elho
Give Room to Nature
Introduction
What drives elho to make 100% of their products from recycled plastic? In this interview, Robbert and Patty from elho, with Sjoerdje from Healix, talk about their journey, the dedication it takes, and the challenges they’ve faced in making sustainability a priority. With goals like reaching carbon neutrality by 2025, they share their vision for a greener future and the partnerships that make it possible.
Elho’s Mission
Sjoerdje (Healix): Good afternoon, Robbert and Patty! You have made an impressive journey towards complete sustainability. Can you take us back to the beginning?
Robbert (elho): Certainly, thanks for having us, Sjoerdje. Elho is a family business that has been around since 1964 and is based in Tilburg. We specialize in making sustainable flowerpots and garden accessories, all from 100% recycled plastic. Sustainability is truly in the DNA of our company, and you can see it in everything we do. We took our first steps towards sustainable business in 2006, which was quite unique at the time.
Patty (elho): Indeed, we started with small initiatives like reducing transportation miles and using more sustainable packaging materials. Today, we have our own wind turbine, 9,000 solar panels on our logistics center, sustainable wrapping film, and a fleet of electric vehicles and charging stations. Our aim is to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our operations.
Challenges
Sjoerdje: That sounds impressive! Can you tell us more about the challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Robbert: It was quite a challenge. When we started, it was difficult to source high-quality recycled plastic due to contamination in the material. We wanted to maintain the quality of our products while using more and more recycled materials. At one point, we even tried producing our own regranulate, but it turned out to be more difficult than expected. Eventually, we sought out reliable suppliers who could provide us with quality recycled materials. This entire process, including adjustments to our machines and training for our staff, has brought us to where we are now: fully sustainable production using 100% recycled plastic.
(credit: Healix and elho.)
Elho x Healix
Sjoerdje: You recently announced a partnership with Healix. Can you tell us more about this?
Robbert: We are very excited about our collaboration with Healix. After testing their recycled materials, we were impressed by the quality and the way they tackle the problem of pollution from discarded ropes and nets. This is a global issue, and Healix offers an innovative solution. That’s why we decided to use their recycled materials for our special Winery Collection.
The Winery Collection
Sjoerdje: What exactly is the Winery Collection?
Patty: The Winery Collection is a unique line of plant pots made from recycled ropes used in vineyards in the Alsace and Champagne regions. In these areas, ropes are used to keep the vines and grapes in place. Unfortunately, these ropes are often discarded or burned after one season. To combat this, A.D.I.VALOR has set up a collection program for plastic waste from the agricultural industry. Healix recycles part of this waste into circular raw materials.
Robbert: What makes this project special is that A.D.I.VALOR collects various types of ropes, but we specifically wanted to use the blue vineyard ropes from Alsace and Champagne to clearly show our customers where the materials come from. This required a strict selection process, which Healix managed perfectly.
(credit: Healix)
Sjoerdje: And how do you turn a blue vineyard rope into a plant pot?
John: After collection and color sorting, the recycling process begins at Healix, where the ropes are cut into pieces. They are then thoroughly cleaned to remove mud, sand, and other contaminants. After that, the ropes are melted down into new plastic pellets, which we at elho use to create new pots. Although the ropes were originally blue, we transformed them into a beautiful burgundy wine colour, perfectly evoking the feeling of red wine and the atmosphere of the French vineyards.
The looking glass
Sjoerdje: What are your future plans and goals, especially in the area of sustainability?
Robbert: Our biggest short-term ambition is to become carbon-neutral by 2025. We’ve set the bar high, which requires continuous innovation and investment in new technologies and processes. It’s a challenge, but we are determined to achieve it. Additionally, we want to continue working on finding new waste streams that we can turn into beautiful collections of pots and garden accessories.
Patty: We have also developed a product passport, allowing us to be even more transparent about the origin and impact of our materials. We hope to help consumers make even more conscious, sustainable choices.
Sjoerdje: Thank you for the conversation! It was a pleasure to delve deeper into your philosophy and activities. Elho is truly a company that chooses to do the right thing, no matter the size of the challenge. On behalf of Healix, we are happy to have you as a partner.