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At Wildernis we have been doing our best for years to be as sustainable as possible for both our plants and products and our business operations. What does that mean? Why are we doing that? And how do we do that?
Sustainable and organic indoor plants
But a plant is always organic, right? It’s green and it’s growing?! That’s right, but many people don’t realize that most indoor plants are sprayed preventively with toxic substances against bugs and that fertilizers are used to quickly grow the plants.
The use of chemicals is bad for the environment outside your home, but in the case of indoor plants you also bring the pesticides into your home.
Plants that have been propagated quickly with fertilizer we call a ‘floppy plant’. Such a floppy plant is not happy and healthy and will also have a harder time surviving in your home, be more susceptible to bugs and diseases and will probably arrive at your home on exhausted soil.
Wildernis therefore only sells indoor plants that have been grown as sustainable as possible or even grown organically. Click here for the difference between sustainable and organic plants. All plants in the store and on the webshop of Wildernis come from growers with at least the MPS-A or A+ sustainability certificate.
All plants are selected by hand on a weekly basis. We first of all pay attention to the MPS A/A+ quality mark and then to how beautiful and healthy the plant is. With this we can guarantee that the plants you buy from Wildernis have the highest achievable sustainability standard at the moment, beautiful healthy plants both inside and out.
Read more about MPS certification for sustainable plant breeding here.
Organic outdoor plants and bulbs
By buying organic or unsprayed garden plants and bulbs you really help bees, butterflies and other insects!
In a garden center or supermarket there is often a card in the plant with the message good for butterflies and bees, but the plant is often covered in pesticides. You think you’re doing well with your planty, but nothing could be further from the truth. So rather buy an organic plant or bulb, then you can be sure that you are doing the butterflies and bees a favor.
Read more about this in the Greenpeace report: Poisonous plants in the garden centre
Wildernis offers organic or unsprayed plants every spring, summer and autumn on our small sidewalk on the Bilderdijkstraat. These plants are a bit smaller in the spring than you are used to from the large garden centres. This is because they are not grown in heated greenhouses, but outside on the cold ground. This gives environmental benefits because heating is not necessary for warm greenhouses, and plants are also stronger and survive better on the spot, namely outside where they are eventually planted.
Sustainable pots and accessories
Sustainable plants also include sustainable and responsibly produced products. It is our mission to deliver beautiful plants, pots and accessories for our customers in the most sustainable way possible.
Over the years, Wildernis has designed and produced various products itself in order to increase the range of sustainable pots and accessories in our Shop.
Our own pot line is produced in the Netherlands, with German clay and lead-free glazes. The halo pendant is produced in the Netherlands at an emission-free factory. Wilderness terrariums are put together as sustainably as possible in our store. Macrame hangers made of 100% cotton at a social workshop in Amsterdam West.
We also do our utmost to find as many beautiful pots as possible for you that have been produced in Europe, so that we are sure that the basics (such as working conditions, environmental regulations, transport) are in order. Furthermore, we only sell plastic pots if they are made from recycled material.
About 70% of our range of pots and accessories is produced in Europe. Including in the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany and Romania. We continue to do our best every year to increase this share.
Why are we doing this?
Pots are produced in Europe under good working conditions for employees. The production process and the materials used comply with European standards. The pots also have to be transported to the Netherlands, which in turn entails the necessary environmental impact. By purchasing in Europe, all these matters are arranged properly in one go. With the lowest possible impact on people and the environment.
Glazes with lead or other substances that are already banned in Europe are still used in Asia, they give a beautiful effect in the glazes but are toxic, even after they have been baked. The fumes that are released during baking are dangerous for the employees in the factory, but also for the environment where the factory produces.
Sustainable business operations
We reuse cardboard and packaging materials from deliveries for sending products from our webshop. For cleaning we only use ecological products.All lamps and grow lights that we use are LED and our rooms have infrared panels for heating. We use time switches for energy-intensive appliances. Outdoor plants that we can no longer sell are given free of charge to public neighborhood gardens in Amsterdam.
We also work together with local illustrators, designers and small Dutch makers. Close to home and as sustainable as possible.