Reducing Garden Plastic: Practical Swaps

Gardening quietly generates a lot of plastic, from pots to mulch film, and most of it ends up in the bin. A few swaps cut the waste without making the work harder.

The most common plastics are seed trays, pots, and synthetic mulches, each with a durable alternative. The swaps often last longer than the plastic they replace.

• Use soil blocks or wooden trays instead of plastic cells
• Swap plastic pots for terracotta or fabric
• Choose organic mulches over plastic film
• Reuse and repair tools rather than replacing them