What Environmental Sustainability Looks Like for Proven Winners
Recycle. It's the Natural Thing to Do.
Committed to Growing Greener
Every year, we continue to reassess our brand's environmental impact and efforts to be a more sustainable company. But we aren't the only ones concerned about growing greener. Consumers are looking to Proven Winners to provide options for sustainable gardening and plants they can feel good about growing.
In addition to filling this need, we, like everyone else, have a mission of cultivating a safe and healthy place to live, work and play. Our brand is comprised of several family-owned growing operations, and we reside in the communities we serve.
As an industry leader in sustainability, our commitment to growing greener through sustainable production practices, plants and products runs deep. Here are a few of the key ways Proven Winners grows greener.
Plant-Powered, Plastic-Free Eco+™ Containers for Growers
After years of research, trials and development, Proven Winners now offers 100% plastic-free, industrial compostable Eco+ containers for the growers who are producing our plants. Growers can choose Eco+ Grande® or Eco+ Elite™ containers for annuals and perennials; additional container sizes are in development.
These ASTM D6400 certified industrial compostable, plant-powered containers are made in Minnesota from all-natural ingredients that form PLA (polylactic acid). PLA is made from sugars derived from corn and sugar beet plant parts (what is not eaten) grown right her in the U.S. The biopolymer substrate looks and acts like plastic, which makes it easy to work with for growers, but breaks back down into inert organic matter during the industrial composting process. Learn more about Eco+ containers.
Recycled and Recyclable Plastic Containers for Growers
All sizes and styles of our Co-Ex plastic containers for annuals, perennials and shrubs are made using a significant amount of recycled material. Additionally, they can be recycled by growers, retailers and consumers after use. Find more detailed information here.
100% Recycled Tags & Eco+ Zero-Plastic Tags Made from Plants
We continue to look for opportunities to reduce single-use plastic waste for growers and home gardeners. Beginning in 2026, every annual and recipe plant tag we send out to growers with our retail ready products are made from 100% recycled material with a minimum of 25% post-consumer recycled content. These tags no longer contain any virgin plastic and yet continue to be recyclable for yet more uses. For the 2027 season, we will produce 60 million 100% recycled plant tags. Additionally, tags that are 100% plant-based and plastic-free are in development.
Recycling in the Production Process
We are constantly recycling many different kinds of materials and buying in recycled products during the production of our plants. In our perennial production alone, over a quarter-million pounds of paper, plastic and metal items are recycled annually. From our cardboard shipping cases which are made from partially recycled materials, to our shipping crates made from renewable wood sources, to the partially recycled aluminum used in our greenhouse structures, Proven Winners companies are invested in using eco-friendly recycled materials throughout the production process.
Energy-Efficient Production
Proven Winners’ growers fully embrace the lean flow philosophy of using a minimal amount of resources to produce the maximum outcome. Our greenhouse facilities are built to be highly energy efficient in many different ways, starting with the very material from which they are made. During our prime growing season, the sun can be our main source of energy and heat. Energy curtains are used to conserve heat during colder months. On sunny days, they provide shade and help cool the air. High tech lighting systems are designed to be ultra-efficient and aid in plant production.
Conserving Water in Plant Production
We are committed to conserving water during the production process. Our greenhouse facilities recapture and reuse significant amounts of water every day. Many types of plants respond very well to being grown on flood floors which recycle, clean and reuse water time and again. In our production greenhouses, we use programmable watering booms and group plants together according to water needs. These practices allow us to deliver the right amount of water needed by each plant. Our innovative watering systems reduce overall waste of water and fertilizer.
Water Conservation Solutions for Home Gardeners
Water conservation is top of mind for many gardeners, whether they live where there are water restrictions or desire to consume less water in growing a garden. We’ve developed several solutions to help home gardeners meet this goal including our WaterWise® drip irrigation system and self-watering AquaPots® Lite and AquaPots Inserts. All of these systems use a fraction of the water to help your plants thrive while also relieving the burden of watering by hand. They are available at local garden centers across the U.S. and in our online store.
