Blooming Responsibly
In an era of increasing environmental consciousness, choosing a sustainable florist for your wedding day has become more important than ever. Your floral choices can have a significant impact on the global environment and local ecosystems, but with so many businesses using sustainability and the environment as a marketing topic how can you avoid green-washing? Here's what to look for when seeking an eco-friendly florist who combines beauty with environmental responsibility.
Image by David Grant Simpson
Local and Seasonal Sourcing
The most sustainable florists prioritise locally grown flowers as imported flowers have usually been flown to the UK from countries around the world from as far afield as Kenya, South Africa, Holland, Ecuador and Columbia. This means each wrap of flowers carries a large carbon footprint – the equivalent of the flight to get those flowers from their home country to the UK. Flowers are often treated with chemicals to meet strict controls for transporting natural products between countries. Look for businesses that:
- Source flowers from local farms within a 100-mile radius or grow their own flowers
- Offer seasonal blooms rather than the same flower varieties all year round
- Support local agricultural communities and reduce long-distance shipping – are they a member of a community like Flowers from the Farm?
- Remember that seasonal does not mean “seasonal colours” but rather those flowers are blooming locally at the time of your event. Question your florist about what they mean by “seasonal flowers”
-Be prepared to alter your wedding flowers to the time of year – not all flowers bloom year- round so if you’re getting married in October for example locally grown peonies will not be available.
Image by Mack Photo
Organic and Chemical-Free Practices
Sustainable floristry and flower farming go beyond just selling flowers. Investigate florists and flower farms who:
- Use organic growing methods without pesticides or harmful chemicals
- Practice natural pest control techniques
- Avoid floral treatments that can harm pollinators and soil ecosystems
- Provide transparency about their growing and handling practices
- Avoid dyed, bleached, painted or chemically treated and preserved flowers (many of the brighter coloured dried flowers in fashion right now have been treated with harmful chemicals).
Image by Joy Story Photo
Waste Reduction Strategies
Examine how potential florists handle waste and packaging, also consider how you will deal with the flowers after your wedding – can you compost them or gift them to hospices and care homes?:
- Use biodegradable or recyclable packaging materials
- Offer composting services for floral waste
- Minimise single-use plastics in all designs such as bouquet wrapping and transportation
Image by Lorraine Ross Photography
Innovative Eco-Friendly Alternatives
Forward-thinking sustainable florists often explore innovative approaches:
- Provide rental or reusable vase options
- Suggest ways designs can be re-purposed throughout the wedding day
- Avoid the use of Oasis or other brands of floral foam as this is a single-use plastic and highly damaging to aquatic ecosystems.
- Reduce the use of other single-use plastics as much as possible ie cable ties, vase inserts, test tubes
Image by Joy Story Photo
Transparency
Credible sustainable florists will:
- Openly share their sustainability practices
- Be able to provide information about flower origins
- Demonstrate commitment through concrete actions, not just marketing or green-washing
- Educate customers about sustainable floral choices
- Be honest about having to sometimes make unsustainable choices to fulfil your order so that you can decide whether you still want to go ahead.
Image by Jo + Liam Photography
Making Your Choice
When selecting a sustainable florist, ask questions. A genuinely eco-conscious florist will be transparent, passionate, and eager to discuss their environmental commitments.
By choosing a sustainable florist, you're not just buying flowers—you're supporting a more environmentally responsible approach to beauty, agriculture, and global commerce. You can choose flowers naturally in bloom at the time of your wedding which will reduce the carbon footprint of the wedding by minimising long-distance transportation and will support a web of small businesses in the local community. If you are passionate about sustainability directly discuss sustainability goals with your florist, but be realistic about what is possible using a seasonal and natural product at the time of year you are getting married.