Environmental Policy

1. Background

Greenwood Group Ltd under the trading name of Greenwood Plants (‘Greenwood’), is a company registered in England and Wales at Companies House.

Greenwood Plants Ltd (‘Greenwood’) places Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) at the heart of its business and aims to lead the horticultural industry in terms of its sustainability position. It is committed to measuring its impact on the environment and striving for improvement, using its ‘Every Plant Matters’ philosophy to prioritise sustainability with its employees, clients, and supply chain.

2. Sustainability Strategy

Greenwood’s Sustainability strategy outlines its vision for achieving sustainability leadership, with clear targets to monitor performance, and a framework which ensures delivery across all areas of the Company in its day-to-day operations.

The strategy aims to become net zero and create social value by Growing Greener, optimising its G Cycle programme, and developing its Greenwood Community activity. The Company is pioneering new practices to use resources efficiently, reduce waste, encourage biodiversity, and improve its carbon footprint.

2.1 Targets

Greenwood is ambitious and by the end of 2023 aims to achieve:

• 100% peat-free growing.
• 100% renewable energy usage.
• 100% water self-sufficiency.
• 90% G Cycle rate.
• 80% CO₂ reduction.
• 24 Greenwood Community projects per year.

2.2 Growing greener

Becoming carbon neutral is an important goal for Greenwood, and this means that all operational processes, machinery, tools, and materials are assessed to ensure they are as sustainable as possible.

• Peat-free growing
  Greenwood aims to be fully peat-free by the end of 2023 and is currently undertaking extensive trials at its nurseries to identify the best possible peat-free growing media. Greenwood is gradually transitioning its production with clear volume milestones.
• Water conservation
  Greenwood is working hard to recycle water and reduce wastage across all its nurseries. Greenwood primarily uses water from its own harvested water stores, wells, and streams—only using mains water as a last resort.
• Electric & low emission vehicles
  Electric vehicles have significant benefits for emissions and reduce air and noise pollution. Greenwood is in the process of switching its diesel forklifts to electric across its nurseries and upgrading its fleet to ultra-low emissions vehicles.

2.3 G Cycle

Greenwood’s innovative G Cycle scheme significantly reduces the amount of waste going to landfill and helps preserve valuable resources by encouraging clients to return their crates, pallets, and pots. It also creates a shared standard of sustainability within the supply chain.

• Reduce & reuse
  The innovative G Cycle scheme was launched in October 2021, with the aim of increasing the reuse rate of crates, pallets, and pots. To date, more than 15,000 crates have been recycled—saving a huge amount of resource.

2.4 Greenwood Community

Greenwood Community donates plants to local charities, schools, village gardens, and other local organisations, to create green community spaces with enhanced biodiversity.

• Community benefits
  Greenwood Community has donated hundreds of plants to community projects. Plants provide a whole host of lasting benefits to the environment, such as absorbing carbon dioxide to improve air quality, increasing biodiversity and encouraging wildlife.
  

3. Legislation & Regulations

Greenwood fully complies with all environmental regulations and legislation, and all of its products and services have been developed in accordance with the principles of its Environmental policy.

 2. Practice

The Company practices responsible purchasing, buying sustainably sourced and environmentally friendly products and packaging wherever possible.

 Greenwood repairs, reuses, and recycles products to minimise waste, and is transitioning to digital processes across its nurseries.

 It has an Integrated Pest Management strategy that employs biological pest control methods and bark weed suppressant to minimise its use of chemical pesticides.

 3. Employees

Greenwood’s employees are expected to behave in accordance with its brand values, which includes the value of ‘Sustainability.’ The Company expects its employees to have a full understanding of all of its policies, including its Environmental policy, and act in accordance with this when undertaking their daily duties.

 Greenwood is always open to providing training, advice, and information to staff to ensure they understand its ESG goals. Its ‘Every Plant Matters’ ballot boxes and inbox have been set up to offer a straightforward way to share ideas, best practice, and comments to capture its employees’ continuous improvement ideas.

4. Contact

For any questions, queries, or comments relating to Greenwood’s Environmental Policy should be addressed to hello@greenwoodplants.co.uk .

– Greenwood Plants Environmental Policy, January 2023