Artificial flowers

Are faux flowers more sustainable than fresh cut flowers?

Artificial plants and fake flowers have become an unlikely yet growing (pardon the pun) trend – despite critics assuming their negative environmental impact. Depending on what the artificial flowers are made from, the manufacturing process does of course produce some greenhouse gas emissions. However, fresh flower manufacturers can also often use bleaches and dyes that can be toxic to the environment if not handled properly. The growing of flowers also uses lots of water in places where water supply is scarce. There are pros and cons to both faux and fresh cut flowers so it’s about deciding which work best for you.

Transportation

Most fresh cut flowers are grown overseas in places like South America and Africa where the climate is more suitable for growing flowers all year round. However, these countries also allow for the use of pesticides that are otherwise banned in Europe due to causing various health issues. As flowers are not considered food, farmers can use such pesticides on flowers that will be shipped to Europe. Artificial flower arrangements are also mainly made in overseas factories and shipped globally. However, as they do not have a shelf life, they can be boxed up and stored in cargo containers on ships which produce far less emissions than those that need to be distributed via air travel. One of the biggest issues with fresh cut flowers is transportation and the fact that they must be shipped by air to reach their destination countries. They are then transported in refrigerators to reach their final destinations. Refrigerated vehicle transportation requires more energy and emits more greenhouse gas emissions than a standard vehicle. In the three weeks before Valentine’s Day in 2018, flower deliveries from Colombia to the US alone burned approximately 114 million litres of fuel and emitted 360,000 tonnes of Co2 (Source: International Clean Council on Transportation).

Reusability

Although faux flowers are often made from plastics, it is important to consider their reusability. Depending on the type of flower, fresh cut flowers can last anywhere from 1 – 4 weeks. To have a fresh cut bouquet in your house all the time, you are acquiring toxins, emissions and packaging every time you purchase a new bunch of fresh cut flowers. Artificial arrangements can last for years which not only reduces your carbon footprint but also the cost of having flowers! Not only that, but they can also be rearranged throughout the year to reflect seasonality and create new displays in different rooms throughout the home. Shop our faux flower range here Artificial Flowers.