What is sustainable floristry?
Photo by Elise Marie Photography
It’s been so exciting to see sustainability becoming a major discussion in the floral industry over the past few years and a priority for many florists, including myself. I see sustainability as a practice, something that I will be continuously working on throughout my career. It’s absolutely a journey, and no judgment towards anyone that’s just at the beginning!! It seems hard to make changes when you’ve been doing this for a while or even just getting started, but I promise you that it’s worth it, and has not made running my business any more challenging than normal haha. Read on for some of the ways I prioritize sustainability within my work!
Reusable + biodegradable mechanics
Mechanics are the techniques and tools used to craft all floral designs. Things like the structure of a container arrangement or the wire and tape used to make a boutonnière are some examples. Floral foam has been a standard mechanic in the industry since the 1960s, but it’s also unfortunately a single-use plastic that does not biodegrade. I avoid floral foam altogether in my work, and have done so since I started HQS FLORAL. Alternative mechanics that I use include:
Prepping containers in the studio using chicken wire and Oshun pouches. Also featuring some thrifted vases!
Chicken wire: My preferred choice for container arrangements and installations. Typically paired with moss to add structure and moisture. Can be cleaned and reused endlessly.
Kenzan: Also known as pin-frogs. These are excellent for bowls and other low vessels. They are quite pricey so I typically only use them in rental containers. Incredibly sturdy, these will last a lifetime if taken care of.
Water picks: Perfect for keeping individual stems hydrated in installations. These are usually plastic but there is now a biodegradable option that I’m in the process of switching over to. The plastic variety can be washed and reused over and over again.
Biodegradable floral foam alternatives: Home compostable Agrawool and Oshun pouches are newer options that I’ve incorporated into my toolkit, mainly for arch flowers and installations.
Additionally, I encourage clients to return containers, chicken wire, and other mechanics after events so I can reuse them in future designs. Opting to rent containers from your florist is also a great way to save a bit of money and avoid having 45 vases to deal with after your wedding ;-)
Sourcing flowers
I absolutely love working with local, Alberta-grown flowers! I’m a florist member of the Cooperative Flower Network, an Edmonton-based community of growers that sell to florists. Of course, being located in central Alberta means that we’re limited in what flowers can be grown, as well as our short growing season. While it’s not feasible for me to work with 100% local flowers, I try to source as many blooms as possible from Canadian farms to help reduce my carbon footprint. If you’re interested in reading more about how I source flowers, I did a deep dive in this blog post :-)
Dyed, painted, or bleached florals are another tricky aspect of sustainability in floristry. While they can produce some stunning results, these treatments can often render an otherwise compostable product non-biodegradable, depending on the dyes used. Dyed florals can also stain hands or clothes! For these reasons, I avoid dyed and bleached products in my work.
Giving your florist flexibility in the types of flowers they use for your wedding or event can also allow them to use more local flowers, as flower availability can vary way more with smaller farms.
Strawberries and cream dahlias grown by Sunshine Blooms Farm
Bee balm grown by Blooms on 7
Education + resources
There’s always more to learn and unlearn when it comes to sustainability. I’m always exploring new compostable mechanics, and finding ways to reduce single-use plastics in packaging (I’d estimate that my packaging is 90% reused!).
In my classes and workshops, I always teach sustainable floristry practices, encouraging my students to use reusable or low-waste mechanics. You’ll never find a block of floral foam in my classes! If you’re interested in learning with me, you can find more information about my public and private workshops here.
This was a very quick overview of my sustainable practices, but there are so many amazing resources out there that are way more in depth if you’re interested in learning more! I recommend checking out:
If all this sustainability talk made you excited about planning a more eco-friendly wedding, I’d love to chat with you! More information about HQS FLORAL weddings can be found here.
Photo by Elise Marie Photography
C + K’s early September wedding featured almost entirely AB-grown flowers!
About HQS FLORAL
Photo by Evangeline Belzile
Hey! I’m Hannah, owner, lead designer, and the hqs in HQS FLORAL. I’ve been working in the floral industry since 2013, mainly in retail flower shops before starting my own business in 2021. My focus is on creating artfully arranged florals for weddings and special events in Edmonton, Alberta and beyond, specializing in elevated colour palettes and texture-forward details, always with sustainability in mind. I also love sharing my skills and the joy of floral design through workshops! Read more about me here <3