PlantasGT supplies cuttings and starter materials from Guatemala to Dutch and European growers who then cultivate fully grown products. This includes cactuses, aloe vera, snake plants and, of course, beaucarneas. The subsidiary of Palki works according to the same core values as the parent company; professional and top-quality deliveries, a proactive and reliable approach, and respect for both man and the environment. In an honest, transparent and sustainable manner. “With our approach, you have to find a good fit with your partners. We always look for parties with the same drive in terms of strategy and sustainability. And we certainly found those with Container Centralen.”
Fantastic collaboration
“The collaboration with Container Centralen came about as a result of several factors. Firstly, the need for our company to comply with phyto-sanitary regulations. As a result of climate change and increasing trade, the European Union is increasingly having to deal with new threats to the flora and fauna in Europe. That is why businesses that trade in, import or export plants and plant-based materials must comply with a huge range of measures relating to the materials they use. We used to use wooden crates. But insects and other organisms are more likely to use these as their homes than an iron crate, making it no longer viable for the longer term. So, I was on the lookout for crates made of a different material. Sustainability is also an important aspect for us. You must work within and according to the prevailing law and regulations both at home and abroad. This is required by your market and customers and you are accountable in this regard.
Wood is also just too expensive to use in the quantities we are talking about. We were put in touch with Container Centralen via one of our customers, Fachjan from Honselersdijk. Fachjan is a perfect example of sustainable and innovative business practices. We know that if they recommend something, it is sure to be good. And that turned out to be the case with Container Centralen too.”
Keep your eye on the ball
“As a producer of starter materials, we could not make use of the facilities in a pool construction, provided by the Flora Holland flower auction. These are provided for suppliers and customers of end products only, who are also members of Flora Holland. Container Centralen has capitalised on this issue, however, and we have benefited as a result. In Europe, they have long had an efficient pool construction, which has now been expanded worldwide.
Because I am a participant in the pool, I no longer have to worry about the maintenance, repair or storage of the trolleys/ load carriers. During the implementation of the system, the employees were incredibly focused on finding us the right solutions. They never once said ‘we can’t’, applied a very flexible approach, and were always happy to cooperate with us on finding a suitable solution. Just perfect!
When we have enough trolleys on our balance, a sea container is loaded and shipped to Guatemala. My trolley balance is maintained and updated by the system and I know where my trolleys and plates are at all times. There is also always the option to add trolleys from a depot. The system takes these concerns off my hands, provides reassurance and also saves me time. As a result of the long distance involved, a ship may be at sea for as long as 10 weeks. So, it is wise to keep your eye on the ball, despite all the facilities offered by the CC pool. I try hard to never say ‘no’ to my customers, so we always aim to find the most sustainable methods for transporting our cuttings and starter materials.
In terms of the future, we will work with Container Centralen to develop loading carriers for heavier starter materials, such as yuccas, our main product, perhaps in the form of pallets that can be used in a worldwide pool just like the trolleys. The options are ideal for our lighter cuttings at the moment, but we would like to transport heavier cuttings in the same practical and efficient manner.”
