Earth Day Isn’t a Date on the Calendar for Me. It’s How I Build Products.

I remember when Earth Day was mostly a reminder. A single day where people talked about sustainability, made a few promises, then went back to business as usual.

That is not how I think about it anymore.

For me, Earth Day has turned into a daily filter. Every material decision. Every manufacturing run. Every product idea that makes it past the sketch stage. If it does not make sense environmentally and practically, it does not move forward.

At SelfEco Garden and VistaTek, sustainability is not a slogan on the wall. It is something we live with every day. We compost in house. We recycle everything we can. We cut down on waste wherever possible. Our team uses reusable mugs and containers, and we reinvest recycling returns back into improving how we operate.

None of this happened overnight. It happened slowly, because that is how real change actually works.

Sustainability Only Matters If It Works for Growers

I have spent my career around growers, manufacturers, and people who rely on products to perform, not just sound good in a brochure.

That is why I have always believed this: sustainability only matters if it works in the greenhouse, on the bench, through shipping, and in the hands of the gardener.

A growing container still has to do its job.

That belief is what led me to develop plantable and compostable pots in the first place. Not because plastic was suddenly unpopular, but because there had to be a better way to grow without creating waste that lasts forever.

For seed starting and young plants, plantable pots just make sense. You eliminate plastic, reduce transplant shock, and save time.

Our 4 inch round plantable pot is one of the most versatile options we make. Growers use it for herbs, vegetables, and starter plants that need an easy transition into the ground or a larger container.
https://selfecogarden.com/products/4-round-pot

The 3 inch round plantable pot is ideal for propagation and tight spacing in greenhouses. Simple, reliable, and designed to break down naturally once planted.
https://selfecogarden.com/products/3-round-pot

These products were designed by watching how growers actually work, not how marketing teams think they work.

Compostable Pots Still Have a Place

I am also realistic enough to know that plantable pots are not the right solution for every operation.

Some crops need more structure. Some grow cycles are longer. Some retail environments demand more durability.

That is where compostable pots come in.

Our Eco 3.0 Grande pot was developed for those situations. It holds up longer, performs more like a traditional container during production, and still supports compostability goals.
https://selfecogarden.com/products/eco-3-0-grande-pot

For many growers, compostable pots are the bridge between traditional plastic and fully plantable solutions. You get meaningful environmental improvement without having to rebuild your entire process.

That balance matters.

What Sustainable Materials Actually Mean Today

The word sustainability has been stretched pretty thin over the years.

In 2025, most growers I talk to want less marketing language and more straight answers. Where does the material come from. How does it behave in production. What happens after the plant leaves the pot.

Sustainable materials today can mean a lot of things.

• Compostable materials designed to break down in soil or compost environments
• Bio based inputs sourced from plants, cellulose, or biomass
• Recycled content that reduces dependence on virgin plastic
• Recyclable materials where composting is not practical

There is no single solution that fits everyone. The right answer depends on the crop, the operation, and the customer.

My job has always been to give growers options that are proven, available, and realistic to adopt.

Why the Industry Is Shifting

This shift toward compostable and plantable pots did not come out of nowhere.

Customers ask about plastic more than they ever have. Disposal costs keep rising. Labor is harder to find. Regulations are not getting simpler.

Growers and garden centers are making changes because they have to, not because it looks good on a sign.

When sustainability also saves time, reduces waste, and simplifies transplanting, it stops being a burden and starts being a tool.

That is when real adoption happens.

Where I See This Going

Earth Day today is not about making a statement. It is about building better systems over time.

For growers, nursery buyers, garden centers, and gardeners, sustainability is now part of the growing process, whether we like it or not.

My goal with SelfEco Garden has always been simple: create products that work, reduce waste, and respect the realities of growing plants at scale.

When you are ready to explore plantable or compostable pots that actually fit your operation, we are here to help you figure out what makes sense.

No trends. No greenwashing. Just better ways to grow.

– Danny Mishek