Insights on the State of Plastic Pots in Horticulture

By Brian D. Sparks|April 30, 2026

In recognition of Earth Day on April 22, the organizers behind the “Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet” initiative have released several resources outlining the environmental impacts of plastic containers, and what floriculture industry members can do to minimize these impacts.

In September 2025, Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet surveyed growers with the help of Greenhouse Grower magazine. Growers are the starting point for container selection and use, so the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), which coordinates the “Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet” initiative, was interested in their perspective.

The responses were quite interesting. Here are some of the results that stood out:

94% of the growers who responded to the survey reported that they are using petroleum-based plastic pots.
Of the types of plastic containers used, plug trays get the greatest use.
The majority of respondents – about 67% – are unhappy with the performance of alternative containers.
A variety of different materials are used for alternative containers. Respondents reported using bioplastic (a type of plastic that derives from plants rather than fossils) most, followed by wood fiber and starch-based products.
Asking how growers feel about petroleum-based pots illustrates the tough spot growers are in. Plastic has advantages that they rely on, but they are deeply concerned about the environmental downsides.
The majority of respondents re-use plastic pots. The next greatest disposal method was sending used pots to trash.
Growers’ top choices for disposal options were industrial composting and recycling.
The biggest problem with alternatives was durability.
The top two attributes that keep growers from using more alternative pots are cost and performance.
100% of respondents agreed that when it comes to the environmental impact of alternatives, what matters most is a better net impact than petroleum-based pots.

Complete survey results are available here.

The APLD has also released a “Plastic Pots and the Green Industry” research report, which can be found here. The report outlines the need for a solution to properly disposing of plastic containers.