Euro Plant Tray (EPT) is an initiative set up by parties from across the European floriculture chain. Its objective is to introduce a reusable plant tray series supported by a pool model. Royal FloraHolland has been a partner in the initiative since early 2023. From that year onward, the company has facilitated the use of EPT trays via its floriculture marketplace to test both the trays and the accompanying pool model.
Since March 2025, a group of growers and buyers has been working with EPT trays, with Royal FloraHolland handling collection, returns, and administrative processing. At this stage, physical collection and returns take place only at the Naaldwijk hub, allowing the company to gain practical experience with the new packaging pool and its characteristics. The trays are processed as a balance system, similar to CC containers, and pricing follows the same principle.
© Royal FloraHolland
In the pilot programme, users rent EPT trays directly from Euro Plant Tray GmbH. At this point, trays cannot yet be rented through Royal FloraHolland. For further roll-out through the marketplace, automated administrative processing is required. The first functionalities needed for this are expected to be delivered before the end of 2025, while the remaining functions will be developed, tested, and implemented in 2026. Once completed, this will enable the scaling up of EPT use.
Two 400 series tray models are currently in use through the marketplace: the Fc775, suitable for pots of 10.5–13 cm, and the Fc777, suitable for pots of 12 cm. In the summer of 2025, production began on two new 200 series models: the Fc769 for pots of 9–10.5 cm and the Fc768 for pots of 10.5–13 cm.
The introduction of new European packaging legislation (PPWR) on 11 February 2025 has created a major challenge for the sector. The legislation aims to reduce packaging waste by replacing single-use packaging, including disposable plant trays, with reusable alternatives. Developments such as the EPT trays demonstrate that the urgency of the issue is widely recognised and that the sector is actively working on sustainable solutions.
