InnoGreen is net positive – Plants and greenery with better sustainability than before

InnoGreen is a net positive company! But what does that actually mean, and is it enough?

InnoGreen’s net impact ratio is +40%. This means that the positive effects of our operations outweigh the amount of resources we use. InnoGreen’s most significant positive impacts are directed towards society, health, and the environment.

We measure and evaluate the sustainability of our business using the Upright Project’s net impact methodology. Upright’s method is based on machine learning, open-source science, as well as the products and services produced and offered by companies. It assesses the impacts of products and services on the environment, health, society, and knowledge. The net impact profile helps us understand the efficient use of resources and value creation of the company.

View our complete Upright report here!

The results summarized:

Society

• InnoGreen creates jobs and pays taxes, positively impacting society.
• InnoGreen’s landscaping and green area services contribute to societal stability.

Knowledge

• InnoGreen uses minimal intellectual capital, meaning it’s either insufficient or underutilized considering the existing resources.

Health

• Plants reduce stress and enhance well-being.
• Indoor plants improve indoor air quality and reduce health risks.
• Outdoor green spaces promote health and well-being.

Environment

• Plants help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Cultivating, caring for, and transporting plants may produce other emissions.
• InnoGreen considers limited natural resources and biodiversity.

Waste

• Use of biodegradable plants reduces waste.
• Waste from plant cultivation and transport has negative effects.

Adding Actions for a More Sustainable Green Industry

Although as a whole we are well on the positive side, this is not enough for us. We constantly aim to make our operations even more sustainable and be pioneers for a more sustainable green industry. To improve, we must take a look in the mirror and reflect on our actions.

Our greatest sustainability challenges relate to green plants. Growing, transporting, and maintaining plants require specific conditions, such as temperature and light. Living plants also need water. Additionally, factors like growing medium, fertilizer, and pot type, all influence where, how, and from what ingredients these are made. On the other hand, well-maintained living plants bring joy for decades, sequester carbon, and are biodegradable.

Therefore, reducing plants is not the answer; instead, we need to find better ways to bring nature into the urban environments.

What are we doing right now to mitigate negative environmental impacts in the green industry?

Currently, for instance…

• We are continuously improving our own pot production so that most of the pots sold are made in Finland from Finnish wood. Find out more about our Koivu pots.
• We are researching and experimenting with different growing mediums to ensure plants thrive in the most environmentally friendly substrate.
• We favor biological pest control methods (e.g., insects) to avoid chemical loads in plant protection.
• We have stopped selling silk plants to reduce plastic waste and use stabilized, biodegradable plants for challenging environments. We are increasing the use of native plants indoors through the stabilization method.
• We choose European partners who grow and transport plants with maximum resource efficiency. Our greenhouse uses solar panels and district heating from Helen.