One of the most pressing challenges multinational companies face today is the increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint. Israeli young plant producer Hishtil embraces this goal as they believe sustainability is the only way forward. A few years ago, the company's management addressed this challenge by reviewing all processes, materials, and facilities across their operations. This approach led to several measures aimed at advancing their sustainability goals. In this article, Haim Rosenblum, the company's Marketing Manager, gives us a glimpse into the steps they have taken to reduce their carbon footprint.
Solar energy panels at Ashkelon Nursery
Energy: Alternative and less polluting sources
Hishtil optimized their energy use through several initiatives. One of them was the transition from fuel oil to natural gas for heating at the Ashkelon nursery. "It significantly reduced emissions and brought substantial fuel savings." At this site, they also installed solar panels on the roofs of its warehouses and other buildings over the last two years. "The solar energy system now generates nearly enough electricity to meet the needs of all the nursery's distributed facilities".
Transition to hybrid and electric company vehicles
At the Afula nursery, greenhouses are now heated using hot water supplied by a neighboring factory. The water is then re-circulated, creating a system with dual benefits. "This approach eliminates the need for new energy consumption while helping the factory next door reduce the energy required to cool its water. The best part? These significant fuel savings were achieved at almost no cost," explains Rosenblum.
Water recycling in tray washing
Water: Treatment and recycling
Also, steps have been implemented regarding the usage and conservation of water through the nurseries' production process, Rosenblum continues. According to him, water conservation is a critical aspect of Hishtil's sustainability strategy. "Our irrigation system is designed to preserve the environment and resources by significantly reducing water usage and nutrient consumption. It enhances plant health, minimizes disease risks, and lowers the risk of disease outbreaks, while also cutting runoff below the trays and saving up to 60% of water. The system also contributes to reducing pesticide application and rinsing by about 50%, which decreases the potential for groundwater contamination. "To further optimize water quality, we've installed reverse osmosis systems, paired with a marble column for chemical stabilization and water homogeneity". Moreover, water efficiency efforts extend to recycling water from tray washing machines and planting robots. "Rainwater collected from greenhouse roofs is stored for future use, ensuring that no resource is wasted."
Crop protection: Pesticide use:
"Large-scale agriculture is often responsible for releasing large quantities of pesticides into the environment. We make continuous efforts to keep the use of damaging pesticides at a bare minimum." So, to minimize the use of pesticides, Hishtil has invested in climate control systems and air dryers that help regulate relative humidity, reducing the risk of contamination and the need for pesticides."One of the main facilities for reducing harmful pesticides and the risk of contamination is by improving climate conditions in the greenhouses. This entails using improved, innovative fans, climate control systems and air dryers, supporting the management of relative humidity in the air and thus reducing the risk of contamination."
The use of sub-irrigation devices also lowers the risk of pathogen infestations, he continues. "Organic growth protocols, combined with the use of beneficial insects, further reduce the reliance on harmful chemicals. Hishtil's proprietary organic vegetable grafted product line, helps minimize the use of soil disinfection chemicals because grafting plants are more tolerant to soil diseases."
According to Rosenblum, they also invest in the development of new application techniques for reducing the amount of chemicals used, while introducing novel products considered to be less harmful to the environment. In addition, they claim that improved monitoring procedures help identify pathogens at an earlier stage and respond faster, preventing major infestations.
"Another way to reduce the use of pesticides is investing as much as possible in measures to avoid pathogen development. For example, watering plants with sub-irrigation devices reduces foliage wetness, which also lowers the risk of pathogen infestations. The use of air dryers, as mentioned before, help save energy by increasing the effectiveness of the heating devices. Likewise, we use the 'Atlantium' system, which treat water with UV against bacteria and germ, allowing reducing the use of pesticides.
Applying organic growth protocols together with the use of beneficial insects, is yet another step in reducing the use of pesticides. Our proprietary organic vegetable grafted product line, helps minimize the use of soil disinfection chemicals because grafting plants are more tolerant to soil diseases."
Packaging: Eco-friendly
According to Haim, one of Hishtil's most impactful changes has been transitioning to eco-friendly packaging. "We now use recycled and recyclable materials for planting pots and trays, replacing non-recyclable styrofoam. This shift saves hundreds of tons of crude oil annually." Hishtil also switched from using cartons for packaging to employing reusable carriers and cages, which are returned by customers for repeated use. "Hishtil is committed to Environmental Social Governance policy, reflecting a comprehensive approach to sustainability, emphasizing recycled packaging materials and production means."
Eyal Kleinberger and Haim Rosenblum presented their new digital catalog at the IPM Essen 2024.
Catalog: Digital transformation
A major step in the marketing division was transitioning from print to digital media. For instance, switching from printed catalogs to a new eco-friendly digital catalog. At the IPM Essen 2024, visitors could no longer find Hishtil's latest annual printed catalog at their stand, only a QR code for the digital version.
The transition to a digital catalog is just one step in Hishtil's broader efforts to reduce waste and energy consumption. As part of their shift toward increased digitalization, the company has moved from printed media to online advertising, while also boosting activity on social networks and email marketing campaigns. "Through these initiatives, we aim to reduce our paper usage to the bare minimum," says Haim Rosenblum. "Every action counts."
In line with these efforts, Hishtil uses printed materials only when absolutely necessary, and always opts for recycled paper. Furthermore, the packaging materials used for transportation, delivery, and product displays at trade shows are all biodegradable, recycled, recyclable, or reusable, reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainability at every level.
Gderot nursery
Plants: Ready to confront climate change
Another measures taken by Hishtil is the development of a plant range that aims to help customers to confront climate change while going greener at home. "Global warming has led to desertification, extreme weather conditions, and natural disasters, prompting Hishtil to focus on products resilient to these changes. As a global leader in the propagation of herbs, vegetables and plants for the Hobby market, Hishtil continuously develops innovative horticultural solutions to meet customers' evolving needs with a commitment to a greener future." Notable examples include the Durabello series and grafted plants designed to thrive in arid conditions.
Landscape rehabilitation
Infrastructure development often causes significant damage to the natural landscape, but Hishtil has made it a priority to restore and rehabilitate affected areas. "Major infrastructure projects can severely harm existing vegetation," says Rosenblum. "We are proud to be one of the leading companies in landscape rehabilitation, working to restore areas as closely as possible to their original state."
The rehabilitation process is carried out with careful planning, considering the natural wildlife typical of the region. Greenery now lines the roadsides, incorporating systems that reduce runoff, store water in the ground, and minimize evaporation. "These efforts, along with our other measures related to energy savings and renewable resources, demonstrate our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint," he explains.
Through these actions, Hishtil is not only contributing to the rehabilitation of landscapes but also harnessing the proven ability of plants to absorb CO2 and release oxygen, which helps mitigate the greenhouse effect and create a positive carbon footprint balance.
Conclusion: A commitment to sustainability
Hishtil's journey toward sustainability has already yielded impressive results, Haim concludes. "Through innovative energy use, water conservation, eco-friendly catalog, and a commitment to reducing pesticides, the company is not only reducing its carbon footprint but also setting an example for the entire agro-industry. Our efforts reflect a holistic approach to sustainability that spans all areas of its operations, from production and packaging to transportation and marketing. We are not only addressing the immediate challenges of sustainable horticulture, but we hope to pave the way and inspire other industry partners to follow this path for a greener future in the agricultural production."
IPM Essen 2025
From January 28-31, the IPM Essen will take place at the Messe Essen in Germany. Histhil will again be present and will display their products in Hall 2Stand 2B15.
For more information:
Hishtil
Email: [email protected]
www.hishtil.com