Eco-Friendly Benefits of Gifting Plants
Giving plants as presents isn’t just a unique way to show your love or celebrate an occasion; it also has many benefits that will help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint compared to traditional gifts. In this blog, we will discuss the environmental impact of traditional gifts and why plants are a more eco-friendly choice.
As an independent nursery, we believe in working with the natural environment rather than against, and are committed to reducing our impact and to recycling and reusing natural resources.
The Environmental Impact of Traditional Gifts
In the modern day, gift giving is a huge part of culture. But many people may not know the environmental impact that comes with giving and receiving traditional gifts. For example, most gifts, at some point in the gift-giving cycle, will come with excessive packing that is often non-recyclable. Not to mention, the gift itself may be mass-produced using harmful chemicals and unsustainable materials.
There are many other negative impacts of traditional gifts on the environment, including:
- Transportation which contributes to climate change
- Waste from disposable gifts and packaging
- The energy costs of returns
That’s why it’s time to make a change from traditional and disposable gifts to more eco-friendly options - like plants.
Eco-Friendly Benefits of Gifting Plants
Unlike traditional gifts, plants offer many benefits that actually help the environment rather than hinder it. And when you have a plant gift provider who takes the environment into consideration at every point in the plant giving process, there’s really no better way to show you care for the environment as well as your loved ones. Here are just a few of the benefits plant giving has.
Improves Air Quality
We all know the majority of what we breathe comes from plants as they convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into oxygen. But did you know one of the biggest threats to the Earth is the high amount of carbon within the atmosphere from things like fossil fuels and manufacturing? Plants therefore help to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere by storing and using it.
Plants are natural air purifiers, and the more prominent and leafy the plant is, the better it absorbs carbon dioxide to produce more oxygen, such as the Rubber Plant or Spider Plant.
Reduces Carbon Footprint
Plants act as natural carbon sinks, and absorb CO2 which reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and therefore reduces the plant carer's carbon footprint. Known as the lungs of the Earth, even the smallest of plants can make a measurable difference, especially when you consider their impact over time.
This makes plants the ideal gift for anyone who is looking to reduce their carbon footprint but enjoys receiving gifts.
Rubber Plants
Not only do they purify the air, but Rubber Plants also make a statement feature in living spaces when paired with a trending pot
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Calamondin Tree
Gift wrapped in fully recyclable and compostable packaging, long lasting citrus trees deliver the wow factor for special occasions
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Spider Plants
As one of the easiest houseplants to care for, even the less than green fingered can enjoy these oxygenating plants in the home
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Promotes Sustainability
Unlike many traditional gifts, plants are a living gift that is not quickly consumed or thrown away. They can bring years of joy to the recipient and be a constant reminder of the giver. Due to having a low environmental impact compared to plastic or mass-produced gifts, they’re a great way of promoting sustainability.
Encourages Green Living
Plant gifts offer much more than just adding some greenery or colour to a space; they can inspire the recipient to take on more eco-friendly habits and create a deeper appreciation for the Earth. For instance, garden plants can induce a passion for gardening, where more plants and even fruit, vegetables, or herbs are grown, reducing their reliance on store-bought produce and lowering their carbon footprint. Edible plants like Cardamom Plants, Herb Planters, and Calamondin Trees are great gifts for inspiring home-grown produce!
It can also inspire mindful gifting, where the recipient thinks about the behind-the-scenes impact of the gifts they buy and make more sustainable choices.
Health and Wellbeing Benefits
As well as environmental benefits, plants also offer a whole range of health and wellbeing benefits too. Their air purification properties improve our mental and physical health by removing toxins from the air. This can help with stress relief, boost productivity, and create a sense of calm.
You’ve heard that being in nature improves your mood, but it’s hard to get out in nature if you live in an urban area or spend a lot of time indoors, so bringing nature into your home is the next best thing!
Plant Gift Ideas
Plant gifts can be given for many occasions, and although much of it comes down to preference, here are just a few of our favourite options for the best eco-friendly plant options:
- Peace Lilies
- Spider Plants
- Satin Pothos
- Large Cheese Plants
- Fern
- Dracaena
- Camellias
- Evergreen Clematis
Cardamom Plants
Prized by houseplant appreciators, Cardamom Plants produce an abundance of home-grown fragrant leaves for cooking
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Herb Planters
Ideal for doorsteps and patios, Herb Planters offer a continuous supply of fresh herbs, reducing reliance on store-bought ingredients
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Choose Plants4Presents for Eco-Friendly Plant Gifts
At Plants4Presents, we take the environment and our impact on it very seriously. We believe in working with the natural environment rather than against it, and that’s why we take many steps to reduce our carbon footprint.
We have installed thermal screens at our nursery to minimise heat loss, as well as a sustainable biomass heating system to replace oil-fired heaters, use minimal packaging that is based on recycled cardboard and paper, use compostable greeting card envelopes, and much more.
Read our environmental impact policy for more information on how we continually focus on reducing our carbon and environmental footprint.
We have a huge range of plant gifts available from a whole host of excellent small and independent nurseries. We prioritise locally grown and British plants and those grown in peat free compost wherever possible and use natural and organic pest treatments in our own nursery in rural Sussex. Browse our British grown collection or get in touch with us for help and advice on choosing the best plant gift for your loved one.
