Last Tuesday I spent the morning in a compost heap, not necessarily on my bucket list for 2026 but fascinating nonetheless. Along with some of their first ever florist customers, I was invited by Com-post to tour one of their commercial composting sites. Com-post are Hannah (florist) and Fiona (business dynamo) and they were one of the five finalists at the inaugural Sustainable Floristry Innovation Awards at the 2023 Interflora Word Cup. They had a simple but brilliant ide

If you’re looking for the creative inspiration and technical expertise to take your wedding floristry to the next level, then put this date in your diary.   4‑Day Wedding Floral Workshop: 8th – 11th June 2026 Led by internationally acclaimed floral designers Max van der Sluis, Per Benjamin and Vincenzo Antonuccio, this four-day training programme offers expert tuition and the insider knowledge to craft high quality wedding bouquets, centrepieces and installations with confide

In February the Church of England Synod passed the Diocesan Synod Motion introduced by the Diocese of Worcester, encouraging churches and cathedrals to consider creating floral arrangements without floral foam and using UK-grown flowers and foliage. It caused a wave of anxiety amongst florists thinking that there was going to be a full ban that would extend to all of us.  Luckily this motion does not introduce full bans or rules and is very much for guidance, and is advisory

Internal carbon pricing is quite a complicated concept and one which currently seems most relevant to large businesses and organisations rather than small businesses. However, it’s still important for small business owners to be aware of this aspect of sustainable operations and to have a basic understanding of its purpose and implementation. Internal carbon pricing is where a business places a monetary value on each tonne of carbon emissions it produces Calculating internal

Finding ways to make your business more sustainable can be difficult and complicated but committing to measuring and reducing your energy consumption is thankfully straightforward to implement. There are some significant benefits to sustainable energy use, from both a cost and environmental perspective: · Cost Savings:  Implementing low or no-cost energy efficiency measures (e.g., LED lighting, smart timers, draught-proofing) can reduce energy bills by up to 25%. Increased Pr

Viv Bradford explains the benefits of the Dutch MPS certification for growers and florists buying from them.

Meet the plant-based, biobased, low carbon footprint, high performance foam suited for every kind of floral design: OASIS® Renewal™ Floral Foam. OASIS® Renewal™ Floral Foam is suitable for all types of designs and flowers – it provides a firm and secure hold for both soft and hollow stems as well as thick and woody stems. It has the same outstanding properties as our classic OASIS® floral foam. Ingredients What is OASIS® Renewal™ Floral Foam made from? OASIS® Renewal™ Floral

Many consumers and florists take a critical look at imported flowers. Public perception is often shaped by incidents widely covered in the media. “Local” is assumed to be better by definition. The reality? It’s much more nuanced. New Grounds, Same Passion The truth is that local cultivation is becoming less self-evident. “In Europe, we simply don’t have enough land to meet demand,” says Niels Glas, import manager at FM Group. “And many growers in the Netherlands no longer hav

We often get questions about sustainability at our flower farms. Here, we answer your most-asked questions about how Marginpar is working with nature, not against it, to grow flowers that are beautiful in more ways than one. 1| How do you nurture soil health and biodiversity Healthy soil creates thriving ecosystems, resilient plants, and ultimately, stunning flowers. At Marginpar, we've embraced a nature-first approach, working with the earth rather than against it. One key

As more customers look for businesses with sustainable values, green pledges have swept across the world of marketing. Yet almost 40% of businesses that set green targets in 2020 either haven’t hit them or have stopped reporting. So, how do consumers know who to trust, and who’s guilty of greenwashing for quick gains? This is where business owners need to turn pledges into actionable green retail strategies. Use your eco-conscious mindset to prove your commitment and create

Flowers make people happy. They bring colour, atmosphere and emotion, at home, at work, for a celebration or a farewell. But alongside that emotional value, consumers are becoming increasingly critical. Whereas people have long made conscious choices when it comes to food, similar questions are now being asked about flowers. And that poses a challenge for growers, traders, and florists alike. Negative media coverage about CO₂ and pesticides weighs heavily on the sector’s imag

Follow Su Whale's guide to making environmentally friendly Christmas wreaths.

Using pumpkins, squashes and gourds in creative floristry designs is a seasonal treat. Su Whale shares her tips for success.

Florists are being asked to take part in a new research survey looking at attitudes to flower sustainability and sourcing. Devised by the...

The Rise of Conscious Weddings: Why the SWA Exists The wedding landscape is changing. Couples are increasingly savvy and discerning, not...