Climb-itt™ by leafjoy® - Eco-friendly and Sustainable Houseplant Support System
Climb-itt™ plant supports from leafjoy® are the sustainable choice in climbing and vining houseplant poles, planks, stakes and fasteners. Made from sustainable potato skins and elephant grass, these 100% plastic-free and chemical-free supports are designed to mimic the bark-like texture plants would naturally climb in the wild. Climb-itt supports encourage aerial roots, creating a plant-to-plant relationship that helps them thrive. Groundbreaking and environmentally-responsible Climb-itt plant supports are ideal for climbing houseplants.
Shine-itt™ and Shield-itt™ All-Natural Plant Care Products
Designed to help houseplants stay healthy and beautiful using all-natural ingredients, these plant-based products clean and condition the foliage as well as repel and control common houseplant pests. Shine-itt is the only leaf shine product on the market that uses non-mineral oils that won't clog plants' pores. And unlike harsh chemical treatments, Shield-itt gently fortifies houseplants against pests but is safe to use around people and pets when used as directed.
Integrated Pest Management
A strong integrated pest management (IPM) system is vital for preventing and catching pest and disease issues early before extensive treatment is required. Highly skilled plant health technicians work in our greenhouses every day to keep our plants growing strong. A good IPM system includes strict protocols for prevention, sanitation, scouting and treatment. Beneficial organisms (also known as biologicals) are used extensively in our greenhouses and are the first line of defense for preventing and treating pest issues in many cases. No neonicotinoids are used in our plant production process.
Regional Growers Reduce Shipping Needs
The Proven Winners plants available at retail garden centers are grown either by the stores themselves or by regional growers who supply them with fresh plants. The young starter plants used to grow those finished plants originate at a Proven Winners propagation facility. Located strategically throughout North America, the plants do not have to travel far from our facilities to reach regional growers and garden centers. This reduces the overall carbon footprint of each plant purchased.
Pollinator-Friendly EZ Scapes™ Landscape Designs
Designed by our plant experts, we offer over 90 free EZ Scapes landscape plans, most of which include pollinator-friendly plants. Each design features a combination of three to four perennial and shrub varieties that provide seasonlong interest. The succession of blooms keeps pollinating bees and butterflies coming back to the buffet all season long. Additionally, you'll find EZ Scapes for low water use landscapes, high heat tolerance and other challenging growing environments.
Growing Native Plant Cultivars
Proven Winners provides people with the ultimate green product: plants! As you enjoy them in your garden, they are removing carbon from the atmosphere and producing life-giving oxygen. When they are finished growing, they turn into humus which feeds the next plants that grow there.
Many of the hardy perennials and shrubs we offer have native roots across North America. They are cultivars of natives which are selected for traits like better disease resistance, more blooms for pollinators and durability in the landscape. All of these things help gardeners enjoy their plants with less work needed to keep them healthy and thriving. Learn more about our native plants.
Looking for perennials with native roots? This resource provides details about the regions where each of our native perennials derives its native parentage.
InCheck® Plant Program
Invasiveness is a hot button issue in horticulture, as more plants spread out of hand and pose problems for the environment. Our InCheck plant program identifies sterile, seedless, non-invasive selections of key genera that are known to be problematic. You will find the InCheck designation on the front of the plant tag for all shrubs meet this classification.
Non-invasive varieties of staples like barberry, burning bush, rose of Sharon and butterfly bush are included in the InCheck program. We use a combination of our own R&D Department's germination tests in addition to other scientific methods to determine a plant's eligibility for the program.
Solar-Powered Marketing Headquarters
In 2022, we completed the renovation of the new Proven Winners North America corporate headquarters in DeKalb, IL. A key factor in making this 80,000 square foot building energy efficient was installing solar panels to the roof. A total of 372 solar panels now provide all of the electric power needed year-round to heat, cool and light our offices. LED lights are also installed throughout the facility.
Responsible Printing Practices
Though much of the work we do lives online via downloadable pdfs, we do produce printed copies of our annual Gardener’s Idea Book and several brochures for our trade business. These are all printed in Illinois by a printing company which is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC).
The FSC® sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way. This certification recognizes our printer’s promotion of the use of paper products that originate from FSC certified forests. Stewardship of the product from logging through to printing must be carried out by FSC certified companies. Additionally, any excess paper is recycled, used as packing material or donated to schools for class projects.
Our printer’s operations are green-powered. Their facilities use power produced from sustainable resources including wind, sun and biomass which is energy from methane gas emitted from landfills.
