Beetroot and Bamboo may be culinary delights, but they are also part of the armoury to make sure that as much of what the flower industry uses is as sustainable as it can be.
In the case of Clayrtons, a leading French packaging supplier who is one of the acknowledged leaders in environmentally friendly packaging, they’ve developed a 100% recyclable wrap made from 80% paper fibre and 20% beet waste.
And whilst ‘Naked Bouquet’ delivery is being increasingly adopted by florists who want to reduce their packaging, when it is needed there are a whole host of other options like biodegradable film and recyclable cardboard boxes.
Bamboo is another major element in the mix. There are concerns, mostly surrounding deforestation, and worker conditions, but if responsibly sourced it is still better than plastic and why so many florists are switching to bamboo card picks, pins and stakes … there are even biodegradable cable ties.
And it doesn’t stop there. Be it the vans used for deliveries, the power supply chosen to switch the lights on (LED lighting is now extensively used by both European growers and shop owners) or making sure the flowers and plants come from an accredited supplier, the whole flower chain is doing its best.
The problem with all these alternatives is the cost. Currently the best, most environmentally friendly products are more expensive, sometimes dramatically so, and in an increasingly challenging commercial environment that matters too.
Unless consumers are willing to pay the premium the onus falls on the supplier to absorb the cost which can be hard. Which is why many florists are now offering ‘sustainable collections’ to allow customers to make the choice based on their own beliefs and financial abilities.
Because some people simply can’t afford to be completely ‘green’, plus there is a danger that claims are made that cannot be substantiated. That’s why the EU is introducing a ban on some of the buzz words being bandied about and why we are putting them in quote marks!! Because phrases like Carbon-neutral, Carbon-natural, Green and Eco can be at best misleading, at worst completely wrong.
Here in the UK the Government run Competition and Markets Authority are overseeing a similar plan, the whole purpose being to stop companies making spurious claims about the ‘good’ their product or services may have.
In the flower industry spurious claims are few and far between. Yes, you can search the internet and find some very old shock horror stories – many of which have not been substantiated – but as a sector, which is often an ‘easy’ target for negative press, the truth is that there is a whole lot of good being done and that it is most definitely an ongoing process.
