Floral experts talk sustainability this festive season
- Featured Lifestyle
Arushi Sakhuja- 14 minutes read
Arushi Sakhuja
The elegant appeal and scent of fresh flowers rarely cease to impress. From special occasions to weddings and more, the easiest way to add glamour to the mise en scene is an exquisite flower arrangement. Today multiple luxury flower arrangement companies like The Flower Company, Fiorella and Interflora have made their presence felt in most metro cities of India. While there are some old florists like Ferns N Petals that still have their mark in society, newer emerging flower arrangement companies are now taking over the traditional styles of decorations.
The last few years have seen a sudden emergence of multiple luxury florists. Transforming the concept of gifting flowers in a box as compared to the conventional style of bouquets. But it’s not only gifting for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries that increased the presence of these brands, but rather, the use of flowers for extravagant wedding decor as well. From paper packaging for bouquets to glass jars filled with water, The Flower Company is getting innovative with its attention to detail. Aesthetically appealing to the eye, these flower arrangements ooze luxury, making the boxes an ethereal gifting solution.
However, Fiorella goes the extra mile and makes the concept of luxury gifting more opulent with the addition of champagne, personalised alphabet and number arrangements, candles and even the addition of sweet treats turning the flower bouquet into a hamper.
While the arrangments are getting more extravagant, a key question to pose is are the companies really addressing the pressing concern of sustainability?
Flower arrangments and sustainability
In one way yes, with the use of cardboard boxes to present flowers and moving away from the use of plastic packaging. From The Flower Design Company to Interflora and Fiorella, all the leading luxury florists are opting for eco-friendly materials when it comes to packaging. And it is also worth noting that most of these companies reuse and recycle the flowers post an event. Further, another key change for most florists is how they source the flowers. Florists today are leaning more towards sourcing locally grown flowers and foliage. This reduces their carbon footprint, and minimises synthetic chemicals sprayed into the natural environment during transportation. Finally, another trend is the use of chicken wire instead of floral foam.
Flower companies are doing their bit to make a difference and florists today are rethinking ways and venturing towards more sustainable practices in both their design and business model. We spoke to Anuja Joshi of Interflora to get a deeper insight into what the company is doing.
Anuja Joshi, founder of Interflora attributes their boon in India to the fact that they are 100% biodegradable. She further said, “… fresh flowers have beauty and grace that is worth getting lost in.” Flower arrangements provide colour and liveliness to an ambience, especially flowers with vibrant colours, such as pink, red, blue, or yellow, which add a special touch.
If one were to trace the evolution of flower arrangements, we can say that the art of creating floral arrangements has drastically changed over the years. Thanks to the digital age, everything we do is for the gram; be it social events, weddings, or even our own home. It is about creating a vibe that can be enjoyed, feels Anuja. “Floral arrangements used to be just an ‘in-a-vase’ decor item, and now the possibilities are being put to the test with flower arrangements that challenge physics. It’s an art, it’s a form of expression, it’s something you indulge in. There are no rules anymore, as more people become open to experimenting with their floral decor. People are a lot more aware and flowers have taken centre stage in all forms of celebrations.”
Anuja also rightly points out that the concept of flower arrangement is not new to India, but the trend has become a rage. With new techniques and inventions in creating flower arrangements, she said today the market is a mix of some old styles, some modern and abstract ones. She further said, “Each floral designer has his/her own take on styling florals and that becomes their trademark just like each painter has their own unique strokes.”
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Popular styles
In spite of that, there are some key styles which are more popular and widespread than others when it comes to flower arrangements for special occasions. “Ikebana has become very popular with the young generation. The Victorian era has seen a boom after the hit show Bridgerton. There are many green-oasis-free techniques that excite us and are kind to the environment such as using wire to secure flowers in an arrangement or hanging flowers using thread.”
Elaborate flower arrangements can tend to be harmful for the environment due to their wasteful nature, being a single use item. So how can sustainability be incorporated into flower arrangements and is that really a possibility?
At Interflora India, sustainability is practised in more ways than one. Shedding light on some of the key techniques used, Anuja shares ways to incorporate an eco-friendly approach.
Tip 1
Flowers are upcycled after events to create a floral candle or diffuser.
Tip 2
Instead of discarding the flowers post an event, the floral waste is turned it into biofuel.
Tip 3
Sustainability starts at the grassroots level for Anuja, and she ensures that the produce is sourced ethically and cold chain solutions are performed at every stage from sourcing to delivery to ensure minimal wastage.
Tip 4
With the rise in popularity of flower arrangements in a box, the sundries/containers are made to last long and be reused in other forms by the customers.
