Growing a Greener Future
At Greenwood we care about sustainability, and are working to actively reduce our carbon footprint, improve our local communities and environment, and exercise responsible planetary stewardship.
Our commitment to sustainability
We have developed the next phase of our sustainability strategy to shape our future growth, and ensure we meet our environmental, social and governance goals. We are a sustainability award-winner and we actively campaign to promote greener growing, recycling, and community planting. Greenwood is investing in research on carbon accounting and enhancing biodiversity to further knowledge and understanding on these essential topics to mitigate climate change. As a leader in the horticultural industry, we are committed to achieving net zero and adopting circular economy principles.
Processes
Greenwood is dedicated to strengthening our supply chain to ensure that our sustainability principles are adopted, and that we work with companies who share the same values as ours. Using lean production techniques, we have rigorous recycling processes to reduce waste, reuse materials and promote a circular economy. We have invested in electric cars and forklifts, a fleet of low emission lorries, and we are trialling fully electric trucks to distribute our products. We are constantly innovating and applying new technologies to make our operations more efficient.
People
The G Team are at the heart of the Company and we recognise that employee inclusivity, engagement and wellbeing is central to our success. We undertake open book management and profit sharing with the G Team to ensure everyone shares in the company’s success.
At Greenwood, we understand the amazing benefits of plants on biodiversity, air quality, mental health, and wellbeing. Our Greenwood Community plant donation scheme engages with a wide range of community and volunteer organisations to create green community spaces with enhanced biodiversity.
Plants
Our goal is to grow and supply sustainable plants which have longevity. We manage this by 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.
Planet
Greenwood is committed to minimising its impact on the planet and to using its position to combat climate change. We measure our carbon footprint annually and share the results along with our carbon reduction plan. We set ourselves ambitious targets, such as being net zero by 2030, and demonstrate what can be achieved by adopting a sustainability-led approach.
We work across our own nurseries, with our local communities, and with our national network to take every opportunity to increase biodiversity and support native wildlife. By raising awareness, and supporting clients to meet Biodiversity Net Gain regulations, we are positively impacting our environment.
Sustainability targets for 2025-2028
%
of purchased plants to be peat-free
%
of Head Office powered by renewable energy
%
reduced chemical growing across our nurseries
%
G Cycle recycling rate
Greenwood Community projects per year
30
Reducing carbon emissions
One of the key objectives of Greenwood’s sustainability strategy is reducing carbon emissions. We are committed to growing 100% peat-free plants and we are encouraging our suppliers to adopt peat-free alternatives too. Peat is a finite resource that, when harvested, releases carbon dioxide into our atmosphere, which contributes to climate change. It was a huge undertaking, but transitioning to peat-free growing media has had a very positive impact on our carbon footprint.
Renewable energy is also a major focus, with intentions to power our operations through solar energy whilst ensuring all purchased electricity comes from renewable sources. To maximise energy efficiency, we plan to install more LED lighting, motion sensors, timers, and apply insulation techniques. Our employees are also encouraged to adopt energy-saving behaviours, and we practice sustainable procurement by considering the carbon footprint of all products that we purchase and supply.
Greenwood continues to invest in electric machinery and vehicles to minimise transportation emissions. We work hard to optimise delivery routes, we have introduced an ‘engine-off when idling’ policy and we encourage car-sharing and virtual meetings to cut transportation emissions.
Conserving water
Water conservation is a priority for Greenwood as climate change brings hotter, drier summers and unpredictable rainfall. To ensure a sustainable water supply, we have expanded our rainwater harvesting systems and increased our water storage capacity with additional 85,000-litre tanks. We are fortunate to have licensed stream extraction and surface water wells to provide supplementary sources. These measures help sustain our operations without relying on external sources, especially during the peak summer months when demand is highest.
Efficient irrigation is another crucial part of our strategy. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation and ensuring every drop is used effectively. Our team carefully positions plants in straight lines to minimise water wastage during irrigation, while also monitoring hoses and equipment to detect and repair any leaks promptly. Wastewater is filtered and reused whenever possible, further reducing unnecessary consumption.
