Our Editor’s Favourite Sustainable Florists from around the Globe

ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE AND WE HAVE JUST THE BOUQUET THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU! IT’S A CLICHÉ BUT SENDING FLOWERS ON VALENTINE’S DAY IS ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO REMIND SOMEONE JUST HOW MUCH YOU CARE. FROM TRADITIONAL ROSES TO SOME SHOW STOPPING ARRANGEMENTS, WE’VE CURATED A RANGE OF SUSTAINABLE FLORISTS AROUND THE WORLD FOR YOU.

words HOLLY KELSEY
creative direction SARAH MARIE FRANKEN
imagery COURTESY OF THE BRANDS & ANDREW DAY

But first things first, let’s talk about what makes flowers sustainable. Here’s our list of five things to keep in mind when shopping for sustainable bouquets.

What makes flowers sustainable

01 - GO FOR SEASONAL FLOWERS

Buying flowers that are in season is great, as otherwise they are imported from other countries. During transport they have to be constantly refrigerated and are often treated with preservatives to extend their lifespan. Having flowers shipped in airplanes then stored in warehouses and storage rooms all requires a lot more energy than flowers grown close by.

02 - SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS

It’s better to support a local florist near you. This means less carbon emissions from importing flowers from somewhere far away. The majority of flowers in the US are imported from Columbia and Ecuador. Florists that sell flowers from local sellers have a lower carbon footprint.

03 - AVOID PLASTIC PACKAGING

If a florist chooses paper packaging over plastic it’s a sign that he cares to do his part in reducing waste. Florists who use paper, recycled or biodegradable packaging are better to choose from. If you’re in your local flower shop make sure you ask them to only use paper to wrap your bouquet.

04 - AS PESTICIDE FREE AS POSSIBLE

Look for florists who are organic and use as little pesticides or fertilisers as possible. Those often have a bad impact on the soil and the farmers.

05 - LOOK OUT FOR CERTIFICATIONS

If your flowers have a label saying they are Fair Trade certified this means that they were farmed in fair working conditions, that the workers who grow them are paid fairly and have safe working environments.

OUR FAVOURITE SUSTAINABLE FLORISTS

FROM EUROPE AND THE UK

01 / Arena Flowers
Delivering areas: UK (based in London)
Long story short: Arena Flowers haven’t used plastic since 2017 and they rated 100 out of 100 on the Ethical Company Index Score. We love the Ravishing Red Roses, they are sure to make an impression and are the most classic choice for Valentine’s Day. Bonus: they offer next day delivery.
— Shop here

02 / Bloom and Wild
Delivering areas: UK, Ireland, Austria, Germany (based in UK)
Long story short: Bloom and Wild are completely carbon neutral and use 100% recyclable packaging. They’ve also launched a range of plant pots made from recycled ocean plastics. We thought the Santiago bouquet was wonderful from its subtle colours and the combination of roses and calla lilies.
— Shop here

03 / Bergamotte
Delivering areas: France (based in Levallois-Perret)
Long story short: They are the French partner of Bloom and Wild. All their flowers are sources from the Netherlands. Their roses are from a little Dutch family farm near The Hague. Bergamotte also partner with ‘Un Toit Pour les Abeilles’ who protect and preserve bees, they’ve installed over 10,000 beehives. We found the Belem bouquet very sophisticated with its regal colours.
— Shop here

04 / By Bloom
Delivering areas: UK Mainland (based in London)
Long story short: By Bloom sources their flowers from growers in both Europe & England. They have no flower waste and no plastic packaging. We chose the Sweet Avalanche Roses, classic choice that will bring a smile to anyone’s face.
— Shop here

05 / Bloomy Days
Delivering areas: Germany (based in Berlin)
Long story short: Not all Bloomy Days flowers are Fair Trade, but they have a section on Fair Trade flowers. They offer a subscription service so you can get seasonal flowers each month, which is also a great gift to give. We adore the creme colour roses from their Fair Trade section which radiate elegance.
— Shop here

06 / Blumenpost
Delivering areas: Switzerland (based in Zuerich)
Long story short: Blumenpost only use seasonal and local flowers from regional farmers. For their packaging thei use recyclable and compostable materials. Plus they do not waste any flowers as they only harvest what customers order. The seasonal bouquet is always a lovely surprise to which flowers you’re going to get.
— Shop here

07 / The Flower Family
Delivering areas: Netherlands (based in Amsterdam)
Long story short: The Flower Family flowers come directly from Dutch growers who all cultivate in a sustainable way. They use biological pesticides as much as possible and use water and energy in a circular manner. Their lovely bouquets are arranged by people with a disadvantage in the labor market whether that’s physical or mental disabilities, as well as refugees.
— Shop here

08 / Mirai
Delivering areas: EU (based in Bologna)
Long story short: Olena Vlasenko founded Mirai in Italy after seeing images of the destruction of unsold flowers around the world. She wanted to find a sustainable solution. Mirai creates naturally preserved flowers that are treated with a plant-based, biodegradable and non-toxic preservation liquid that will last for over a year. We loved the Elisa arrangement with its elegant style and charming colours.
— Shop here

FROM THE UNITED STATES

01 / Molly Oliver Flowers
Delivering areas: New York City (based in Brooklyn)
Long story short: Molly’s flowers source from local flower farmers within 200 miles of NYC who have a strong focus on promoting soil health and sustainable practices. They partner with Terra-cycle which helps recycle and repurpose items that cannot usually be recycled. Molly’s flowers also do weekly and monthly subscription services. They only do seasonal flowers so the types of flowers depend on which month you order them in.
— Shop here

02 / Field Trip Flowers
Delivering areas: New York City (based in Brooklyn)
Long story short: Field Trip Flowers is a Brooklyn based florist who do fresh flowers, dried flowers, and one-of-a-kind arrangements. They use recyclable and biodegradable packaging and they only work with flower growers in the US.
— Shop here

03 / From Cabana
Delivering areas: California (based in Newport Beach)
Long story short: Founded by Nolwenn who is from Brittany (France) set up From Cabana as she was always looking for French style arrangements in California. From Cabana only use US-grown flowers and all the packaging is eco-friendly and with no plastic. We love their bouquet of the week option with seasonal flowers from US farms.
— Shop here

04 / Little Acre Flowers
Delivering areas: Washington DC, parts of Maryland + Northern Virginia (based in Washington DC)
Long story short: Little Acre Flowers has only locally sourced and seasonal bouquets. For wrapping their bouquets they use repurposed, burlap coffee sack from a local roaster.
— Shop here

Further Reading