Sustainability is in our roots

We envision a future that’s as green as our plants. So when James launched The Stem in 2019, building a planet-friendly business was at the heart of the idea. Our mission has always been, and will always be, connecting people to nature through plants and gardening. Although we have a long way to go, we are learning every day how to build a business for good, not for profit. And we aren’t just talking the talk; we hope to one day be known as the UK’s most sustainable garden retailer.

What we’re doing now

There’s no point in beating around the bush (pardon the pun); the plant and gardening industry could do better when it comes to sustainability. So many businesses rely on commercial growers who use the lowest cost materials without considering their environmental footprint, as well as carbon-intensive transport for deliveries. And don’t get us started on the avalanche of waste that the industry produces (from both suppliers and consumers).

But we’re hoping to change all of that. Sure, there’s a long road ahead to becoming the UK’s most sustainable garden retailer, but the more we grow, the greener we can be. And while there is still much more we want to accomplish, we’re over the moon with what we’ve done so far…

Planting trees

We know how important trees are in the fight against climate change, so we’re offsetting carbon in our supply chain by planting as many as possible. For every order placed at The Stem, Eden Projects plants one tree. We also plant more at certain times of the year, for example, we planted ten trees with every order for Earth Day.

The value of trees is often overlooked as we can’t directly see how they benefit us. But the science is clear. Just one tree can absorb an average of 10 to 40kg of carbon dioxide per year over its lifetime, so it's safe to say they’re invaluable to us. This is why we work alongside Eden Projects to produce, plant and protect tens of millions of trees every month, thereby creating jobs to support them in restoring their local environment and economy long-term. Since our launch, we’ve planted over 100,000 trees with this incredible organisation, and we’re still going strong!

Donating 1% of sales to plant-positive charities

As proud members of 1% for the Planet, we're committed to donating 1% of all sales to environmental nonprofits that work to protect and restore the natural world. So far, we have raised £14,000 with this wonderful organisation, and that number will continue to rise with every order.

1% for the Planet supports over 4,000 organisations that share the common goal of wanting to make the world a greener place.

Packaging that doesn’t cost the earth

Plastic packaging in the UK accounts for nearly 70% of plastic waste, so it was important for us not to add to this burgeoning problem. Packaging doesn’t have to be such a threat to the environment, so we use low-impact, 100% recyclable packaging that’s FSC-approved. And by using minimal to no packaging, we have saved a whopping 35 tonnes of cardboard.

Also, 90% of our products are delivered with zero plastic (except for two particularly delicate plants that require extra protection).

Planet-friendly products

For us, offering peat-free products is one of the most important steps to becoming a sustainable garden retailer. Many conventional soils and composts contain high percentages of peat–an organic matter sourced from wetlands. Peat belongs in wetlands, where it can support biodiversity and store carbon, which is why we offer peat-free plants and peat-free compost (and aim to soon be 100% peat-free).

From 100% recyclable plant misters to pots made from coconut fibre, we are committed to making our entire range as planet-friendly as possible. We source our products locally wherever we can to reduce transport emissions and support the local community, and we collaborate with UK-based suppliers to curate our eco-friendly accessory range.

SHOP PEAT-FREE PLANTS

Planet-positive partnerships

Giving back is important to us, which is why we are incredibly proud to work with organisations that mirror our own beliefs and values. Eden Projects and 1% for the Planet are two organisations that put people and the planet first and leave ego and profit behind.

What we’re working towards

We are always pushing ourselves to lessen our footprint on the planet so our community can continue being happy plant parents with a lighter conscience. Our goals are certainly ambitious, but by making small efforts, we’re confident we can achieve them some day…

The UK’s most sustainable plant shop

Earning the title of the UK’s most planet-friendly plant shop is no easy feat, but we’re trying. We’re gradually expanding our sustainable product range by including more peat-free plants, recycled materials, less packaging etc. In addition to that, we’re committed to maintaining high standards regarding the suppliers and growers we work with. We only want to partner with businesses that share the same values as us and support our goal of becoming eco-friendly superstars.

We’re also taking our efforts a step further than carbon neutral and aiming straight for carbon negative instead. Through our carbon offsetting schemes and ever-expanding eco-friendly product range, we can hopefully achieve that goal within the next few years.

Influencing industry-wide change

Being a sustainable plant shop isn’t as effective if we’re doing it alone. So we hope to plant a seed of sustainability to inspire other companies to follow in our footsteps. Admittedly, we’re far from perfect, and that’s okay. A future that involves many businesses doing things imperfectly is better than just a few doing things perfectly.

By working with growers to move away from using peat and reducing waste in the supply chain, we can hopefully prove to the rest of the industry that being sustainable isn’t impossible. We are also using our Plant Academy platform to help our community grow their knowledge on sustainable and healthy lifestyles, from growing your own veg to being a plastic-free gardener.

Making the World a Little Greener