Read on to find out more about what we can all do to save the earth!

Flowers are fabulous! They are natural, they smell good, there are endless colour combinations and variations that leave us in awe. What's not to love? But, what about the mechanics florists use to create wedding or funeral designs? Are they good for the environment? And are we all doing enough to be 'earth-friendly?'

What is bio-degradable? - well, basically, it means that a natural 'material' - whatever that happens to be - can break down naturally into the earth. So, depending on what that 'material' is .. how long does it take to break down? The answer to this question is .. it can take a very very long time!

Oasis green foam image courtesy of Smithers Oasis

For something to be classed as bio-degradable it has to completely degrade into landfill within 365 days. Most landfills use chemicals to make a product or material degrade, and of course the ideal scenario would be not use chemicals at all.

The standard floristry Oasis foam - which is green in colour - is used in many floral designs, particularly for weddings and funerals which tend to be heavily foam-based - and more than 80 kilotons of foam and plastic go to landfill from crematoriums alone each year. This particular foam takes over 100 years to bio-degrade or break down. Until quite recently many of us failed to question what this floral foam was made from, or what happens to it when it is thrown away. There is a real concern that plastic particles from this foam will leak into our water systems and eventually affect marine life. Many of the sea creatures we love - fishes, turtles, whales and also birds - die because of the plastic which is suffocating our seas.

The Oasis Bio foam which is brown in colour - was launched in 2018, this apparently takes 567 days to completely bio-degrade. There is currently no floral foam available on the market which bio-degrades within a year (at the time of writing this June 2018). However Oasis are currently working on producing a foam product that will. UPDATE **Since writing this blog - in May 2021, Oasis launched ‘Fibre Floral’ (TM) which we are lead to believe is a bio-degradable alternative foam. We are currently testing this product before using in our commercial designs, to see how the flowers withstand over 24 hours**

So .. what is 'eco-friendly'? Well, it means earth-friendly, ie. being kind to the earth. For example, in floristry, we can re-use some materials and mechanics within our flower designs, such as; water, recycled items from junk shops such as antique glass or other containers, jam jars or urns, in fact, anything which we can re-use again and again. Another re-useable product is chicken wire - which can be moulded into a container - and is useful for poking stems through (this was how florists first created designs before Oasis foam was created in the 1950's).

Other bio-degradable designs can use twig structures, moss, sand, compressed palm leaf vessels, and even fruit or vegetables can be used instead of foam, although having tried these, I wouldn’t recommend, due to the ethylene gas fruit produces, which decays flowers quicker.

Mechanics using willow, moss and muehlenbeckia complexa

Bio-degradable products other than moss - NOTE: it is illegal to collect moss unless on your own land! - are natural plants such as the muehlenbeckia plant (don't ask me to pronounce that!) and is great for creating a nest like 'container' with a base, also willow, string (check the string is bio-degradable, not all string is, surprisingly!) or raffia can be used.

Design using British flowers, moss and wood

Ask your florist if they use floral foam or plastics in their designs, and if they currently do, request if they can use different mechanics which are kind to the earth .. some of which I have already mentioned.

Also, think about the containers used for your wedding reception tables; ask your florist if they are able to deliver and display your flowers in glass or wood containers, these can then be re-used as gifts after the wedding to key member of the wedding party. Use potted succulents or herb plants instead of cut flowers as centrepieces, after the wedding these can be planted in the garden. Another idea is to purchase bay trees and jasmine or rose arches for the ceremony decoration, which can be replanted into the garden.

We understand you may baulk at the throwaway nature of wedding flowers, especially if you are paying a big price for them. So the best way to reduce the cost is to choose British and seasonal flowers, which are locally grown. This will dramatically minimise the carbon footprint of importing out of season flowers from Holland or elsewhere.

Flowers from the Farm is a network of farmers, gardeners and small scale growers bringing you the best variety and high quality British flowers, here is the link! www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk you can navigate by choosing the type of flowers you are looking for, or use the growers' map to find a flower farm near you. Ask your wedding florist if they will visit with you to choose the best flowers. It is worth mentioning that the British flower season is usually around April-October, so bear this in mind if you are getting married in the winter months.

Bridal bouquet using British dried flowers

Another idea to consider is British dried flowers for your wedding - they are becoming really popular with couples to create the 'Boho' style - many retail florists now sell ready-made dried bridal bouquets and buttonholes, and also wedding florists are using them either on their own or mixed with fresh flowers - so it is really worth asking your florist if they will use dried instead of fresh. The added bonus is you can keep these flowers forever!

When we mention the environment, it is sometimes difficult to find the right tone, it is easier to be defensive, and to feel hopeless about it, we don't like change, and have a tendency to turn away from the truth when it makes us feel overwhelmed or ashamed, but let's all consider making at least a small change .. by starting to reduce as much of our plastics, cellophane as possible and supporting the sustainable florists .. after all .. its a start, right?