How does the floral industry impact the environment?

The short answer is it depends on the process. A florist using single-use plastics with imported flowers grown with chemical fertilizers will have a larger environmental impact than one who isn’t using plastic and chooses to buy local flowers grown organically. Of course, there are many points between these two ends of the spectrum.

Practices with higher environmental impact

Many of these practices are standard in floristry, but they come with a large environmental impact:

International imports

• Significant carbon emissions from airline transport

• Energy costs due to refrigeration

Single-use plastics

• Floral foam (even so-called “biodegradable” foam) breaks down into microplastics

• Plastic wrapping to protect flowers isn’t easily recyclable

• Many types of ribbon are made of plastic

Chemical growing practices

• Pesticides harm beneficial insects like pollinators

• Chemical fertilizers disrupt soil health

• Runoff can pollute nearby bodies of water

Practices with lower environmental impact

While these practices might not yet be considered “mainstream,” they are growing in popularity and have the potential to change the floral industry:

Local, seasonal flowers

• Local flowers don’t travel as far, stay fresher longer, and reduce environmental impact

• Florists tailor their designs based on seasonal availability

Reusable or compostable mechanics

• Chicken wire replaces floral foam for certain designs

• Glass vases and jars are used (especially if sourced second-hand)

• Paper wrapping and biodegradable ribbon replace plastic materials

Regenerative growing practices

• Abstaining from pesticides or chemical fertilizers

• Natural compost boosts soil health

• Variety of crops (as opposed to monocropping) boosts the ecosystem

The solution

Consumers are starting to understand the hype about local flowers: they last longer and are better for the environment. Local flowers also don’t have far to travel, which makes it easier to present unique offerings and more delicate blooms that might otherwise not last in longer transport.

The problem is there aren’t enough local flowers to meet demand. Some reports claim up to 80% of cut flowers sold in the United States come from another country. There is no way the local flower industry can take up that market share overnight. We just don’t have the supply.

This is why I believe we need more local flower farms.

But for the environmentally-conscious consumer who buys flowers, what are the next steps to reduce their environmental impact?

I’d like to offer a concept I call “journey to sustainability.” It would be amazing if we could all instantly adopt sustainable practices, but the industry can’t support it yet. So we start the journey with the following steps:

1. Assess where you’re at in terms of sustainability. Perhaps you’re a foam-free florist, but most of your flowers are imported. Or maybe you’re a farmer just starting to experiment with organic growing methods.

2. Find a focus area where you want to change your practice to something more sustainable.

3. Make small changes until you feel comfortable with the new pattern. Maybe this means you increase how many local flowers you purchase from 20% to 40%.

4. Once this pattern is established, repeat steps 1-4.

With this method, we’re all taking steps to more sustainable practices. The choices we make and the patterns we set will also help shape the future of the floral industry.

Many sustainability advocates adopt an all-or-nothing approach. While their goals are admirable, their method might discourage people who feel like they can’t make such radical changes all at once.

I believe everyone is on their own journey. We buy and work with flowers because we appreciate the beauty of nature. And if we want to maintain that beauty, we just need to keep taking the next step.