Ordinary cheap plastic planters you can buy at your local gardening store are laden with issues that you may not be aware of. All planters are far from equal, even plastic planters can be vastly different depending on the type of plastic they are made of and manufacturing process. For instance, our ‘plastic’ planters are not the same plastic you will find elsewhere, but instead are made from a special eco-friendly resin that is incredibly durable, lightweight and easy to maintain.
People are often interested in general plastic planters because they are cheap, easy to source and lightweight. Buyer beware, the drawbacks to cheap plastic planters outweigh these benefits, especially when you take into account that our resin planters offer nearly all of the same benefits as traditional plastic planters without the drawbacks.
Here are 5 serious issues with plastic planters you should be aware of before making any decisions.
1. Short Shelf Life
Cheap plastic planters have a very short lifespan. In fact, plastic planters are not built to last more than a couple of seasons. It doesn’t take much for plastic to fade, weaken, crack and even completely split down the center. You might be able to get a plastic planter for cheap but if you factor in how often it will need to be replaced you will quickly end up spending more than you would have on one high quality resin planter that lasts 10+ years. Having to continually purchase planters eats away at your budget but it also ties into environmental impact.
2. Cheap Plastic Is Not Green Or Eco-Friendly
Plastics come from different sources and are produced using a number of methods, some of which are incredibly toxic to the environment. If a planter doesn’t last very long you are faced with further environmental impacts. If plastic is not recyclable it ends up in a landfill and you have to purchase another which only adds to manufacturing pollution.
Our resin-based planters are made from recycled materials using the most eco-friendly methods possible. Plus, when your planter does eventually break down our product is recyclable, thus reducing landfill waste.
It’s important to dig deeper into any planter before purchasing it, a little bit of research should indicate the manufacturing processes used and the overall environmental footprint a certain planter has. Many cheap plastic planters are terrible for the environment, do your research so you don’t support this irresponsible level of waste.
3. Beware Toxic Plastics
Not all plastics are harmful and toxic but many are, in fact some plastics are laden with toxic chemicals. So much so, the Environmental Working Group recommends disposing of cheap plastic planters that have been scratched or worn out because they are more prone to leaching out chemicals.
If you plan to grow fruits or anything edible in your planters this is especially important to consider. Cheap plastic planters could leak toxins into the soil and actually negate the benefits of growing your plants naturally and organically at home.
The least toxic planters are labeled as #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, and #5 PP. The unsafe plastics include #3 PVC, #6 PS, and #7 polycarbonate.
4. Plastic Planters Filling Up Landfills
One of the most pressing problems in our society is trash and the over abundance of it we continue to accumulate in landfills. Toxic plastics that sit for years upon years in landfills increase this pollution and harm local soils, eco systems and entire communities. In fact, it takes many thousands of years for one plastic planter to break down and decompose all the way.
If you opt for cheap plastic planters you are stuck with the tough decision of what to do with these planters after they break down. Do you find a creative DIY way to reuse them all, or do you send them off to landfills?
Choosing recyclable planters, such as our resin-based blend, helps Mother Nature considerably and helps keep toxic plastics out of landfills.
5. Avoiding Petroleum Based Products
Cheap plastic planters are often petroleum based, something you should attempt to avoid. Petroleum drains natural resources and is not a sustainable material.
What Makes TerraCast Planters Different?
TerraCast Planters are unlike any plastic planters currently on the market. For starters, we use a specially formulated resin that is processed using rotational molding. Our Linear Low Density Polyethylene, LLDPE, is not your average plastic. Instead, it’s an actual resin blend that starts off in a powder form before being liquefied at high temperatures and then poured into the appropriate mold. It is then slowly cooked in a rotating fashion. As a result of this process, planters are incredibly durable and flexible enough to resist cracks.
Our planters are built to last over the long haul, regardless of the elements and wear and tear they are exposed to. Despite being eco-friendly and incredibly durable, they still offer the benefits of traditional plastic, such as lightweight, easy to move, and available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Yet, you can count on our planters to last many years and you don’t have to deal with concerns over toxic soil or further contributing to pollution. Looking to go green with your current building project? Our products will earn you points and credits towards LEED certification.
Check out our huge selection of resin planters today. Want something customized? We currently offer 20 different colors but are happy to blend any custom colors or designs. We also offer proprietary textured blends that look and feel like real granite but are actually made from much lighter materials that are only a fraction of the cost of stone.