In a world where sustainability takes centre stage, we understand that many indoor plant enthusiasts are dedicated to eco-conscious living. As we celebrate World Earth Day, it’s clear that many of us are steadfastly committed to reducing our carbon footprint. From avid recycling efforts to embracing refillable and reusable household items, every action counts towards preserving our planet’s precious resources. Even the tiniest steps we take can lead to substantial positive change.

We’ve got great news for you. Choosing to have indoor plants in your home is one of those small steps that can have a positive impact on the planet. You might not be aware of this already, but nurturing plants is more than just a rewarding hobby, it is also a significant step towards a greener future. By adopting eco-friendly practices and embracing sustainable living, we can undoubtedly make a positive impact on our environment.

And when you choose to buy your houseplants from The Little Botanical you can rest assured that you are choosing a grower-owned brand that is taking a planet-first approach to all areas of our business.

We have already introduced a number of sustainability practices as we aim to realise our vision of reducing our carbon footprint and our journey continues. We’d love to tell you a little bit more about our planet-first approach, keep reading to learn more.

Here at TLB HQ, we started our sustainability journey over 2 and a half years ago. We’re really proud of how far we’ve come and the initiatives that we’ve implemented so far to help us on our journey towards reducing our carbon footprint and promoting sustainable practices.

The majority of our houseplant collection is grown by us at our nurseries in West Sussex. This means we’re not shipping plants from overseas and thus we’re reducing our carbon footprint.

For those varieties of plants that we do have to source from elsewhere, we ensure that we source from like-minded growers who follow the same ethical and sustainable practices as us. To underline our commitment to this, we are members of Growers’ Schemes. This ensures that we operate using the industry’s best practices.

All of our accessories, including the ceramics and baskets are sourced from sustainable suppliers.

We strive to minimise water wastage at TLB. In order to do this, we harvest the rainwater that falls on our glasshouses so that it can be re-used and we recycle the water from within. In addition, our ebb and flood floors help to reduce water wastage too.

We reduce our reliance on non-renewable energy sources by using renewable energy as much as possible. To this end, we use a woodchip-fuelled furnace to heat our water and solar power to generate our electricity

To reduce our plastic waste, we recycle it to make plant pots!

Our packaging is 100% recyclable. Our boxes are FSC-certified to ensure that they are responsibly sourced. We also shred our cardboard boxes and use it to pack our plants.

To lessen our impact on the environment, we use a CO2-neutral carrier to ship our products. In addition to this, we despatch our products on 4 days of the week. This is a conscious decision to minimise collections and ensure our deliveries are as efficient as possible.

Our most recent step on our sustainability journey has been the launch of our Peat-Free Houseplant Range. Removing peat from our soil mix is a huge part of our sustainability strategy and a very important step on our journey to net-zero horticulture. To learn more about our journey to peat-free and the benefits, have a read of our blog post on the topic which gives you all the details.

We’ve spent over two years working on this one. We have been experimenting with the right soil mix to ensure that not only is our peat-free compost better for the environment but also that it keeps our green beauties happy and thriving too. It was very important that we were able to achieve a peat-free mix that did not adversely affect the quality of the plants that you, our loyal plant tribe, have come to love and expect.

We are extremely proud to say that earlier this year, we achieved it. You can now shop a range of peat-free plants grown by us. Style and sustainability all in one place, for ultimate green vibes in more ways than one!

So, we hope we’ve reassured you that The Little Botanical are the top choice for stylish and sustainable plants. What’s stopping you? Take a leaf out of our book and start your sustainability journey with a few carefully selected, British-grown, peat-free indoor plants.

Just when you thought a Sansevieria Snakey, also known as a Snake Plant, couldn’t get any more appealing, here he is in all his peat-free glory.

This tropical beauty boasts wide, hard leaves in hues of vibrant green and edged with yellow that stand tall in a gorgeous, eye-catching manner. Available in a choice of bespoke ceramics, he is a real must-have for your indoor jungle. In addition to his distinctive good looks, he is also oh-so-easy to look after and will purify the air too. What’s not to love?

Add a fab pop of green with the lush and leafy Dracaena Compacta. The gorgeous dark green foliage contrasted against our bespoke grey ceramic is a joy to behold

He’s nice and easy to care for too. Pop him in a medium-lit spot away from direct sunlight and give him a drink every 10 days or so. Just make sure this is once the top layer of soil has dried out. If any of his leaves start to turn brown, gently remove them to encourage new growth.

For a touch of chic sophistication, check out our stunning Devil’s Ivy Marble Queen. With her variegated leaves of deep green and silver, this beauty makes a fabulous focal point. Place her high on a shelf for a beautiful, trailing display.

This beauty makes a great choice for a starter plant because she’s so easy to keep happy and healthy. She’ll enjoy a bright spot away from direct sunlight and a drink once every 7 to 10 days when the top layer of soil has dried out.

If you’re looking for the perfect plant to green up your kitchen or your bathroom, then the boston-fern could be the botanical buddy for you. He thrives in a humid environment so the naturally higher humidity in a kitchen or bathroom will make him very happy. You’ll also enjoy the gorgeous view of his feathery fronds whilst you chop your veg or brush your teeth!

In addition to the humidity, your Boston fern will appreciate water at least once a week. He likes consistently moist soil so don’t let him completely dry out. Also be sure to pop him in a spot away from direct sunlight.

Bring some visual texture and interest to your interior with the uniquely furry and elegant Asparagus Fern. And just like his Boston friend, he loves humidity so will enjoy being placed in your kitchen or bathroom.

To keep your Asparagus Fern thriving, keep his soil slightly moist but always ensure he’s not left sitting in water. Give him an occasional mist, especially if he’s not in a humid part of your home and keep him away from draughts and radiators.

For green style with a touch of elegance, you won’t find many options better than the blue-star-fern. With his elongated fronds in a soft green-blue hue, this guy simply oozes style and will add an air of class to any interior.

For a happy and healthy Blue Star Fern, give him a good drink once the top layer of soil is dry and don’t let him sit in water. He’ll be happy in almost any spot other than direct sunlight or near a draught or radiator. He also enjoys a spritz with a mister regularly to keep humidity levels high.

Make a real statement in your indoor jungle with a striking calathea. This beautifully patterned houseplant is also known as a Prayer Plant thanks to the gentle up-and-down movement of his leaves in the morning and evening.

Your Calathea will be happiest in a fairly shady spot away from cold draughts. Give him water once a week to keep the soil moist and you can trim off any dried-out leaves to encourage new growth.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a bit more about our sustainable practices. As always, please do get in touch if you have any questions about our sustainability strategy or about any of our peat-free plants, we’re always happy to hear from you, drop us a line at [email protected].

Until next time plant people.

With love,
Team TLB x