Plant pot recycling among green initiatives introduced at garden centre near Wellingborough

A garden centre near Wellingborough has launched a series of new green initiatives.

Discount retail group QD, which owns the QualityDiscounts.com and Cherry Lane Garden Centre brands including the Cherry Lane garden centre in Podington, is going green with new in-store initiatives to bolster its eco-credentials.

This month, QD Group has launched Value Our Planet, a new campaign which highlights changes the group is making as part of its commitment to caring for the environment.

Key green achievements for the group so far include:

- Two tonnes less plastic in its packaging – the same weight as four polar bears

- 855 tonnes of plastic and cardboard from the stores were recycled in 2020 – equivalent to more than four blue whales

- 450,000 plants grown at Cherry Lane’s on-site nurseries

- The company runs on 100 per cent renewable electricity and is now using 30 per cent less electricity

At the same time, QD Group has launched new initiatives in-store to help customers make greener choices when shopping.

These include the introduction of recycling stations at Cherry Lane, Podington, for customers to bring or take away used plant pots and compost bags, as well as providing free used coffee grounds from the QD and Cherry Lane Cafés which can be mixed into the soil as a natural enricher.

Since Christmas, the stores have also been stocking more 100 per cent recyclable wrapping paper, gift tags, bows and bags, all made from sustainable resources.

Nisha Collins, brand and events manager at QD Group, said: “We’ve been using biodegradable carrier bags made from plant-based materials for the past 15 years, but as a business we knew there was so much more we could do to decrease our environmental impact.

"We’ve looked at everything, from energy use to packaging, and are making changes wherever we can. Even the little things, such as swapping the plastic wrapper on our best-selling kitchen roll for recyclable paper, all add up and we are pleased with the impact we’ve made so far. We’re committed to caring for our planet and want eco-conscious customers to feel comfortable shopping with us.

"The QD and Cherry Lane brands are well known for having red logos, but now we’re going green.”

For more information, visit www.qualitydiscounts.com or www.cherry-lane.co.uk.

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