How UK shoppers can buy beautifully ethical flowers
The carbon footprint of imported flowers can be 10 times that of a homegrown bouquet, so it pays to “buy small and buy British”.
That was one of the conclusions of a Lancaster University study in 2018 that looked at the environmental impact of British, Dutch and Kenyan cut flowers.
The research conducted by Becky Swinn looked at the carbon emissions relating to cultivation and transportation, plus other key issues such as fertiliser and water use. She concluded that the emissions from Dutch and Kenyan flowers were broadly equal, with the Dutch flowers using a lot more artificial heating and lighting, while the Kenyan emissions came mainly from transportation. Overall, she found that an imported mixed bouquet produced 10 times greater carbon emissions than a seasonally grown British one.
Friends of the Earth says that if you really want cut flowers, try to source some that are locally produced and grown without pesticides if possible. Alternatively, consider planning ahead and growing your own.
Flowers sold in supermarkets and other outlets will often state whether they were grown in the UK.
If you do go for imported flowers – and some will want to support farmers and workers in countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia – you may want to choose Fairtrade ones. Fairtrade-certified farms receive a premium of 10% for every stem sold, which allows workers to invest in healthcare, education and other benefits. The Fairtrade website lists stockists; they include Aldi, Asda, the Co-op, Lidl and Marks & Spencer.
There are other schemes to look out for, too, such as the Florverde Sustainable Flowers certification programme.
Sending flowers can involve a lot of waste, so you may want to look for a certified carbon neutral florist, such as
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