The Jiffy Pot, a pioneering product that transformed global retail gardening after its debut in the 1950s, now has a 21st-century cousin. As growers recognize society's demand for renewable alternatives to traditional plastic pots, Jiffy has responded with a new, eco-friendly solution. In just three years, the company harnessed the power of open innovation to develop a peat-free alternative, marking a significant step forward in sustainable horticulture.

In a testament to the potential of cross-industry collaboration, Jiffy's Peat-Free Pot was born from a partnership between unlikely allies. Developed by Jiffy in conjunction with paper development company Millvision and horticulture research lab VARTA, the new pot is the direct result of open innovation — a concept encouraging diverse industries to share expertise and co-create solutions. By bringing together the knowledge and resources of all partners, Jiffy was able to deliver on a better-quality product, in less time, than if it had tried this alone.

Charl Goossens, owner of VARTA, Millvision chemical engineer Sander van Calker, and Jiffy product innovator Tara Duggan reflect on the creative journey that led to this groundbreaking development.