We are proud to announce that Sneeboer has been selected as one of the three finalists for the prestigious “RHS Chelsea Sustainable Business of the Year Award” 2025. This nomination is a special recognition of our commitment to sustainability, traditional craftsmanship, and social responsibility. As a family business that has been handcrafting garden tools in the Netherlands since 1913, it’s a true milestone – one that we’re excited to share with our customers.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show: a global stage
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, is the world’s most prestigious event for garden design, innovation, and sustainable solutions in the green sector. Held annually at the Royal Hospital Gardens in London, the event attracts tens of thousands of visitors – from gardening professionals and royalty to journalists and plant enthusiasts. A nomination at Chelsea is the gardening world’s equivalent of an Oscar: the highest level of recognition in our industry.
The “Sustainable Business of the Year” award honours companies that treat sustainability not as a marketing ploy, but as a core value. Businesses that prove they not only make beautiful products, but also take responsibility for people, the environment, and society.
Why Sneeboer is among the top three
Our nomination is the result of a series of structural and innovative steps we’ve taken to make our production process more sustainable. Here are some of the key actions we’ve implemented:
- Induction heating: We’ve transitioned our entire production process from traditional coal-fired forges to induction heating. This saves us 16,000 kilos of CO2 emissions per year and makes our process cleaner and safer.
- Solar energy: Since 2022, our company has largely been powered by solar energy. With an output of around 100,000 kWh annually, we generate more electricity than we consume. The surplus is fed back into the grid.
- Laser welding: We’re the first in the Netherlands to use laser welding technology in the manufacture of garden tools. This innovation enables precise, durable, and energy-efficient connections between tool components.
- Tools for life: Rather than disposable tools that only last a season, we design and forge tools that last for generations. Every tool is hand-forged, tested, and comes with a 50-year warranty.
- Social responsibility: We actively partner with organisations that support people distanced from the labour market. We also sponsor local environmental projects, educational initiatives, and sports clubs.
- Transparency: Via our sustainability page, visitors can follow our live solar energy production – a unique way of showing our impact in real time.
A family business with a future vision
What sets Sneeboer apart from other tool manufacturers is our combination of traditional craftsmanship and forward-thinking technology. Our products are still handmade in our workshop in Bovenkarspel, using techniques that have been passed down for over a century. At the same time, we continue to invest in innovation, digitalisation, and sustainable development. For us, this is not a contradiction – it’s our strength.
We see sustainability not as a project, but as a way of working. It’s present in the decisions we make every day – from material sourcing and employment policies to energy management and packaging. Our goal? A future in which good tools not only perform well, but also do good – for the world in which they’re used.
What this nomination means to us
Being selected as a finalist for the RHS Chelsea Sustainable Business of the Year Award means the world to our team. It’s a recognition of the hard work, innovations, and shared values that bind us together as a company. But it’s also encouragement – proof that small, independent family businesses can make a difference, both locally and globally.
As one of the three finalists, we’ll be travelling to London in late May for the official award ceremony. The competition is fierce, but we believe that our story – one of craft, innovation, and responsibility – is strong enough to stand out.
How you can support us
We invite you to follow us on Instagram or Facebook. There we’ll keep you up to date on our latest developments – and of course, the Chelsea Flower Show 2025.
Would you like to support us? Then share your story on social media: why do you choose Sneeboer? Use the hashtag #sustainablegardentools and help spread the message of responsible craftsmanship.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 takes place from 21 to 25 May in the Royal Hospital Gardens, London. Wish us luck!
