Florists show how beautiful fresh flower bouquets can bring a smile to someone’s face. But sustainable florists do this while making a positive difference to the environment. If you’re a regular customer, you can make a difference by supporting a sustainable flower delivery service the next time you order fresh flowers.
Simply put, sustainable florists are working to help save the environment. If you’re eco-conscious, taking part is advised. Here are factors you must consider to order sustainable flowers:
- The Current Effect And Impact Of the Flower Industry
- What Characterizes A Sustainable Flower Delivery?
- Best Sustainable Flower Delivery Services
- What To Consider When Using A Sustainable Delivery Service
There are various aspects where flower delivery systems impact the environment. All these factors are easily managed, and changing your local florist or flower farm and making it eco-friendly only comes with effort, but it is worth considering.
The Current Effect And Impact Of The Flower Industry
More than $20 Billion worth of blooms are sold annually. Considering what it takes to get the flower from a seedling into your vase, it’s unsurprising to know that this impacts the environment. Here is a breakdown of the current state of the flower industry’s impact on the environment.
The Flower Industry’s Impact On The Environment
The end consumer gives Little thought to the environmental impact of this industry, mainly because flower bouquets are connected to beauty, love, and harmony. The number of blooms required to keep up with supply and demand is staggering, and this impact and whether the industry uses sustainable practices is worth looking into.
Carbon Emissions And How It Impacts The Flower Industry
Carbon emissions are the biggest culprit in how the flower industry impacts the planet. And seasonal plants require a particular climate to bloom; therefore, supplying them year-round requires greenhouses to imitate the climate.
Greenhouses – Just the right amount of sunlight and temperatures are required to grow and bloom. Greenhouses imitate the environment, but to do so, growers use lights and heating systems that require electricity produced from non-renewable sources that leave a large carbon footprint.
Transportation – flower blooms do not stay fresh for long, and getting them to their destination requires speedy transit. Much of the U.S. flower market is served by imports transported by plane.
According to Milan Klöwer, a climate scientist at the University of Oxford, air transport is a significant source of carbon emissions and damage to the planet:
“Taking an airplane is the one activity which probably unites all science regarding where we are high emitters.”
If you are interested, I found this interesting article on how much air travel warms the planet.
Pesticides Used In The Flower Industry
Lower regulations for chemical pesticides are a lesser-known feature of the industry than edible crops and significantly impact the environment. In July 2004, the Journal of Central European Agriculture warned about how pesticides contaminate water and their effect on the environment.
Pesticides also impact various insect species that pollinate, and pollination is crucial to keep nature going to sustain wildlife, forests, and other animals. Not to mention the food we all eat.
If you strive to lead a non-toxic lifestyle like me, this is something to consider before letting a beautiful bouquet covered in chemical pesticides into your home!
Flower Industry Water Demand
Millions of blooms are grown to supply the market’s demand, and producing large quantities requires a lot of water. A rose’s water footprint is between 7 and 13 liters, and considering how many roses are sold on Valentine’s Day alone is of great concern to those who want to protect our water recourses.
Water is diverted from dams and lakes to supply growers with the necessary moisture they need to grow, and the water demand has shown a decline in water levels worldwide.
The Flower Industry’s Social Impact
It is difficult to think that flowers could have a social impact, but many come from countries like Kenya, where water scarcity impacts locals daily.
The flower industry in various countries exploits natives, especially women, to work for low salaries, which leads to poor and sometimes hostile working environments.
Pesticide is one of the most significant factors that impact workers. Richard Wiles, V.P., for research at the Environmental Working Group, says,
“The result is a highly toxic workplace and a highly toxic rose.”
He explains how pesticides can cause neurological impairment, cancer, and hypertension.
What Characterizes A Sustainable Flower Delivery?
Sustainability is the only way to protect the environment; by using eco-friendly and sustainable growing methods for flowers and our food, sustainability can be incorporated into their production, especially on a commercial scale. Farmers and florists who consider the environmental impact of flowers use a sustainable delivery system.
Before flowers can be considered sustainable, several factors need to be considered, and transport, materials, and social impact are just a few of the essential things. Here are some of the requirements that make a flower delivery system eco-friendly:
Source Flowers From Local Farms
Importing flowers or sourcing them from another state requires transport, which leaves a big carbon footprint. Florists who supply eco-friendly flowers try to buy local flowers from farmers who are close by to reduce shipping and lessen the carbon impact.
Uses Recyclable Materials
Packaging is a big obstacle for many florists, and finding alternative recyclable materials is essential to sustainability. Using FSC-certified paper and bio-based adhesive decals are two ways to transform into an eco-friendly florist, and avoiding plastics, cellophane, and sellotape is an excellent first start when making a bouquet.
Reduce Waste
One thing common in floristry is the amount of waste generated. Between the leaves and unused flowers, a lot of waste is generated. Stretching supplies and not overstocking is a small contribution to creating more eco-friendly flower bouquets, but every bit helps.
Offer To Refill Vases
Vases are great alternatives to packaging, and offering to refill a vase rather than using a material to wrap the flowers reduces the use of material and, in turn, enables eco-friendly flowers.
Promotes Seasonal Flowers
Stocking flowers out of season means they were grown in a greenhouse somewhere. Greenhouses are one of the flower industry’s biggest culprits of environmental damage. Stocking seasonal flowers is a great way to supply and deliver sustainable flower arrangements and bouquets.
Electric Or Hybrid Vehicles
Delivering to customers is a daily task for florists, with same-day delivery for special occasions a significant source of income for many florists. Gas-powered vehicles produce high carbon emissions, and electric cars are better to ensure that you deliver eco-friendly flowers.
