In the wake of recent times, we cannot stress more on the need for environmentally conscious practices, be it any industry.
Flowers are an earthly element, a beautiful embodiment of nature that brighten up our homes and hearts.
It is only fair to make their industry a sustainable one. But what does sustainability mean in context of the Floral industry?
There is no one way to go green in floristry, it must be a comprehensive and collaborated approach taking into consideration the multiple facets such as- local biodiversity, communities, supply chain, human welfare, education, etc. Let’s discuss these further:
A complex solution to this is using organic fertilizers and pesticides. Check for organic certifications on your suppliers like- National Organic Program (NOP) or United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) etc.
In such cases, the cut flowers must go through multiple modes of transport in highly refrigerated containers in order to keep them fresh. This creates an astonishing amount carbon footprint.
Locally procured and cyclical blooms eliminate more than half of the carbon footprint. Traveling directly from farm to vase, they witness no time on an airplane, few miles on the road and little refrigeration. This also enables countries to keep a check on supply chain management & preserve employment of local businesses.
Encourage open conversations with suppliers regarding water conservation practices. You may also go through Floriculture Sustainability Initiative to stay updated with relevant news.
Chicken wire, curly willow, and pebbles are common substitutes for floral foam. Dealers need to be encouraged to use these along with alternatives for plastic and compost the biomass, thereby reducing waste going into landfills.
A seemingly benevolent and cheerful industry, but with hidden environmental and human implications.
What we have described above can be roughly summed up into ‘responsible consumption’. Hope what we wrote really reached you and motivates you to accommodate greener practices while making your next purchase.