Guest Blog: sustainable Floristry from fran @The Yard & co.
Sustainability. In this instance, the “avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.” It also happens to be the hottest buzzword for brands and companies around the world, as consumers become (to quote the kids) more ‘woke’ to the notion that our planet is suffering. And, as I sit down to write this article to contemplate the implications on the floristry and events industry, I feel nothing but dread and anxiety. I overwhelmed with a sense of foreboding and left wondering why the hell I work in this industry at all, especially when the magnitude of waste created is unfathomable.
Here are some frightening statistics:
Over the last ten years, we have produced more plastic than during the whole of the last century EcoWatch.com
It takes 500-1000 years for plastics, including the renowned Oasis Foam that most florists use, to biodegrade EcoWatch.com
8 million tonnes of plastic are being dumped into our oceans every year Marineconservation.org.au
As a citizen of the planet Earth, I think I do my bit. I take my keep cup to the cafe when purchasing my coffee, I take my reusable bags to the supermarket when buying groceries, and I try to walk to my destination whenever I can. However, I also know this is not enough. I was inspired to write this article because of the incredible initiative from the Plastic-Free Foundation that encourages people to go plastic-free during July. Feels like quite an achievable goal. It’s an incredible idea with so much awareness raised.
And so, I have made the decision that I don't just want to make a difference in my personal life and in my home, I want to ensure that sustainable practices and the reduction of waste is at the forefront of my business principles.
However, this is not as easy as it may sound.
The majority of flowers for sale at Sydney Flower Markets (the mecca of flowers for Sydney-based florists) are wrapped in plastic. What is even scarier is that the uber-expensive flowers, such as orchids, are individually wrapped in non-biodegradable plastic. Think about the flowers you see in supermarkets or servos - all wrapped in cellophane - a non-biodegradable plastic. In addition, it is an industry “norm” to secure flowers in water or in bespoke installations such as arches, ceiling hangings, or bridal tables, in floral foam. This is popularly known as Oasis Foam (Oasis being the lead manufacturer). Floral foam is a synthetic plastic that is not bio-degradable and can last for thousands of years. But, it doesn’t have to be like this. We as an industry can make simple changes to reduce wastage
I don’t claim to be 100% foam-free, as there are situations and time restrictions which mean I have limited alternative options, but I am certainly doing my very best to avoid the ogre of Oasis. For example, rather than using foam I use chicken wire and alternative solutions for the majority of my installations, whether it be in vessels, vases, arch structures, etc. It can be done! It definitely takes more planning and preparation, but it is vital we all raise awareness of these practices. In recent months I have seen more and more eco weddings popping up on my Insta-feed and Pinterest boards indicating that people are slowing rethinking their weddings, events and even their everyday purchases with trying to reduce plastic use in mind.
If you’re struggling for inspiration and want some easy tips on how to be more sustainable, check these out:
♡Always seek to buy flowers wrapped in paper rather than plastic
♡Buy SEASONAL flowers from local growers, rather than buying flowers imported from overseas.
♡Love local. Australian natives are grown right here in AU. They last much longer and are therefore far more sustainable
♡Dried and preserved flowers, such as cotton, palms, paper daisies all last months (sometimes years) and are a much more economical way of buying flowers. Check out the new dried flower options on my website theyardandco.com/shop
♡Avoid, and this is a big one, using flower foam - instead use chicken wire, vessels and vials, instead. The result? Less waste, less environmental impact, greater sustainability and an enormous sense of achievement
♡Check out the #nofloralfoam hashtag used on Instagram and Facebook to promote florists and stylists that create arrangements and installations without the use of floral foam.
♡Bride-to-Be? This one is for you…
Check out Perpetual Blooms - they will deconstruct your wedding flowers and repurpose them by using them to create smaller bundles/bouquets and give them to hospitals, charities, women’s shelters, WIN, WIN. And you also will feel like you are making a difference to others.
Before I wrap this blog entry up, I should caveat that it’s not all doom and gloom. We have hope. Hope that we can turn things around and hope we can end this, seemingly endless, plastic epidemic. Hope that I can influence just one person that reads this so that they can also make a small but significant change. We have the opportunity to change things today and all it takes is a can-do attitude, rather than the attitude I often hear - “I can’t make a difference!”
I hope this has provided a small insight into how we can make a change, both when buying flowers for the home and also for when we are hosting those special celebrations. I am hoping we can all band together and do our bit for ourselves, our future, and our children’s future.
Fran