The Best Places In The World For Getting Sustainable Flowers
I love to buy fabulous flowers, and being environmentally conscious, I constantly look for florists that support the environment and use an eco-friendly delivery service. Here are three florists known for their sustainability and proactive measures to ensure our planet is left better.
Molly Oliver Flowers
Molly Oliver Flowers takes protecting the environment seriously and manage the florist in an eco-friendly manner. Supporting local growers is just one of the ways Molly Oliver contributes to saving the planet.
Supporting local farmers means that customers have access to fresh flowers that are in season, and being close to the florist minimizes transport to help combat carbon pollution. Molly Oliver’s zero-waste policies put her in the top 10 most sustainable florists in the U.S.
Molly Oliver sustainable flowers have numerous satisfied customers, and one of them, Jessie W, writes:
“We were blown away by your flowers at our wedding. Molly is a sustainable florist and works with local farms, which we LOVED. You can also pay a little extra to have her come at the end of the night and bunch up your flowers into bouquets that your guests can take home at the end of the night.”
WildFlora
Alexandra Scholtz owns WildFlora, a sustainable florist located in Los Angeles. It’s recognized as one of the best florists globally. Being environmentally friendly is a priority for WildFlora, and new and forward-thinking eco-friendly ideas are constantly implemented to better sustainability.
WildFlora has experts that focus on interior greening and other eco-friendly products. Interior greening also reduces carbon emissions and indoor pollutants, and this practice is becoming popular because it eliminates airborne dust and controls humidity.
WildFlora is so popular that clients worldwide use this eco-friendly florist, and customers like Monica Grace Rockstroh write,
“This looks amazing! Love the combination of eco-friendly and stunningly beautiful pieces!”
Petal By Pedal
Valentine’s Day is a rush; no one experiences it more than Petal by Pedal. A mother and daughter own this New York-based florist, and they only use bike messengers to deliver flowers grown in N.Y. Using seasonal flowers is essential to Petal By Pedal to improve sustainability.
Being green is vital for Petal By Pedal, and everyone using this environmentally friendly florist knows that eco-friendly hands arrange every flower or Bouquet delivered with love.
Numerous customers use Petal By Pedal, and Joshua Ross writes.
“Thanks for the quick delivery; you saved me from coming home with nothing for my anniversary gifts. Seeing that you are eco-friendly is inspiring, and now I can add speedy service when I recommend you to friends”.
Arena Flowers
Arena Flowers is situated in the U.K. and is a proud sustainable flower delivery shop. The florist’s commitment to the environment is a great example. Arena Flowers uses fresh and beautiful flowers, which they purchase directly from the Westland auction and local flower farms.
Arena Flowers only uses compostable and organic materials and a carbon-neutral delivery system to protect the environment. The one thing I love about Arena Flowers is their inspirational actions by planting trees in countries that suffer from deforestation.
Julian Hurford, one of Arena Flowers’s customers, said this about the florist’s eco-friendly view:
“Wonderful flowers, service, and ethics”
The excellent quality of flowers and the ethical value behind the service means there is also a level of environmental benefit. The flowers were beautiful and still look great a week later!
The arrival time was updated on the day of delivery, and it was very helpful for this to be narrowed down to a 60-minute window. Exceptional service in every aspect”.
Bloom & Wild
Bloom & Wild is one of the most eco-friendly and proactive flower delivery shops in the U.K. and a proud flower sustainable florist. Their eagerness toward sustainability is echoed in their use of recycled and recyclable materials.
Bloom & Wild’s recycled bottles for ribbons, 100% recyclable letterbox packaging, and the use of vegetable inks are what sets them apart from other florists.
Bloom & Wild produced no waste in the landfill for the past five years and donated 15% of its profit to the Carers Trust. The company also supports the Burn Clean Cookstoves project, projects in Kenya, and the Aqua Clara Safe Water project.
A Bloom & Wild customer Sophia had this to say about the company’s eco-friendly outlook and service.
“Good selection of flowers and bouquets, environmentally conscious firm, easy ordering, and user-friendly website. Prompt, reliable service and pleasant admin staff.”
What To Consider When Using A Sustainable Delivery Service
Changing the planet starts at home, and I found that even the smallest contribution can make a difference. Before I go and buy flowers for a loved one or gift boxes, I consider how my choice will impact the environment.
To live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, consider the following options. Also, keep these tips in mind when buying flowers:
Ask Where The Flowers Come From?
If you buy flowers that are out of season, it means that it comes from a place where it is in season, and that requires transporting them over a great distance which negatively impacts the environment. Asking the florist what flowers are in season is one way to partake in saving the planet. Alternatively, think about using dried flowers as part of the arrangement or on their own. Dried flowers last a lot longer!
Support Local Farmers
Flower farms are everywhere, and asking the florist what locally grown flowers are available rather than buying flowers from another country or state reduces the effects of transporting this commodity long distances. Supporting local farmers is good, but it also makes an environmental difference.
Use Recycled and Biodegradable Packaging Materials
Packaging is essential; no one wants to get or send flowers damaged or falling apart. That does not mean there isn’t packaging material promoting an eco-friendly environment. Florists want to make their flowers presentable by using various products.
Ask your florist to wrap your flowers in recycled materials like FSC-certified paper, and avoid using plastics and cellophane. Sellotape and stickers will nullify any effort using eco-friendly paper and suggest that the florist use bio-based adhesive decals. A genuine eco-friendly florist will also use biodegradable floral foam to place the flowers in to create an arrangement.
Final Thoughts
Supporting a sustainable flower delivery service is one way to help save the environment, and encouraging others to join the cause will leave a cleaner planet for feature generations.
So next time you order a beautiful bouquet for that special occasion, think about sustainable flowers and what you can do to help the environment with better-informed choices.
