Supporting Eco-Conscious Consumers: How Garden Centres Can Merge Community and Sustainability

Going to a garden centre in the UK is more than shopping, it’s a whole experience. Somewhere that maybe your parents took you every weekend when you were young, browsing amongst nature, and buying you a piece of cake at the end of the trip to reward how well you behaved.

As adults we still enjoy that experience that brings back memories, connect us with nature and provides us with a fun and mindful weekend activity. But consumer behaviour is evolving, with community and values increasingly at the heart of their buying choices.

Young generations are increasingly making purchase decisions based on the values and principles of a brand, with Gen Z shoppers willing to spend 10% more in sustainable products. For this reason, becoming more sustainable and promoting sustainable practices is not just an extra effort anymore, but a way to survive and build customer loyalty.

Sustainability touches every aspect of a garden centre, from the products you stock to how you manage waste. As businesses that thrive on connecting people with nature, taking action to reduce environmental impact is a natural next step, and there are many things that you can do to become more sustainable, create a welcoming space and connect with your community.

Why not take advantage of a gardening calendar or environmental awareness days to support your marketing efforts? International e-waste day is coming up next week, and it’s a great opportunity to give back to the planet and show your customers that you care.

 

What is International E-Waste Day

Taking place on Monday 14 October, international e-waste day is a day to raise awareness about the impact of e-waste in the environment and understand why recycling your electronics is so important.

What is e-waste?

Electronic waste includes anything with plugs and electronic components, such as televisions, home appliances and smaller items like phones, vapes and children’s toys.

Why is e-waste so bad?

Probably the first thing that comes to mind is the plastic components and other non-biodegradable materials which will live in landfill for years and years. And this is true, but that’s only a tiny reason why e-waste is really bad for the environment (and humans).

E-waste is a hazard, because many electronics contain materials and chemicals that are toxic and can affect our health, including mercury. When electronics are thrown into landfill, they contaminate the soil, water and air.

What happens to recycled e-waste?

If recycled properly, items are shredded into small pieces and materials separated by strong magnets and electronic currents.

Electronics contains many non-renewable resources that we need, such as copper, aluminium and cobalt, and the reprocessing plants sort and distribute these materials to be reused and create new things.

How can you get involved?

Both individuals and businesses can make a difference by participating in e-waste recycling efforts. The Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Forum is organising a campaign called “Join the E-Waste Hunt – Retrieve, Recycle, and Revive!” encouraging everyone to declutter their homes of unused or broken devices and enter a competition for a chance to win a prize. More details are available at the WEEE Forum website: International E-Waste Day | WEEE Forum (weee-forum.org)

Garden centres and other businesses can play a big role, too. Organise an e-waste collection day to show your commitment to sustainability and give customers another reason to visit your store. Not only will this foster loyalty, but it also demonstrates that your business cares about the planet.

We’d love to see how you’re participating in this cause, so don’t forget to tag us on social media when you share your efforts!