Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword; it’s about safeguarding the future—and that includes simple steps like not boiling a whole kettle for just one cup of tea! For florists, it means adopting practices that protect the beauty of flowers while ensuring future generations can enjoy them too. The sustainable shift is well underway, and clients are increasingly expecting eco-friendly choices. With thoughtful planning and creativity, you can reduce your environmental footprint without compromising on quality.
What Is Sustainable Floristry?
Sustainable floristry involves creating floral arrangements while being mindful of the environment—think less floral foam, more reusable mechanics, and a whole lot more composting! Whether it’s using eco-friendly packaging or investigating where your flowers come from, the goal is simple: make beauty last, not the waste. And yes, sustainability might feel like a trend, but it’s more than that—it’s the future.
Sustainability in Floriculture involves cultivating flowers and ornamental plants in environmentally responsible ways that make efficient use of resources, promote fair working conditions, aim to reduce the carbon footprint, and ensure long-term economic viability.
When importing flowers Check for certifications like Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance. These ensure eco-friendly practices and fair wages, already widely adopted by the floriculture industry.
Here are five simple steps to inspire florists to bloom sustainably, creating arrangements that are as kind to the planet as they are beautiful on the eye.
Step 1: Try incorporating Locally Sourced & Seasonal
One simple way is to incorporate locally grown and use seasonal flowers when you order. Not only does this help the planet, but it also gives you access to fresh blooms with unique shapes and scents. And don’t we all love something a little quirky in our arrangements?
- Support local growers: By choosing local grown flowers, you’re not only lowering travel but also boosting the local economy and supporting the UK’s horticultural industry.
- Ask wholesalers: It’s great to have a choice. More wholesalers are offering local options, for example Flowervision (Bristol) have added to their inventory British flowers when available and premium foliage from Cornwall and Ireland. Ask your supplier if they stock local too!
- Choose the right suppliers: Partner with artisan growers who sell directly from their farms to florists. They often use eco-friendly practices and provide local flowers. Fostering a good relationship can mean that you get unusual and unique flowers giving you a local USP!
- Local grown flowers Choosing some seasonal local flowers helps reduce the need for energy-intensive greenhouses and long-haul shipping.
- Highlight seasonal bouquets: Spring and summer offer plenty of choices, while winter is more challenging but brings beauties like Paperwhites, Anemones, Snowdrops, Ivy, and Rose Hip. Get creative and work with what’s available. Provide a choice for your customers and share the stories of where your flowers come from.
Step 2: Use Eco-Friendly Packaging
Packaging is another key area where florists can make big changes with little effort. Single-use plastics, such as standard cellophane wraps, often end up in landfill taking centuries to break down. Yes, centuries!
Research shows that packaging is also a big concern for the flower buying public. The good news is that new sustainable products are coming onto the market, but it is important that we understand what they are made from and how to recycle and dispose of them.
- Go biodegradable: Swap single-use plastics for biodegradable cellophane, recyclable paper wrap, and jute twine. Clients love the added thoughtfulness, the artisan vibe and it’s a great way to showcase your commitment to sustainability.
- Using natural fabrics like hemp or bamboo in floristry is a sustainable choice that offers several environmental benefits. Both materials are renewable and biodegradable, making them far more eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fabrics.
- Tie it up nicely: Swap out plastic ribbons with silk for a luxurious feel for upscale events, offering a touch of elegance complementing the natural beauty of flowers, or jute twine for a more rustic and charming alternative that adds a natural, organic touch to your arrangements.
- Consider Naked Flowers
One idea that’s gaining traction is “naked flowers,” or simply offering bouquets as nature intended—without any packaging. Many clients are keen on the simplicity and beauty of receiving flowers in their natural form. It’s about educating clients that less can be more in those situations where the protective packaging might not be needed.
When discussing sustainable packaging, it’s essential to differentiate between biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable materials. While biodegradable materials break down over time, they may still leave microplastics or chemical residues behind. Compostable materials, however, fully decompose into natural elements without leaving any harmful traces in a composting environment.
