With sustainability as the implicit in melodic theme of the day , the key messages to come from the furrow up of speakers at the naturalize Retail Conference throw on 19 November in Nottingham included :

The league , supported by gold married person Evergreen Garden Care , bring together two hundred representatives from across the industry . With motion such as Extinction Rebellion originate to the bow and each political party vying for the light-green vote these changing times show environmental fear have become mainstream . Consumers expect more from businesses and await them to operate in a sustainable way .

In conversation with HTA President Boyd Douglas - Davies , Dr David Bek , Sustainability Economist from Coventry University , verbalize about the positives that the industry brings in terminus of produce plant material and product that store and convert carbon . “ With a shift climate , there is a real opportunity to adapt and take exception our approach to gardening bosom the more chaotic style of nature create a novel normal . The gardening industry require to be bold , advanced and agile and connect with consumers to make a essential wallop on biodiversity and mood change ” , said Dr Bek .

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This was echoed by former CEO of Tesco , Sir Terry Leahy , who tell that “ sustainability brings new business enterprise opportunities for the garden manufacture to answer to . With change weather form , increasing emphasis on biosecurity and provenance , garden centre are better place and more relevant than many high street retail electric receptacle to meet consumer demand as they provide the solution for many of these issue . ”

Bringing synergy from the takeaway sphere , Graham Corfield , Chief Operating Officer for Just deplete , play up that “ whilst sustainability is a magnanimous planet issue , individuals and communities can make a real remainder as all actions tally up to facilitate change consumer behavior . ”

Addressing the consultation , HTA Chairman James Barnes annotate that “ it has never been so important to come together as an industry to present a unified approach to demonstrate how we can provide solution to help mitigate the impact of climate change . ”

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He added , “ The HTA has an chance and province to help further the manufacture ’s commitment to develop in an environmentally sustainable manner . Our plan environmental sustainability roadmap will enable us to be the central point of policy data for the industry on central theme including water , uprise medium , plastic , and energy . ”

For more informationHorticultural Trades AssociationHorticulture House19 in high spirits StreetThealeReadingWest BerkshireRG7 5AHT : +44 ( 0)118 930 3132Fax : +44 ( 0)118 932 3453NGGV : +44 ( 0)118 930 2092www.the-hta.org.uk