EcoHort accreditation readies Amazon Plant Growers with green infrastructure credentials 

16 February, 2024

Amazon Plant Growers recently achieved EcoHort accreditation to improve their business sustainability and shore up their natural resource management.

Owner, Anthony Mazzone, said it was a ‘no-brainer’ decision to develop the business’ risk mitigation pathways in water and natural resource management, enabling it to increase its productivity and profitability.

The inception of Amazon Plant Growers

His grandparents’ love of plants and horticulture inspired Anthony to open Amazon Plant Growers in Beverley, South Australia in 1996.

As a small nursery, the 1.2-hectare family-run nursery specialises in supplying local landscapers, government and garden maintenance contractors. Anthony, alongside his father Tony, has focused on growing landscape stock well suited to local conditions, and now employs seven staff.

Road to EcoHort Accreditation

Amazon Plant Growers first received NIASA accreditation in 2017 and achieved EcoHort accreditation in 2023. The business gained the certification with the support of Extension Officers, funded by the nursery levy under the Hort Innovation project ‘National biosecurity and sustainable plant production program’ (NY20001).

“We started working towards NIASA accreditation before 2017 and saw EcoHort as a way to help us shift the business’ focus onto environmental issues and natural resource management,” Anthony said.

“NIASA accreditation helped improve our business practices and provided an important steppingstone towards EcoHort accreditation.

“Greenlife Industry Australia introduced us to the (EcoHort) program, and since then the GIA Extension Officers have all been a great source of technical support and insight. They’ve given us the confidence to embrace innovation and achieve the best outcomes possible,” said Anthony.

Employing third party validated credentials through EcoHort accreditation has helped Amazon Plant Growers meet and continue to employ best management practices.

“Both our business and customers see the benefits, as it leads to higher quality stock, due to the assessment and professionalism that accreditation requires,” Anthony said.

The EcoHort guidelines are Amazon Plant Growers go-to for guidance.

“The NIASA Best management practice guidelines and related resources are great to refer to for all things relating to irrigation and drainage, and we have built our growing areas around the principles and guidelines contained within the texts.

“With environmental sustainability becoming more and more relevant, accreditation in EcoHort is ensuring we meet government and community expectations, and that our data reflects our commitment to environmental sustainability and resource management. A bonus is EcoHort accreditation is tax deductible.

“EcoHort is a complete system framework. Everything is independently verified and recognised nationally by government, our clients and the broader community,” said Anthony.

Benefits of EcoHort Accreditation

By being EcoHort accredited, Amazon Plant Growers can respond appropriately and efficiently to environmental changes leading to cost savings and increased productivity, and allowing the business to continue to grow sustainably into the future.

“We value loyalty, and we view our customers and suppliers as partners, and strive to work together with them to deliver the best quality greenlife we can.

“To enable us to do this, we must remain relevant, competitive and productive. This is where accreditation has been a great help, enabling us to operate in the best possible way.

“With emerging industries like green infrastructure, and greater emphasis on increased urban greening, we hope to further assist businesses involved in these initiatives and help create successful outcomes for all to enjoy. People love the outdoors and it’s meaningful to know we help play a part in creating these spaces,” Anthony said.

For more information about EcoHort, visit: https://nurseryproductionfms.com.au/ecohort-certification

To read Anthony’s full case study, visit: greenlifeindustry.com.au/case-study-amazon

Amazon Plant Growers is certified under NIASA BMP and accredited under EcoHort, programs of administered by Greenlife Industry Australia’s Australian Plant Production Standard.

EcoHort Accreditation is associated with the ‘National biosecurity and sustainable plant production program’ (NY20001) project which is funded by Hort Innovation using nursery research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.