Squires Garden Centres - House Plants, Garden Plants and Garden Accessories at great value prices across our regional Centres

SOCIAL RESPONSIBLITY STATEMENT

We are a socially responsible and environmentally concerned business. We actively seek to increase our energy and water efficiency, reduce wastage, source ethically, promote sustainable gardening and support the communities in which we are situated.

Garden Products

• We will continue to promote organic and peat free composts.
• We no longer stock moss peat and we do not recommend peat as a soil conditioner. In its place we recommend products such as Country Natural which is composted cow manure.
• For ericaceous plants we stock an ericaceous compost containing 50% less peat than standard compost for these plants.
• We will offer organic alternatives in all categories of chemicals and fertilisers where they are available and where we are confident that they produce good results.
• Our own brand chicken pellets and rose food are organic.
• We promote mulching, composting, water conservation and other sustainable gardening methods.

 

Plants

• We promote wildlife friendly plants, hedging and plants for birds, bees and butterflies. These will be easily indefinable for customers thanks to our new labelling system.
• We stock an organic range of vegetables and herbs.
• We have ongoing discussions with our suppliers aimed at reducing the amount of peat in the compost mixes they use.
• We promote British and locally grown plants in order to reduce plant miles.
• We aim to monitor and manage water use at our garden centres and nurseries through our new metering system.

 

Leisure

• 80% of our ranges are now FSC/TFT or SGS certified.
• 2008 will be the last year in which we sell patio heaters.

 

Coffee Shops

• We aim to source locally produced food where possible.
• All our coffee is Fair Trade.
• All children’s hot meals are organic. The organic content of our adult meals is increasing.

 

Garden Waste

• Customers may return used plastic plant pots to us and we will make them available for others to reuse free of charge.
• We hold ongoing discussions with our suppliers regarding alternatives to plastic plant pots for container-grown plants.
• We are developing a composting plan so waste plants from our garden centres and nurseries can be composted on site where possible and the compost used in our display borders.
• Cardboard boxes are offered to customers. Waste cardboard is recycled.
• Our plastic bags are biodegradable.

 

Coffee Shop Waste

• Used fat is collected for recycling.
• Our take out packaging is recycled, recyclable or biodegradable.
• Glass bottles are recycled.

 

Office Waste

• Junk mail and non-sensitive paper waste is recycled. Shredded confidential paperwork is also recycled.
• Used electrical items are recycled in accordance with the WEEE.
• Print cartridges are recycled.
• Point of Sale is produced relative to the size of each centre to ensure that we do not print more than is necessary.
• Envelopes are reused where possible for internal use.

 

Education

• We have good links with many local schools and encourage nursery visits and initiatives to get children gardening.
• We also work with many local charities and other organisations.

• We have links with the Royal Horticultural Society, Kew Gardens and Historic Royal Palaces.