These efforts reflect our commitment to responsible water use, ensuring that we not only sustain our own operations but also contribute to a more environmentally friendly horticultural industry.
Managing waste responsibly
Greenwood’s waste management efforts are driven by the success of G Cycle , our industry-leading recycling scheme. This initiative has already prevented over 50,000 wooden crates and pallets going to landfill – which is over 1000 tonnes of wood saved. We are continuously working to increase uptake with a target of 90% of our wooden packaging recovered. Our pot washing machine has enabled us to clean a staggering 1,000,000 pots so far, preventing a vast amount of plastic from going to waste. Our new plastic baling machine means we can efficiently crush and bale damaged pots and send them to be recycled, creating a circular economy.
By offering free waste collection, and rebates on all packaging costs, we have made the G Cycle process effortless for clients, ensuring high levels of participation. The recycling initiative contributes positively to the clients’ own carbon footprint, reducing their waste impact, and also solves a logistical problem of disposing of the packaging themselves.
Engaging with our community and supporting biodiversity
We strive to enhance biodiversity and actively promote the use of native plants that support British wildlife. Our Greenwood Community scheme donates plants and sundries to community green spaces and rewilding projects. The scheme has been expanded to involve local schools, colleges, and youth groups, creating educational gardens that inspire future generations, contribute to conservation efforts and support biodiversity.
Greenwood also collaborates with regional and national conservation organisations and offers sustainability-focussed client partnerships that support biodiversity initiatives on a wider scale.
Greenwood regularly hosts CPD workshops for clients on planting for longevity, sustainable practices, peat-free growing, and optimising biodiversity. We provide education on drought-tolerant and climate-resilient plant varieties and give advice on protecting against invasive species, raising awareness of their ecological impact.
Alongside our horticultural operations, we maintain beehives, hedgerows, and ponds on our nursery sites to encourage pollinators and wildlife. We are consciously reducing the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, prioritising organic and biological alternatives, to foster healthier ecosystems. We have adopted regenerative growing techniques across our open field nurseries to improve soil health and increase the volume of sequestered organic carbon.
Our sustainability goals
At Greenwood, we’re committed to achieving our targets and reporting annually on our progress, conducting regular audits to identify areas for improvement. By implementing this strategy, we will:
Reduce our environmental impact and enhance biodiversity.
Empower clients and suppliers to adopt sustainable practices.
Strengthen our identity as a sustainability-focussed business.
Join us in growing a greener future
Sustainability is a shared responsibility, and together, we can make a lasting impact. By choosing Greenwood, you are supporting a company that prioritises ethical sourcing, biodiversity, and carbon reduction.
Let’s create a future where horticulture drives environmental change.
Sustainability milestones:
2021
Launched G Cycle wooden packaging recycling scheme
Introduced the Greenwood Community plant donation program
2022
Introduced first phase of our sustainability strategy
Began trials of peat-free growing media
Launched Every Plant Matters handbook for employees
Hosted Peat-Free Open Day at Fresh Acres
Offered Watch It Grow peat-free growing contracts
Won Central South ‘Sustainable Business of the Year’ award
Invested in new water tanks to increase water self-sufficiency
2023
Published ‘Greenwood Specification’ with advice on planting sustainably
Transitioned to 100% peat-free growing
Won HTA ‘Peat-Free Grower of the Year’ award
Increased use of biological pest control
Invested in electric machinery and renewable energy sources
2024
Named ‘International Grower of the Year’ at 2024 AIPH awards
Achieved Plant Healthy certification
Invested in a fleet of electric cars and ultra-low emission trucks
Expanded G Cycle to include washing & recycling of pots
Presented CPD sessions on ‘Planting for a greener future’
2025
Launched Phase 2 of our sustainability strategy, setting pathway to Net Zero
Trialled fully electric delivery trucks
Introduced disposable glove recycling scheme across our nurseries.
