Learning Opportunity: A Guide to Plastic Regulations and Replacements

By Nick Matysik|June 16, 2025

Plastics are an important component in the floriculture and horticulture industries through their use in containers and coverings. However, as new regulations take effect to limit and restrict plastic use, growers are not only looking for ways to navigate these new rules but also for plastic replacements that are more cost-effective, sustainable, and exempt from such laws.

American Floral Endowment‘s upcoming webinar on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, as part of its ongoing Grow Pro series, will cover how growers can comply with new and approaching regulations in addition to new research for reducing plastic use and adopting sustainable solutions. Topics of the webinar will include:

Insights to help growers adapt to new and fast-approaching changes from regulations.
How upcoming regulations will affect industry costs, compliance, and the supply chain.
Plastic alternatives and how they compare to traditional plastic products.
Strategies to reduce plastic use and minimize regulatory risks.

The featured speaker for “Rooted in Plastics: Plastic Use, Regulations, and Alternatives for Floriculture Container Production” is Dr. Paul Bartley, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, specializing in Landscape Environmental Stewardship. Bartley has developed numerous research programs focused on sustainability and reducing environmental impact. His initiatives are designed to address critical regulatory challenges and adapt to disruptive policy changes impacting the industry.

Willing participants can register for the webinar directly through Zoom or by visiting the Grow Pro Webinar series page on the AFE website, where information on future webinars in the series can be found. Recordings of all past Grow Pro webinars can also be found on the AFE’s YouTube channel. Additionally, the full calendar schedule of the Grow Pro Webinar Series can be viewed below: