Sustainability matters – to florists, to customers, and to the future of our industry. At the British Florist Association, our role is to support florists in making informed, commercially viable choices that balance environmental responsibility with the realities of running a business.

We believe sustainability works best when it is practical, inclusive, and evidence-led – not prescriptive, divisive, or detached from day-to-day floristry.

Our approach

The UK floristry industry is diverse. Businesses vary in size, scale, location, seasonality, and customer base. A one-size-fits-all definition of ‘sustainable floristry’ simply does not reflect this reality.

Our approach is built on three principles:

Shared learning – change happens faster when florists learn from each other

Progress over perfection – meaningful steps forward matter more than rigid ideals

Commercial viability – sustainability must work for real businesses, year-round

What we’re working on

The BFA is currently developing a practical sustainability framework for UK florists. This will be shaped by real-world practice, current research, and the lived experience of florists working across retail, events, weddings, funerals, and contract work.

The framework will:

Reflect different business models and levels of resource
Recognise flowers that are responsibly grown and supplied, including both UK-grown and imported flowers
Address materials, mechanics, waste, energy, transport, and customer communication
Avoid tick-box thinking or blanket bans
Support florists in explaining sustainable choices confidently to customers

Learning from florists already doing the work

Many florists across the UK are already operating with strong sustainable practices – often quietly, thoughtfully, and without labels.

We want to learn from you.

If you are:

Reducing waste or rethinking mechanics
Working plastic-free or reviewing the use of materials and mechanics where appropriate
Using responsibly grown and supplied flowers, with consideration given to seasonality and supply chains
Trialling reuse, return schemes, or living memorial designs
Finding ways to talk about sustainability without lecturing customers

…we want your input.

Your experience will help ensure the BFA’s guidance is grounded, credible, and genuinely useful.

What this page will become

This page will evolve over time. Planned content includes:

Clear, practical guidance for florists at different stages
Case studies from real UK businesses
Links to independent research and industry initiatives
Tools and language to help florists communicate sustainability with confidence

Our aim is not to tell florists what they must do – but to support them in making informed choices that are right for their business, their customers, and the wider industry.

A note from Jamie Grant – BFA Director

I’m Jamie Grant, a Director of the British Florist Association and a long-standing florist working across retail, weddings, and events.

I’ve spent my career balancing creativity with commercial reality – running a florist business that prioritises thoughtful sourcing, reduced waste, and practical sustainability, while remaining viable year-round in a competitive market.

My interest in sustainability is rooted in day-to-day floristry, not theory. I believe progress happens when environmental responsibility and commercial sense work together – supporting florists to make better choices without undermining their businesses or livelihoods.