oxfordshire on Tuesday 30 April 2019. This new event will explore topical issues around sustainability for the garden industry including plastics, recycling, responsible sourcing, environmental policies and promoting local.

Following the airing of David Attenborough’s Blue Planet programme interest in environmental issues has increased amongst consumers. 95% of people in the UK think that the environment is important to them personally*, with climate change, air pollution and growing amounts of waste being the key areas of concern. Research has shown that consumers believe that companies and big industries are not doing enough to protect the environment (83%) and neither are consumers (71%).

Within the garden industry, which is considered to be ‘green’ by nature, there is much activity going on but there is always more to do even if this is just around communicating your sustainability activities to your customers. A mix of presentations, panel sessions and case studies this informative and inspirational event will help your business on its green journey.

Topics to be covered during the day, which will be chaired by George Bullivant from Gardenforum, include:

• Why sustainability matters – latest updates on consumer attitudes and their expectations of businesses with regard to green issues.
• Stuart Foster, CEO from RECOUP (RECycling Of Used Plastics Limited) – will provide an overview of their work and their involvement with the horticulture sector including recent activity on plant pot recycling.
• Trewin Restorick, CEO, from environmental charity Hubbub will talk about different community sustainability initiatives that he has been involved helping to inspire businesses to do the same.
• Inspiration from within the industry – case studies from retailers that are taking the lead: developing environmental policies and practices, sourcing locally and working with local communities and projects.

£99 +VAT for members and £125+VAT for non-members.

For further information and to book your place visit www.hta.org.uk/events or email events@hta.org.uk.