By adhering to the Plant Health Management Standard and becoming certified, companies are effectively part of a sector-wide Environmental and Social Governance system, with the specific aim of helping to protect the health of cultivated and native flora. By enacting the rigorous plant biosecurity precautions, certified companies safeguard the horticultural trade and the range of ecosystem services provided from plants growing in urban locations to the wider countryside.
For Crocus the certification is marker of their commitment to UK economy, plants, landscape and wildlife, as well as to their customers to provide them with the highest standards in plant quality, health and care. Customers will now have the assurance that Crocus plants come with the highest standards of plant health and biosecurity. According to Crocus, they are the first online gardening brand to be awarded the certification.
Mark Fane, CEO Crocus said “Achieving Plant Healthy is just one of the many goals that Crocus has set for itself as part of our 2023 sustainability strategy. This year we have also achieved our target of growing 1 million plants from our on-site propagation unit where now all the plants we grow are potted into a peat-free mix.
Alongside this we are now self-sufficient for all our water needs by collecting and recycling rainwater from the nursery. We also recycle our waste plant material which is broken down and turned into compost, which was used on our two Gold Medal winning Show Gardens at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show”.