Following the foundation of Euro Plant Tray (EPT, Berlin, Germany; www.europlanttray.com) in June 2023, Dirk Bansemer has been appointed managing director, with Rupert Fey new on the cooperative board.

In the future, all operational matters of the cooperative for reusable plant trays are to be bundled in EPT GmbH, including the financing of the trays and any contractual agreements with tray producers and future lessees.

Strategic decisions will continue to be made by the members of the EPT cooperative, according to statements from Berlin. EPT’s cooperative board, so far consisting of Flora Späth and Thomas Berthold, is to be reinforced in the future by Rupert Fey.

After extensive tests with more than 40,000 trays this spring, the members of the cooperative voted for the design produced by Walther Faltsysteme (Kevelaer, Germany; www.faltbox.com). Their Euro Plant Trays made of polypropylene are stackable and have a stacking height of 20 mm.

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Market launch is scheduled for spring 2024, and EPT estimates a production of just under 4 mn trays. Assuming four rotations per year, this should avoid the use of 16 mn disposable trays and thus prevent more than 2,000 t of plastic waste.

In July 2023, EPT has a total of 30 members from Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Norway, including DIY stores, plant nurseries, and wholesalers.