Sustainability In The Flower Industry

Sustainability is a hot topic for businesses around the globe, and that’s no different for the flower industry. We all have a responsibility to combat climate change where possible, even if it means altering our day-to-day habits.

In 2018, the UK market for cut flowers and ornamental plants was worth £1.3 billion, and about 90% of these were imported. That’s a large scale of production, a lot of travel and tonnes of packaging. So, what steps can we take to reduce that carbon footprint?

At Lily’s House London, we want to share what we’re doing to become more sustainable, and explain why going faux could help you do the same.

Our efforts

We know it’s not a competition, but we like to think that our green initiatives go a little further than others. Unlike many in the industry, the materials we use in packaging and production are either recyclable or biodegradable. We’ve swapped the bubble wrap, polystyrene and plastic for paper, and use silk to craft our flowers. 

Lots of faux flower outlets still use floral foam, but, while it may be effective at holding arrangements in place, it offers no environmental benefits. In fact, as well as being non-biodegradable and non-recyclable, it’s actually considerably toxic. That’s why we’ve opted for the more sustainable option: agra wool foam.

This non-traditional form of floral foam has been on the market for around a year and, as of yet, isn’t well known among flower enthusiasts. It’s green (so to speak), completely biodegradable and, when working with fresh blooms, absorbs water in the exact same way as floral foam. 

And there are other products we’re keen on incorporating too, such as the pin frog and chicken wire. The pin frog has been around for a number of years and pre-dates even floral foam, while chicken wire is estimated to have first been used in the flower industry in the 19th century! Both items are extremely effective at holding arrangements in place – visit our Instagram to see how they can work for your displays.

Of course we’re not perfect. In an ideal world we’d be 100% sustainable, but if we all do a little, then we can make lots of positive changes. That’s why we’re constantly on the lookout for new products and developments that boost sustainability without affecting the quality of our service.

Fresh vs faux

As the saying goes, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. There’s always room for fresh flowers at Lily’s House London, and that’s actually where we get a lot of our inspiration. But for the sake of sustainability, here’s some healthy comparisons and tips to help you enjoy the best of both worlds.

Generally speaking, the artificial equivalents are without doubt more eco-friendly – if they’re looked after properly, can last forever! A fresh bouquet, on the other hand, has a much shorter shelf life. And if you’re flower crazy like us, then constantly replacing them only means another cycle of production, packaging and transport. 

That being said, more and more florists are now sourcing locally grown flowers, so keep an eye out for those! Or better yet, why not work some faux stems into your arrangements?

Love from Lily’s House London

Just like flowers, by adapting to the slightest changes around us, we can continue to function and flourish. Keep an eye on our blog page for updates on how we’re altering what we use to become more sustainable.