Flowers and sustainability
How to make the right choices for the planet when it comes to flowers and floristry in the UK
Fresh flowers bring joy, beauty, and colour into our homes and celebrations. But behind the blooms, the flower industry can have a big environmental footprint — from air-freighted imports to plastic waste. The good news? There are simple ways you can enjoy flowers more sustainably and support greener floristry in the UK.
1. Choose local and seasonal flowers
Imported flowers often travel thousands of miles before reaching a vase. For this reason many are sprayed with chemical presrvatives to help them survive the journey. By choosing flowers that are grown in the UK, you’ll reduce transport emissions and enjoy blooms that are naturally in season often grown with far less (or even zero) use of fertilisers and pesticides.
2. Look for trusted industry bodies.
Schemes like Flowers from the Farm champion British-grown flowers and sustainable floristry. Checking for membership or asking your florist about their sourcing helps you make informed choices. Through the Flowers from the Farm website florists/individuals can find their most local growers and buy fresh blooms direct from the farm. Have a look and you may be surprised how close your nearest grower is!
You can also look for organic status through OF&G or the The Soil Association but bear in mind that for many small growers (myself included) it is not financially viable to be accredited even though we are growing organically.
3. Say no to floral foam
Floral foam may be a staple in traditional arrangements, but it’s a single-use plastic that breaks down into harmful microplastics. Even the new so called ‘bio foams’ are no better, releasing toxic compounds meaning they should never be sent for composting and only ever to landfill much like their predecessor. Many eco-conscious florists now design stunning arrangements without it — using reusable mechanics, moss, or chicken wire instead. Always ask your florist to create foam free designs.
The Farewell Flowers Directory exists to help you find florists who have signed up to providing foam free, earth friendly designs to combat the huge amount of waste created by traditional funeral flowers.
4. Support sustainable florists
More and more florists in the UK are embracing eco-friendly practices — from composting green waste to reducing packaging and sourcing from ethical growers. Supporting them not only helps the planet but also encourages the whole industry to shift.
Wreath season is approaching, make sure to ask your florist about the materials they use when buying or booking onto a workshop. Willow bases, sustainable moss and binding 100% UK foliage with twine will create stunning designs that can be fully composted.
5. Think before you throw away
When your bouquet starts to fade, don’t rush to bin it. You can press petals, dry stems, or compost flowers to give them a second life. Even small actions help reduce waste. Making your flowers live on makes them better value for money too.
No matter what your budget, by making thoughtful choices — local, seasonal, foam-free, and waste-conscious — you can enjoy flowers that don’t cost the earth.
#SustainableFloristry #EcoFlowers #BritishBlooms #SlowFlowers