3 ways the right tray helps reduce waste

Here are three ways Proptek’s Sandra Fischbein says using Proptek trays made from injection molded plastic helps growers reduce waste. 

“We want to provide as valuable a tray as we can,” Fischbein says. “Trays should be not very expensive to our customers, but strong and durable as well. That’s a major reason to use a tray made from reprocessed material instead of virgin plastic.” Proptek’s trays are durable – some growers report still using trays purchased in the late 1980s – so they also reduce costs by not needing to purchase new trays in bulk with regularity as well. The up-front cost may be higher, but growers will see savings over time. 

Growers are busy, especially when their greenhouses are full of transplants, so they may not always have time to properly dispose of old trays or remember to fill out an order for new trays that the business needs in a pinch. By using injection molded trays, growers don’t have to worry about either problem, Fischbein says.

Additionally, injection molded plastic trays offer strong rooting and easy pulling – lessening the time workers spend harvesting transplants that are ready to be shipped to customers. And because many of Proptek’s trays fit a larger quantity of transplants in the same amount of space as other trays, it means workers do not have to move around as much to get the job done. As a result, they become more efficient.

By not using other trays that break down faster and have to be thrown out, Fischbein says growers will be contributing less waste to their community. If growers use Styrofoam and/or thermoformed trays that break easily have to be thrown out, they’ll only be adding to the large waste build-up in their communities. “And in time when you do have a truck full of broken [injection molded plastic] trays, you can easily recycle them,” she says. “There’s very little waste in that process.” 

Photo courtesy of Proptek