Use this quick guide to buy flowers as a gift in a way that reduces CO2 emissions, avoids water waste, and still gives a gift that will make someone smile.
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Flowers have long been considered a classic gift for women and for good reason. They can brighten up any room, evoke positive emotions, and serve as a physical reminder of someone’s love and appreciation. This guide explores five ways to shop for flowers sustainably. Use it to know what to look for when shopping for your next plant or bouquet.
Enjoy Farm Fresh and Local
Where are you buying your flowers from? Sourcing from local flower farms means that your flowers have traveled fewer miles and therefore release fewer CO2 emissions. It’s also a helpful way to support your local community. When you’re buying online, source from a local nursery or a supplier that collaborates with local nurseries. If that option isn’t available, opt for suppliers based in your country. Companies like Bouqs make it easy to choose from a wide selection of bouquets and arrangements and offer international delivery to many countries through their local nurseries. This means that you can support local communities and send a thoughtful gift to someone special, no matter where they are in the world.
Go Seasonal for Your Symbol of Love and Appreciation
Giving someone flowers is a time-honored way of expressing love and appreciation. Whether you’re sending flowers to a romantic partner or a friend, they are a physical reminder of your feelings towards them. Certain flowers are traditionally associated with different emotions. For example, red roses are often seen as a symbol of romantic love. Did you know that peonies, carnations, tulips, and orchids are also linked to romantic love?
Depending on where you or your giftee live, certain types of flowers may or may not be in bloom. Seasonal blooms have a lower CO2 footprint because they don’t have to be heated in greenhouses. Instead, they can grow naturally in the environment. Knowing the meanings behind types of flowers allows you to embrace different varieties of flowers that can make for an exciting floral design.
Be Rooted in Kindness
If you’re buying from a website or local nursery, ask, ‘What is their relationship with the flower farms?’ Are workers protected and provided with a fair work environment? What standards do they have for social responsibility? Some nurseries will transparently share this information on their website- what they’re doing now and how they’re working to improve their social responsibility. Transparency is important. Similar to other industries, flower farms have been under scrutiny by human rights groups for human rights violations such as 16-hour-long work days.
When you choose your next bouquet of flowers as a gift, look for certifications like Fairtrade International, Sourced for Good, Rainforest Alliance, and Certified American Grown to ensure that your gift is rooted in kindness and strict labor standards.
Protect Delicate Wildlife
Flowers are a versatile gift that can be given for a wide range of occasions. They’re a classic choice for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and anniversaries, but can also be given as a simple “thinking of you” gesture or as a way to say thank you. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply want to brighten someone’s day, give flowers that grow naturally. These blooms are grown without the use of fertilizers and pesticides that can harm local wildlife, water resources, and even the workers who pick them.
What are the environmental standards? Certifications like Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance also focus on ensuring that flowers are grown and harvested in environmentally responsible ways. Look for these certifications showing that your beautiful blooms meet strict environmental standards.
Decorate Without Plastic
How are your flowers being sent? Sending flowers as a gift has never been easier. And you can ensure that the materials surrounding your flowers are sustainable. Ask your nursery, farm, or florist to avoid single-use materials like plastic or floral foam and send them in reusable vases, wrapped in recyclable paper or buckets.
There are multiple ways to send thoughtful gifts to loved ones that are also environmentally friendly. So why not brighten someone’s day today with a beautiful sustainably-sourced, fair trade, organic, and plastic-free bouquet?