Cedar
A tree native to mountainous regions from North America to Asia, cedar is known for its strong properties. There are many species of cedar but western red is commonly used for gardening purposes.
Pros
Cons
- Whilst native to areas outside of the UK, the species was introduced to Britain, planted in the UK for timber. British red cedar wood will be locally sourced and reduce emissions in terms of transport.
- Whilst some species of cedar are endanger, the western red cedar in Britain is not.
- The wood is durable and naturally resistant to fungi, due to natural preservatives.
- Cedar woods can be found FSC certified.
- The wood is usually reasonably priced.
- Imported red cedar tends to be more durable than locally sourced, but not by too much. Imports will also have more impact on the environment due to the amount they will travel.
- Cedar imported from non-certified sources and from abroad may have further environmental impacts, threatening habitats along with indigenous cultures.
Plastic Plant Pots
Plastic Plant Pots
A common sight in gardens for decades. These pots are a staple due to their convenience, material properties and versatility. However, the environmental impacts of plastics, highlighted recently, has caused it to be examined in depth -- with biodegradable plant pots growing in popularity as part of sustainable gardening.
Pros
Cons
- Plastic pots are durable and easy to use, shape etc. (ref)
- Plastics can be used again in the home setting, or to replant other seeds and plants. (ref)
- Some studies have suggested that plants in plastic containers grow more than those in biodegradable, a potential reason being less water loss from plastic pots. (ref)
- Recycled plastic pots can be purchased, somewhat reducing the impact on the environment. (ref)
- Plastic pots are good for plants whose roots don't like to be disturbed. (ref) Especially from light. (ref)
- Classic black pots can be replaced now with a recyclable taupe pot, a grey mushroom coloured pot made from plastic. (ref)
- Many plastic containers are discarded after their initial use, (ref) becoming single use plastics which cannot be recycled by many recycling schemes. (ref) (This is due to the fact most pots contain black pigment, which is incompatible with the infra-red detection sensors used by councils (ref)). 500 million pots are made each year in the UK, (ref) the majority unable to be recycled.
- Plastic pot waste can either fill a landfill for around 500 hundred years (ref) or be burned, both having negative environmental problems. (ref)
- Most plastic is made from crude oil, a fossil fuel and non renewable source. (ref)
Plastic Pots Summary
Whilst plastic pots have been used for ages and they are easy to use, however there are multiple issues with plastic pots. They are non renewable, take hundreds of years to decompose and non-recyclable. These have massive impacts on the environment and can continue to pollute the environment for centuries to come. There are many alternative pots that are not plastic (see below) and these are more environmentally friendly than pots.
