How sustainable is gifting flowers?

Flowers have long been a symbol of love, celebration, and appreciation. However, have you ever considered the environmental impact behind this classic gift choice? While flowers bring beauty to our lives, their production, packaging and transportation can come with significant environmental footprint. Here's why it might be time to rethink gifting flowers and explore some more sustainable alternatives.

Why giving flowers might be harmful

Carbon emissions

As much as 50% of all flowers sold in Australia are imported(1). These flowers often travel long distances, sometimes from farms in countries like Kenya, Ecuador and Malaysia results in high carbon emissions. Refrigeration is also required to ensure they remain fresh adding to their carbon emission contribution.

Image: More than 50% of flowers sold in Australia are imported.

Excessive or wasteful packaging

Flowers that are transported from farm to florist can come with significant amounts of packaging, some of which is unnecessary and non-recyclable. This can come in the form of plastic wraps, foam inserts, and bulky plastic sleeves, much of which ends up in landfills. They are also often individually wrapped to protect them during their long journey, further increasing the use of plastic.

Moreover, depending on the options, more materials such as tape, paper and ribbons are used to turn the flowers into a bouquet.

florist wrapping a bouquet in paper and ribbons — Image: Florist preparing a bouquet with paper and ribbons

Chemicals and pesticides

When flowers are imported, we have little control over where they were grown, the local regulations and the practices of the flower farm they originated from. Incorrect use of pesticides is a common issue and since our customs are strict with pests, flower growers may feel the need to overuse pesticide on production areas(2).

In addition to that, Australian biosecurity regulations require certain flowers and foliage, including roses, chrysanthemums and carnations, to be soaked in the herbicide for 20 minutes(3) to clear import requirements, which means that the imported flowers we bring home can be full of chemicals and toxins.

Sustainable alternatives to gifting flowers

Buy native or locally grown flowers

Native flowers are better suited to the local climate, meaning they require less water, fertiliser and pesticides. By supporting local growers, not only do you reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation, but local flowers also don’t have to be doused in chemicals to meet stringent biosecurity regulations, making them a healthier and more sustainable option.

Image: Australian natives and locally grown flowers

Shop from sustainable florists

There are many florists today that are conscious of the environmental and ethical implications of their products. Look for florists that offer organic or pesticide-free flowers. You can also ask florists for transparency about the sourcing of their flowers, making sure that they source their flowers from local, eco-conscious farms. Aside from that, consider florists who have more sustainable options for packaging, such as newspaper wrapping or reused hessian bags, instead of plastic.

Avoid plastic and excess packaging

In addition to choosing more sustainable florists, avoid single-use plastic. Choose to have your flowers wrapped in paper or reused hessian bags as mentioned above, or better yet, skip the packaging entirely and bring a reusable vase that can be part of your gift.

Gift a house plant or a potted plant

Another great option is gifting a potted plant rather than cut flowers. Potted plants have a much longer lifespan and, with the proper care, can thrive for years. Unlike cut flowers, which wither after a few days, potted plants can continue to provide joy and beauty long after the occasion.

Try growing your own flowers

Why not consider growing your own flowers? If you have the time, space, and interest, planting your own flower garden is a rewarding and sustainable option. You can start with some local varieties that are well-suited for all parts of Australia, like banksias and hakeas.

Not only do you get to enjoy the process of nurturing your plants, but you can also ensure that they are grown organically without harmful chemicals. Plus, you’ll have a beautiful selection of flowers to gift whenever you like.

Rethink flower gifting

While flowers are a timeless and thoughtful gift, it's important that we consider where the flowers we buy comes from and their environmental impact. Gifting flowers can still be a great gift if we source them sustainably, but there are also many other sustainable and thoughtful options that we can consider the next time we're thinking of celebrating that special someone in our lives.

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