G Cycle is our industry-leading recycling initiative that collects, repairs, cleans and reuses wooden packaging and plastic pots, reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices across the horticultural supply chain.
Driving environmental change
We launched G Cycle in 2021 to reduce waste and encourage a circular economy by making the scheme easy for clients to participate in, offering free waste collection, and rebates on all packaging costs. The initiative also helps contribute positively to our clients’ own carbon footprint, reducing their waste volume.
To date, the scheme has recycled more than 50,000 wooden crates and pallets, saving over a million kilograms of wood and plastic from going to landfill.
Zero Waste
G Cycle is organised by our transport and logistics team who arrange the collection of used pallets, crates, and plastic pots from our clients’ sites. The collected packaging is processed at Greenwood’s recycling centre where wooden pallets and crates are repaired, stored and re-distributed. In 2023, we invested in a pot washing machine which enables the team to sort pots by size and efficiently disinfect them. This allows pots to be re-used up to three times, saving over one million pots from going to waste so far. In 2024, Greenwood continued to invest in the recycling process by buying a plastic baler. This machine enables us to compact and bale plastic pots which are damaged and no longer usable. The bales are recycled at a regional recycling facility.
There is an initial upfront cost for the packing crates and pallets supplied (£7.50 per pallet and £20 per crate), but once you sign up to G Cycle, you will be reimbursed with a credit note for 100% of that value after the crates and pallets are collected. There will be no cost impact for clients if all supplied crates and pallets are returned. Packaging will need to be in a reusable condition and free from general rubbish and other materials.
As an added bonus, we’ll also take away any pots and unwanted plants left in the crates, saving you the labour and costs of waste disposal. Pots will be washed and reused, reducing plastic waste and giving your company an edge in an environmentally aware market. Any healthy plants will be donated to our Greenwood Community scheme. All we ask is that no rubbish remains in the crates – pots and potted plants only please.
Our Mission
Greenwood strives to be the best landscape supply nursery in Europe by offering an effortless client experience. We are a sustainability leader within the horticultural industry, working hard to achieve net zero and to adopt circular economy principles.
Greenwood actively campaigns to promote greener growing, recycling, and community planting, and is investing into research on carbon accounting and enhancing biodiversity to further knowledge and understanding on these essential topics to manage climate change.
We nurture our plants using peat-free growing media, with minimal use of plastic, synthetic chemicals and pesticides, by focussing on self-supporting localised hydrology, and using lean working practices on our nurseries to produce plants with the lowest possible carbon footprint. We use low emission lorries for our fast and flexible national deliveries, to ensure our plants arrive with our clients in prime condition.
With our innovative G Cycle scheme, we take this care even further by collecting and recycling wooden packing crates, pallets and plastic pots, reducing waste that would otherwise go to landfill.
How G Cycling works
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G Cycle scheme is a fuss-free collection of your packing materials (wooden crates and pallets, and plastic pots) after the safe delivery of your plants. Greenwood will refund 100% of the invoiced packaging costs to your Greenwood account via a credit note to use against your next order. |
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The minimum collection amount is 10 crates or 30 pallets. Greenwood will also recycle your plant pots and unwanted plants if they are stowed within the crates. What’s more, we’ll even take away your non-Greenwood pallets and crates for 50% of the Greenwood charge (excluding turf pallets). Ideally, these should be collated at your yard for frequent collections. |
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Horticulture businesses are striving to reduce their carbon footprint and maximising your green credentials can make the difference when it comes to tenders. The G Cycle scheme offers a helping hand with no effort on your part beyond arranging collection and collating materials at your preferred pick-up point.
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Once the collection is complete, you will receive a credit note to use against future orders. Credit notes are issued on a monthly basis.
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G Cycle scheme is a fuss-free collection of your packing materials (wooden crates and pallets, and plastic pots) after the safe delivery of your plants. Greenwood will refund 100% of the invoiced packaging costs to your Greenwood account via a credit note to use against your next order. |
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The minimum collection amount is 10 crates or 30 pallets. Greenwood will also recycle your plant pots and unwanted plants if they are stowed within the crates. What’s more, we’ll even take away your non-Greenwood pallets and crates for 50% of the Greenwood charge (excluding turf pallets). Ideally, these should be collated at your yard for frequent collections. |
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Horticulture businesses are striving to reduce their carbon footprint and maximising your green credentials can make the difference when it comes to tenders. The G Cycle scheme offers a helping hand with no effort on your part beyond arranging collection and collating materials at your preferred pick-up point.
|
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Once the collection is complete, you will receive a credit note to use against future orders. Credit notes are issued on a monthly basis.
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FAQ
Will you still collect and refund damaged crates?
We may collect damaged crates, but this and any credit receipt will be at the discretion of the driver.
Are refunds only available in credit?
We refund 100% of cost of the number of crates collected; currently this is only available as credit on clients’ accounts. Our driver will issue paperwork at the time of collection, requiring a client signature.
Are there any fees for the G Cycle service?
If the crates contain any waste other than plastic pots, a surcharge of £10 per crate/pallet will be charged for cleaning and rubbish disposal.
Start G Cycle today!
Request a G Cycle Collection.