If benefits can be said to have risen out of our experiences during the COVID era, one would certainly be an increased level of focus on the quality of life at home. That has led, in part, to an increase in the popularity of gardening, and plastics are helping with affordability and versatility that creates products all can purchase and use.
From trimming hedges and mowing lawns to planting herbs, flowers and vegetables, plastic ensures that backyard maintenance and beautification are accessible for everyone. Plastics also helps aspiring gardeners without private outdoor spaces or patios. They can now garden indoors without making a mess or breaking the bank.
Portable gardens increase access to fresh vegetables, herbs and plants
While gardening is gaining popularity, many Americans lack the outdoor space that would allow them to enjoy gardening hobbies. However, plastics are helping them overcome their challenges. For instance, grow bags, made from polypropylene, bring the outdoors in, and serve as a safe and clean way for those without outdoor spaces to cultivate plants, vegetables and herbs inside their homes.
Grow bags act as portable, raised planting beds so plants, herbs and vegetables can grow anywhere, including indoors or on a balcony. Portable and lightweight, these bags make it easy for anyone to use and transport. Plus, they support cost-effective nutrition, allowing consumers to grow plants and produce their own vegetables and herbs even if they don’t have access to a yard. Nearly 39 million Americans living in apartments can still garden and access fresh vegetables and herbs. Even renters with lease agreements that forbid landscape modifications like a garden are now able to enjoy gardening with the help of grow bags.
There are also easy do-it-yourself opportunities for consumers to repurpose plastic bags they already have, should the bags be strong enough, saving money and supporting sustainability through product circularity. One company is even encouraging that use for its plastic bags.
Gardeners can also reuse plastic pots, yogurt cups, plastic bottles and ice cream cartons as durable and leak-proof “micro” gardens. This creates a sustainable end market for these products while also allowing consumers to enjoy herbs and plant life indoors,
Plastic equipment and tools make gardening safer and affordable
Home gardeners and landscapers come in all ages and levels of experience, and plastic makes even bulky equipment easy to use, especially for those who have larger outdoor gardening or landscaping spaces. Plastic wheelbarrows are rust-proof, lighter and easier to maneuver than steel alternatives, making them an easy choice for home gardeners needing to haul soil, pots and other gardening tools around yards of varying sizes. Equipment manufacturers are also now investing in recycled plastic for wheelbarrows.
In addition to being lightweight and maneuverable, plastic wheelbarrows are also much more affordable than steel alternatives. A steel wheelbarrow can cost over $100 more than a similar plastic one. Such price differences are consistent across gardening equipment and tools and show just how vital plastic is to making gardening more accessible and affordable.
In addition to heavier duty equipment, plastic also makes hand tools safer and more affordable. Plastic trowels and hand shovels are lighter than their steel counterparts and nearly half the price, providing options for all budgets. Implements with plastic blades can also reduce injuries and are safer for children who are just learning to garden.
Even larger tools, like shovels and rakes, that rely on metal for their blades use hard plastics for handles that make the products lighter and more affordable. Fiberglass, a plastic polymer, is also being increasingly used for handles as a substitute for wood. Fiberglass is more durable than wood and reduces the reliance on products that can lead to deforestation.
Plastics are the easy choice when it comes to at-home gardening. From grow bags that create gardens without backyards, to lightweight wheelbarrows and hand tools that make moving soil and plants easier and more affordable, plastic is making gardening and landscaping accessible and affordable for all.