Five Reasons Sustainable Flowers Blow Real Ones Away
Giving someone flowers has become the symbol of love, commitment, sympathy, and concern for many occasions and cultures. According to recent statistics, the floral industry made $8.6 billion in 2023, which means that it increased by 3.9% year to year. Although roses have become a tradition, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is a good one. These are reasons that you should forgo the nonsustainable choice, and give the sustainable flower that keeps on giving.
1. Real Flowers are Not Environmentally Sound
Not many people understand how the floral industry’s practices impact the environment. It is important to know how your gift to a loved one affects the planet as a whole. Many of the imported cut flowers in the industry are flown hundreds to thousands of miles on airplanes. Most flowers come from Colombia and Ecuador. Columbia, alone, estimated that they sold 660 million stems in 2020. That means transporting flowers to the average gift-giver requires a great carbon footprint.
2. Chemical Contaminants
Many of the flowers grown are in industrial greenhouses and high altitudes. These greenhouses control disease, humidity issues, and pests. Floral farms can take up as many as 500 acres, which equates to chemical runoff to surrounding areas and high water consumption. There are some drought-stricken areas where most of the water needed for surrounding communities goes to flower greenhouses instead of where needed.
3. Top Pollutants Like Chemicals and Carbon Emissions for Transport
Not only do fresh-cut flowers have to be flown globally, leading to carbon emissions, but they are also transported up to as many as 6000 miles on refrigerated planes. That is environmentally damaging. When you count up the traffic on average days alongside peak ones like Valentine’s Day, that equals about 78,000 cars driven for an entire year in transport pollution.
4. Heated Greenhouses Are Sometimes Necessary
Flowers are not only grown in tepid climates; they are grown in greenhouses that have to be heated. That requires a lot of electricity, and energy, which can lead to high carbon dioxide levels. Once more, in less growth-conducive areas, the flowers might also require more chemicals to flourish properly. Statistics tell us that the carbon footprint for floral growers in the US can be as much as 5.5 times greater than in warmer climates.
5. People Living Around Greenhouses and Growers Pay the Price
There is no doubt that flowers are beautiful and can make someone’s day, but at what cost? Estimates tell us that floral employees and surrounding communities are exposed to toxins in insecticides and fertilizers, which hurts everyone’s health.
Why Our Gold Roses Are the Answer
Flowers are delicate, unique, and uplifting, but when you consider what natural cut ones do to the environment, you might think twice about giving them. The good news is we have a solution. Our gold roses are cut flowers that you can give to someone that last forever. They are way more sustainable, leave fewer environmental impacts in the growing process, and are a lasting gift to give someone you love.
If you want to tell someone how much they mean to you, flowers are a perfect idea. Instead of contributing to pollution and the environmental impact of fresh cut flowers, invest in something that will last longer, and not in terms of your carbon footprint. Select from our gold and silver roses and accessories to make someone’s day, not just for one day, but forever. Check out all of the options we have to cheer up your loved one today!