We’ve created this policy to reflect and communicate Urban Jungle’s environmental ethos. We don’t want to green-wash and we’re not here to congratulate ourselves on our eco ethics. We’re on a journey, and seeking ways to improve. This policy will help us.
Sustainability is in our blood, but in writing this document, we’ve considered numerous ways in which we as a company have been wasteful in the past, can improve now and in the future, and how we can encourage, develop and raise awareness in our employees.
Living in harmony with the Environment, Mother nature, Gaia, call it what you will, has always been core to our values. Actions speak louder than words, and we recruit and reward our team members who align with our values. We’ll always listen to our team when they suggest ways that we, as a company, can improve our practices.
Our commitment so far.
1. Respect for nature
We limit our use of harsh chemicals.
Our cafes use Ecover products.
We leave room for nature, using natural, organic pesticides.
2. Reduce our consumption
We use resources such as paper sparingly, only printing if necessary.
We mindfully use plastic wrap for transporting plants, using as much as needed to secure our plants and not an inch more.
We turn off lights when we leave the room, and computers at the end of the day.
We plan our delivery routes to save fuel.
We import plants from Europe that are not available in the UK– BUT we grow nearly all our other plants on site – 50,000 perennials, ferns, grasses and shrubs ranging from 1 to 30 litre pots, thus greatly reducing plant miles.
We use 50% reduced peat compost.
3. Re-use materials and equipment
We buy quality second hand furniture and equipment when available.
Spent compost goes on our gardens to enrich our soil.
We reuse compost bags to line cardboard boxes for mail order plants.
Cardboard boxes received from suppliers are offered to customers or used in our mail order packaging.
4. Refuse unnecessary and excessive consumption
We maintain and repair vehicles and equipment, refusing to replace them while they are safe and serviceable.
We refuse to stock plastic bags – we offer paper bags.
We refuse to accept that horticulture can’t work in harmony with nature.
5. Rent when more sustainable than buying
We rent a forklift as and when we require one (approximately 20 days a year), planning our moving jobs in advance.
6. Repurpose
Look around you at our nurseries and cafes – old wooden doors become till counters, pallet wood becomes cafe counters. We use reclaimed wood for building when available.
Our gift range is mostly fair trade, with many items fashioned from upcycled goods.
7. Rot and return to the soil
Our green waste and coffee grounds are composted on site before enriching our garden soil.
8. Recycle as a last resort
When we’ve run out of ideas and can’t re-purpose, re-use or rot, we recycle. Our pots are made from recycled plastic. They in turn are recyclable. None of our used plastic pots and trays go to landfill – if we can’t reuse them we send them to be recycled into more pots.