Recycling, on the other hand, focuses on reusing materials to make new products, reducing waste and the need for raw resources. Unlike biodegradable or compostable materials, recyclable items don’t decompose but are processed and repurposed. It’s important to note that not all materials are both recyclable and compostable, so understanding these distinctions helps in making more sustainable packaging choices for floristry.
With eco-friendly packaging, you’re helping reduce waste while giving customers something they can feel good about.
Step 3: Adopt Sustainable Practices
Think about alternatives to Floral Foam
Why swap it? It’s a single-use plastic that breaks down into microplastics.
Floral foam has been a florist’s go-to since the 1950s, and it’s easy to see why—its simplicity and impressive water-holding capacity make it a popular choice. But its environmental and health impacts are now well understood. Made from plastic, it breaks down into microplastics that can enter waterways and damage aquatic ecosystems. It’s a major contributor to non-biodegradable waste in floristry. With chemicals like phenol and formaldehyde in its makeup, floral foam is far from eco-friendly.
Recognising the environmental impact of materials like floral foam, many organisations are stepping up to make more sustainable choices. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has committed to reducing single-use plastics in their events. In 2023, they worked closely with exhibitors, partners, and contractors to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastics, with a goal of phasing them out completely from behind the scenes by 2025. This effort aligns with broader sustainability goals within the floral industry.
Fortunately, there are now more sustainable alternatives available, so it’s time to educate our customers as much as we can and make the switch to eliminate, or at least limit, our use of floral foam.
Managing your Mechanics:
Chicken Wire: (or hexagonal wire mesh) A versatile and reusable option, chicken wire can be moulded into different shapes to support flower arrangements and installations. It provides structure without contributing to plastic waste. Tip: ensure that the stems are thoroughly cleaned. This prevents them from snagging on the wire, allowing for smoother adjustments if you need to reposition or rearrange the flowers.
Reusable Flower Frogs: (Kenzan) These traditional Japanese tools, made from metal or ceramic with metal pins sticking up vertically, hold stems securely and can be reused for years. They come in various sizes and are perfect for creating sturdy designs.
Moss: Dried or fresh moss is a natural, biodegradable material that can hold moisture and support floral stems. It’s ideal for eco-conscious florists and adds a rustic, natural touch to designs. Always make sure to ask if the moss is from sustainable sources when purchasing.
Agra wool: Chemical free and made from natural basalt and organic materials, agra wool provides a more sustainable alternative that somewhat mimics the structure of floral foam.
TerraBrick (OASIS® Floral Products): An eco-friendly alternative to traditional floral foam, developed to support sustainable floristry practices. Unlike conventional foam, the TerraBrick is composed of natural, compostable ingredients. It provides a similar structure and water retention as floral foam, allowing florists to create secure and hydrated arrangements without harming the environment.
Willow is an excellent sustainable floral mechanic due to its flexibility, strength, and natural biodegradability. It provides sturdy support for arrangements while being eco-friendly and compostable. As a renewable resource, it reduces environmental impact and adds a natural, rustic touch to designs, making it a perfect alternative to synthetic materials in floristry.
Funerals and natural burial grounds; where tradition meets sustainability, woodland burial sites now require compostable materials— Florists can turn to sustainable options like moss to improve soil health, bamboo for its strength and renewability, and cardboard for biodegradable containers, offering a nature-friendly goodbye. This distinction is particularly crucial where flowers and wreaths need to be completely compostable. Many burial grounds now insist on this standard, ensuring nothing harmful remains in the earth. Being able to meet these requirements for funeral flowers could make your services even more appealing.
Replace foam-based funeral arrangements with more eco- friendly alternatives like a hand-tied floral sheaf, a willow or moss-based wreath, or a collection of smaller bunches arranged as one large tribute. After the service, the bunches can be separated and shared with attendees as a meaningful keepsake to remember the day.
Step 4: Educate & Engage Your Customers
Your customers are a key part of your sustainability journey. Educate them, and you’ll find they often appreciate—and request—eco-friendly options.
- Host workshops: Teach customers about seasonal flowers or how to compost their arrangements.
- Offer incentives: Give discounts for returning vases or for choosing sustainable bouquets—they’re always popular with customers.
