RETAIL PARTNER AGREEMENT

This agreement is entered between the signatory nursery and Sustainable Conservation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs the PlantRight initiative. Since 2005, Sustainable Conservation has been collaborating with California’s horticultural industry to identify cost-effective, voluntary measures to stop the sale of known invasive plants and to prevent the introduction of new invasive varieties. Sustainable Conservation recognizes nursery retailers’ leadership role in increasing consumer awareness about the serious, costly problem posed by invasive plants. This joint-partnership effort aims to promote healthy local economies and ecosystems by encouraging the sale of non-invasive, climate-appropriate plants for California gardens and landscapes.

As an authorized representative of the signatory nursery, our store agrees to adopt the principles of PlantRight’s Retail Nursery Partnership Program throughout the entirety of our partnership. As part of this agreement:

We recognize that:

  • Invasive plants are a threat to California’s natural ecosystems and economy. They crowd out existing plants and wildlife, increase fire severity, reduce agricultural yields, decrease land value, impact water supply, and degrade recreational opportunities. Over $82 million is spent managing invasive plants in our state each year, yet they continue to spread.
  • California’s nursery industry has a key role to play in preventing the introduction and proliferation of invasive plants.
  • Offering non-invasive plants to our customers is a key component to providing regionally appropriate plant recommendations.
  • PlantRight conducts a survey of randomly selected nurseries each spring to document the availability of the invasive plants on its list. This is a voluntary, non-regulatory effort through which the identity of surveyed stores is protected and only aggregated data is publicly released.

We agree to:

  • Refrain from selling plants that PlantRight lists as being invasive in our region.
  • Have all staff responsible for making plant buying decisions complete the PlantRight 101 training course and pass the test online. (The training and test can be completed in under 30 min.)
  • Encourage all sales staff to complete the PlantRight 101 training course and pass the test.
  • Make every reasonable effort to communicate our PlantRight policy to staff, customers and vendors. (Communication vehicles may include: staff training, print materials, customer service, do-not-buy lists, email, website and social media.)
  • Appoint a PlantRight liaison as a primary point of contact.
  • Revisit this agreement with PlantRight on an annual basis as PlantRight’s invasive plant list is annually reviewed and may change as new information becomes available.

We will receive:

  • Free PlantRight 101 training for our staff.
  • Online access to PlantRight’s Partner Toolkit and educational resources (e.g. the latest PlantRight invasive plants list, editorial content, research, on-going training materials and invasive plant trivia, as well as marketing materials, signage, etc.) to help communicate our PlantRight policy to customers, staff and vendors.
  • Advance notice, should any new plants be added to the PlantRight invasive plants list. The default phase-out time period will be 15 months. However, each notice period will be determined based on each plant’s individual growth cycle, so that an undue burden is not placed on retailers with previous commitments to growers.
  • A list of non-invasive plants to recommend to customers and vendors as suitable alternatives to the plants on PlantRight’s invasive list.
  • Recognition for our commitment to, and collaboration with, PlantRight. This recognition will take the form of social media coverage and blog posts shared by PlantRight.
  • Listing (our company name and contact information) in PlantRight’s online business directory.

By clicking on the button below, I certify that I agree to the terms of the PlantRight pledge.