Elisa Harley is a passionate 18 year old entrepreneur from Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the founder of Enivo Pots - a company creating biodegradable plant pots from underutilised plant residues. Her mission is to replace the 350 million plastic pots used annually in New Zealand with sustainable alternatives.
Elisa's journey began at age 12, selling succulents then native plants and noticing the environmental impact of single-use plastic pots. This insight led her to establish Enivo Pots, aiming to develop eco-friendly solutions for the horticulture industry. With support from the Young Enterprise Scheme, Scion Research Institute, and funding from AGMARDT, the King’s Trust and Perpectual Guardians Elisa collaborated with scientists to prototype pots made from forestry waste. These pots are designed to last about six months above ground and biodegrade within a year once planted.
Balancing her entrepreneurial pursuits with school commitments, Elisa has received accolades including the 2023 Youth Wellingtonian of the Year. She continues to inspire by speaking at events like the E Tipu Agri Summit and remains dedicated to promoting sustainable practices through innovation.
MEET OUR FOUNDER
ELISA HARLEY
WHO ARE WE??
Enivo Pots is an Aotearoa based startup on a mission to reimagine how we grow. We’re creating biodegradable plant pots made from underutilised Primary Industry waste, offering a sustainable alternative to the 350 million plastic pots used in New Zealand every year.
Enivo Pots is closing the loop, taking what nature provides, giving it new purpose, and returning it to the earth. Our pots are designed to decompose naturally, breaking down into the soil and enriching it, rather than polluting it. It’s a solution rooted in circular thinking, with every stage of the product lifecycle designed to reduce harm and promote regeneration.
What makes Enivo Pots unique is not just the product, it’s the vision. Every Enivo pot replaces a plastic one. Every pot returned to the soil is a step towards a healthier planet. As we grow, we’re focused on collaborating with communities, growers, and innovators to scale our impact and expand what’s possible.
What now?
We have conducted 4 rounds of prototyping, testing out pots in commercial nurseries and so far… GOOD NEWS! We are super happy with current results, and we still making huge improvements!
Work has begun on planning our 2026 Pilot Trial. Testing 10,000 (ish) biodegradable plant pots all across Aotearoa.
AS SEEN IN:
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SCION: Teen entrepreneur tackling plastic waste
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Farmers Weekly: A teen on a mission to solve a growing problem
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RNZ: The teenager who's growing her biodegradable pot business
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YES: Teenage innovator aims to be a guardian of the natural world
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The Herald: Teenage innovator aims to be a guardian of the natural world