- Label clearly: Mark eco-friendly arrangements so customers know they’re making a green choice. Include instructions on how to dispose of packaging materials, on recycling and composting.
- Encourage a Return and Reuse System: Rather than relying on disposable packaging or single-use vessels, why not introduce a returnable scheme? Offer your clients the option to borrow vases or buckets for hydration, secured by a small deposit. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also helps educate clients on the value of reusability. Over time, clients will come to see the benefits of opting for a more sustainable approach—and you’ll be known for your forward-thinking business model.
- You may not be ready to fully transition to sustainable practices in your floristry business, but you can start by offering one or two eco-friendly options. Highlight these on your website, social media, and marketing to showcase your commitment to sustainability and attract conscious clients.
- Be Social: Everyone appreciates a good story and wants to stay informed. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your sustainable practices and collaborations with eco-conscious suppliers. By showcasing your journey towards sustainability, you not only engage your audience but also inspire others to join in. Highlighting your efforts can foster a community of like-minded individuals who value environmentally friendly initiatives, creating a buzz around your brand and its commitment to a greener future.
Step 5: Reduce Waste
Reducing waste is one of the most impactful actions you can take. Effective waste management in the floristry sector is vital for minimising environmental impact, but the options available can differ widely based on your location. Various councils throughout the UK provide distinct waste services, so it’s essential to find out what’s on offer in your area.
Some regions facilitate green waste collection and composting services, while others may have more limited options. Councils in Brighton, Camden, Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Glasgow are particularly proactive in promoting composting and providing greener waste management solutions.
Florists should actively inquire about local composting initiatives, green waste disposal options, and regulations regarding the separation of organic waste from general refuse. By collaborating with your council or a private waste service, you can ensure that your floral waste is managed as sustainably as possible, contributing to a greener industry.
- Compost: Set up a composting system for flower stems and leaves—it enriches the soil and keeps organic waste out of landfills.
- Upcycle: Turn leftover blooms into potpourri, confetti, or event gifts!
- Donate: Give post-event flowers to charities, care homes, or community groups. They’ll spread joy and reduce waste.
Managing inventory wisely and encouraging customers to reuse vases are small steps that make a big difference.
Industry Challenges and Progress
The floristry sector is making significant strides toward sustainability as it grapples with the challenge of plastic waste. Various global initiatives, such as the UN Global Goals, particularly Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), aim to promote sustainable practices across industries. This goal encourages businesses to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycles. The European Union is also advancing its green agenda through regulations like the EU Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. This initiative includes measures to reduce plastic use and improve waste management, urging industries—including floristry—to explore eco-friendly alternatives.
- Plastic Pacts and Regulations: As part of the wider movement to reduce plastic waste, several industry pacts, such as the UK Plastics Pact, have been established. This initiative aims to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastics and increase recycling rates within the supply chain. Florists are encouraged to review their packaging practices, moving toward biodegradable or recyclable materials to align with these goals.
- Consumer Trends: The demand for sustainable products is growing, particularly among younger consumers. Studies show that Millennials and Generation Z are more inclined to support brands that prioritise sustainability. For example, research from Deloitte reveals that a significant percentage of younger consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products. Florists who embrace sustainable practices not only enhance their brand image but can also attract this environmentally conscious demographic.
- Education and Awareness: The BFA and other industry organisations are committed to educating florists about the importance of sustainability. This includes providing training and resources on sustainable floristry practices, encouraging the adoption of eco-friendly mechanics and highlighting the benefits of reducing plastic usage.
In Conclusion
Sustainability might seem daunting, but even the smallest changes can lead to a brighter, greener future. Whether you’re sourcing local flowers, using eco-friendly packaging, or educating your customers, you’re part of a movement that’s helping floristry and the planet thrive. So, let’s get to work together —if flowers can bloom in tough conditions, we can certainly make a few changes to keep this planet blooming too!
Keeping our planet as fresh as a Daisy – one actionable step at a time!
For any questions, stories, or sustainable tips, please reach out to Debbi Moore at Sustainability@britishfloristassociation.org. We’d love to hear from you!
