Spy Finds is a daily series that unveils the coolest, under-the-radar products that you haven’t heard of until now. Each product is curated by our editors who want to help you discover cool finds you didn’t know you needed.
There’s really nothing more green and eco-friendly than plants. Sort of self-explanatory — they’re kind of everything we’re trying to save, right? But their indoor homes, believe it or not, often leave something to be desired.
If you want to keep your green friends, well, green, we’re recommending these fantastic Potr Pots. They strive to be as carbon-neutral and eco-friendly as possible from production to shipping to disposal. These self-watering pots wrap around your existing pot and into the soil, and they have a unique, funky look that’ll be sure to bring the compliments.
Counterintuitive as it may sound, the Potr Pots are shipped flat to your house. If you have an old-fashioned mail slot, they’ll fit thru. (A plant pot that fits thru a mail slot … what a world.) Sounds like a bizarre fact to hang your hat on, but shipping via a flat, light parcel is exceptionally more carbon-neutral than shipping a large, heavy box.
Once it arrives, you’ll notice that it’s an origami planter. OK, stand down, we’re not signing you up for arts & crafts class. All you need to do is pull together the cotton drawstring, and the Potr Pot is transformed from a flat pattern into the cool multi-faceted pot, ready for your plant.
The drawstring isn’t just for assembly. The two ends of the cotton string are looped under the inner pot (the one your plant currently resides in), and tucked into the plant’s soil. When you add water to the pot, the string wicks the water and draws it to the plant’s roots. And because the pots are semi-transparent, it’s easier to see when your plants are looking a little parched and in need of a drink. The 200 ml reservoir should keep your plant happily fed for about 2 weeks at a time.
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Now back to the materials: Potr Pots are made from 100% recycled polypropylene. Aside from being waterproof, foldable, and so flexible it’s drop-proof, it’s also 100% recyclable when you’re done with it. (Although, they’re pretty close to indestructible.) They’re also easily cleaned: Just undo the drawstring and lay it flat again, brush or wash out the dirt, and draw the string to reform the pot.
The fact that they are made from 100% recycled materials means they’re keeping harmful plastics out of the landfills, in addition to cutting down the CO2 impact of producing new materials like concrete or clay. And, amazingly, just being delivered in a standard envelope rather than a larger, heavier package accounts for a 100x lower CO2 footprint than heavier pots.
Your plants are doing their little part to filter your air. Rehome them in Potr Pots and help them make the world a little bit greener.