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.
AIPH is responsible for approving the world’s most exceptional horticultural expos creating long lasting green legacies in cities across the globe.
AIPH Blooming Economies & Cities to Inspire The World 2.0. Up-to-date statistics from recent Expos hosted in Asia and Europe.
Learn moreAIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
The AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards celebrate the best of the best in ornamental horticulture
Learn moreAIPH’s key aim is to stimulate demand for ornamental trees, plants and flowers worldwide. We are committed to supporting growers in achieving this by protecting and promoting the interests of the industry.
The AIPH’s Global Industry Intelligence Centre (GIIC) is an international hub for industry information and knowledge exchange.
The report contains insights on production and consumption of the floriculture industry in Thailand, imports and exports, and business opportunities
DownloadAIPH Green City activities promote the essential role of plants in creating vibrant urban areas in which people and businesses can thrive.
From wool to wildlife-friendly planting schemes, the shift away from plastic tree guards is helping cities and landscapes in the UK grow greener, cleaner, and more circular.
Bold steps towards a sustainable future in the UK have led to a transformation in traditional approaches to protecting newly planted saplings. Innovation in tree guard design and planting schemes is being trialled as an eco-alternative to plastic tubes, which often contribute to litter and microplastic pollution in the environment. These advancements—emerging from UK-based research and practice—are paving the way for greener, cleaner, and more circular planting practices.
A circular economy aims to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems. It focuses on restorative and regenerative solutions that reduce the need for new resources by rethinking how materials are used, reused, and recovered across their lifecycle. In this context, the goal is to prevent, reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover resources.
1. Prevent – the use of sheep’s wool on site is being used to discourage deer from browsing on saplings due to the strong scent of the wool. Another approach is to prevent predation by planting other species within the area. This silviculture approach can be tailored to specific locations and ecosystems.
2. Reduce – the use of alternative materials and fencing to protect larger areas more permanently, and allowing plants to grow more freely, is a way to reduce reliance on plastic and the amount of protection required.
3. Reuse – The approach of reuse can be more complicated when it comes to pre-existing plastic guards, where the reuse of degrading materials can result in an increase in microplastic shedding. However, the introduction of new materials may offer a more effective way to achieve this.
4. Recycle – Due to the scale of planting schemes and the design of the tree guards, there is limited effective recycling of the guards. However, this should be considered in connection with trees already planted with guards.
The commitment to sustainable tree protection is providing the development of new collaborations and innovative ideas, helping to reduce the reliance on plastic across the sector.
By Dr Francesca Boyd. Originally published in the April 2025 edition of FloraCulture International.
