Sustainability Tips for Florists and Flower Lovers
Sustainability Tips for Florists and Flower Lovers.
Here at Esme Fleur Florist in Brisbane, we’re mindful about our role in lessening our impact on our beautiful planet.
We certainly aren’t perfect in our environmental practices, however, we believe every little choice counts.
It’s not about perfection, it’s about each of us contributing.
Sometimes it’s all too convenient to let wasteful day to day behaviour slide and so here are some ideas to encourage you to make small choices for the better whenever possible. This blog will provide you with some sustainability tips for Florists and Flower Lovers.
1. Opt for Locally Grown Over Imported Flowers
You’ve likely heard of “food miles”, well this is being aware of the same concept but with flowers. The distance travelled for those flowers to get to you from international locations adds to your business’ impact on the earth, or your impact as a customer.
Another thing to consider is generally imported flowers need to be sprayed with extremely toxic chemicals to be allowed into Australia (and many other countries with strict biosecurity). Not only is this another step that’s not great for the planet, it’s pretty poor for your health too!
If you’re a florist, consider setting yourself a ratio goal of Australia:International to stick by when ordering and purchasing wholesale. And if you’re a consumer, ask your florist where their flowers are grown.
Regardless of location, always remember to wash your hands well after handling flowers grown with chemicals.
2. Choose Paper or Unwrapped Flowers
Support your growers, suppliers and florists that wrap their blooms in recycled, standard paper or unwrapped rather than in single use plastic sleeves.
When making your order with suppliers, request if possible, for no or minimal plastic wrapping.
If you’re a floral customer, ask your florist for paper or recyclable wrapping and request that no floral foam is used for wet packing.
We use thick white kraft paper that can be recycled and have a unique gift option for pretty seeded cards you can plant to grow daisies!
3. Recycle Soft Plastics
This is a controversial one. We understand, and I also question myself what actually happens to the soft plastics we recycle?
However, I still feel even if it’s just a little bit that ends up being reused it’s far better than none! I take my plastics to Coles or Woolworths supermarkets.
To find your local soft plastics recycling station, simply Google in your area.
4. Use Your Green Bin for Flower & Foliage Waste
In many areas of the world, green waste is collected and turned into mulch and compost.
Be sure to take out any plastic scraps, tape or rubber bands. It’s a small change you can make for bigger, long-term impacts.
5. Reuse Water Vials, Rubber Bands & Ribbons
At Esme Fleur, we only occasionally purchase water vials and never purchase new rubber bands. Saving even some of these that come bundling your wholesale flowers is not only consuming less as a business, but almost more cost effective for you.
If you receive a bunch of flowers, you can reuse the ribbons, keep the rubber bands and recycle the papers!