Eco-Conscious Florists: How to Know Your Cut Flowers Are Sustainable
There’s a special kind of joy walking into a florist’s shop to buy a bouquet for someone you love. “A lot of consumers are not really aware of the negative environmental impacts of the industry,” says Jenny Hauser, the founder of Field Trip Flowers, an eco-friendly flower studio in Brooklyn. 1. There’s no floral foam in sight. In lieu of floral foam, floral designer Emily Thompson used old-fashioned chicken wire to support the stems in this artful arrangement. Photograph courtesy of Emily Thompson Flowers, from Design Sleuth: Flowers Without Foam. “Floral foam is a single-use plastic that frequently ends up in waterways and breaks down into microplastics that can harm aquatic animals,” says Feldmann. 2. Their inventory is always changing. Seasonal, local flowers inherently have the lowest environmental impact. A field of dahlias at organic flower farm Tiny Hearts Farm in the Hudson Valley. Photograph by Melissa Ozawa, from Ask the Experts: Organic Flower Farms Share Tips on Growing a Cutting Garden. 3. They’re selling (mostly) local flowers. Locally sourced, field-grown flowers—ideally grown using sustainable farming methods—are the gold standard for sustainable floristry... ...says Feldmann, and if a florist is doing the work to source these blooms, they’re likely talking about it in their marketing materials. However, it may not be realistic for a florist’s flowers to all come from local farms. She notes, however, that some farms may use organic methods but simply can’t afford the certification process, so it’s best to do your own research. 4. They’re selective about imported flowers. This beautifully wrapped seasonal Orchid Bouquet is currently available at Isa Isa in Los Angeles. 5. They never wrap flowers in plastic. “Sustainable florists present their designs simply with natural fibers and easily recyclable or compostable materials like unbleached paper and natural fiber ties,” says Feldmann. In addition to avoiding packaging waste, sustainable florists are diverting their floral waste from the landfill by composting. 6. They have a compost bin. Hauser uses a local commercial composting pick up service and notes that composting should be a no-brainer for most businesses because it offsets their expenses from conventional trash removal. Photograph courtesy of Field Trip Flowers. 7. They’re local but they might not have a shop. Hauser’s Field Trip Flowers arrangements, ready for local delivery. A retail storefront inevitably means more waste, which is one of the reasons Hauser no longer has a retail shop.