Sustainability
2 months ago by Michal Kowalski
For years, floral foam has been a major environmental problem in our industry, contributing to the growing issue of microplastic pollution.
Despite this, many florists continue to rely heavily on it.
But that’s something we’re determined to change.
As the world’s first florist to achieve both Planet Mark and B Corp certification, we’re passionate about finding and supporting eco-friendly alternatives. We know exactly how harmful floral foam can be.
The good news?
Change is coming, thanks to innovative companies like PHOAM LABS™️ (we’ll share more about that soon).
Curious about the real impact of traditional floral foam? Here’s what you need to know.
You may have seen this type of foam used in creating floral displays. The dense, lightweight, and porous product was invented in 1954 by the Smithers-Oasis company. Since then, it has been popular with professional florists and amateur flower enthusiasts.
They use foam to support cut flowers. The floral foam’s main purpose is to hold water and help keep the flowers fresh. Floral foam is also pH balanced. This means flowers are maintained in an environment that has optimum acidity levels. So, they last as long as possible.
This may all sound pretty good, and for many years people thought it was.
That was until facts emerged about the damage this product could cause.
Its toxicity and inability to decompose efficiently are major issues that can’t be ignored.
We’re passionate about this as we strive to show people how flowers and plants should benefit the world around us, not damage it.
To fully understand floral foam, it’s important to know how it works.
If you look at the structure of the product, it has a honeycomb-like appearance.
Water moves through the material by using the spaces between the connected chambers.
Image credit: sustainablefloristry.com
This water system travels through floral foam similarly to how water travels through a flower stem.
When a stem is cut from a plant and placed in water, the water enters the stem where the cut has been made.
It’s then drawn up through the stem as evaporation occurs on the surface of the flowers and the stem.
If water is not drawn up, the cut flower wilts.
Image credit: sustainablefloristry.com
Floral foam acts as an extension to the stem.
So, water is drawn up through the foam first.
It holds water well, so there’s a good supply of water for the stem and the flower.
The system works well, but the damage caused by floral foam outweighs the benefits.
Let’s get into it…
This type of foam looks like a natural product.
It’s green in colour and feels a little like moss to the touch.
So, it’s easy to assume it’s a good thing to use especially given the positive attributes we mentioned earlier.
But knowledge is power and this couldn’t be further from the truth!
Floral foam is plastic.
It’s not the same type of plastic that’s found in packaging; it’s more similar to insulation foam.
But, it contains the same amount of plastic as 10 plastic carrier bags.
And it’s just as damaging to the environment.
So, it’s definitely not a good idea to use it.
And that’s not the worst part…
Floral foam is made from carbon black, formaldehyde, and phenolic foam.
This is a toxic combination of components.
Finally, although this product does crumble easily, it doesn’t fully dissolve or degrade.
It breaks down into tiny pieces known as microplastics polluting the earth and water systems.
This brings us to a question that people often ask…
It may seem like this florist accessory would easily decompose because it so easily pulls apart.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.
It’s a plastic material that degrades with light, heat, and friction.
But this simply breaks it down into microplastics that are smaller than five millimetres.
These microplastics take thousands of years to decompose completely.
In the meantime, they’re easily spread, polluting water sources, killing wildlife, and ultimately damaging human health as they enter water systems and the food chain.
Once you start to see the full picture, you begin to understand just how much damage can be done by using this foam for floristry.
The elements that come together to make floral foam have levels of toxicity individually.
They include formaldehyde, barium sulfates, and carbon black.
Bring them together, for toxic trio that isn’t safe for you, your family, or your team.
If you’re exposed to this type of foam, you can suffer from irritation to your eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.
This is especially likely if you inhale dust or fumes whiles using the product.
Heads up…
Frequent exposure to formaldehyde can cause the skin to become hypersensitive, often leading to contact dermatitis.
This leads us to another frequently asked question.
Touching this product occasionally is unlikely to cause any damage.
However, it contains formaldehyde which we’ve already mentioned can cause contact dermatitis with frequent exposure.
This is not a pleasant condition to experience.
It causes itchy, dry, scaly, and cracked skin.
It can also lead to bumps and blisters.
Image credit: healthline.com
Formaldehyde doesn’t just cause skin issues.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified it as a probable human carcinogen.
And several studies have found that prolonged exposure to formaldehyde is associated with certain forms of cancer.
Although floral foam damages the planet, professional floral designers and amateurs can still use it.
There’s no ban in place.
But that isn’t the full story.
Some organisations are recognising the dangers of the microplastics that floral foam creates.
In January 2020, the Royal Horticultural Society announced it was banning the product.
So, since 2023, it hasn’t been used in RHS shows.
This means that designers, including those participating at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, have had to find alternative methods for creating their displays.
This ban is good news for the floristry and garden design industries as it means eco-friendly products and techniques are being developed.
The RHS may soon be joined by the Church of England in banning the use of foam in floristry.
The Church is facing pressure to ban the use of the product for funeral flowers.
However, this is yet to happen.
But as pressure mounts we don’t think it will be long until more are forced to follow suit.
There are other methods to use that are far more eco-friendly and do not diminish the appearance of the end product.
So, what to look for instead?
There are different kinds of Bio Floral Foam but we specifically want to introduce you to Phoam Labs, who do things differently.
Phoam Labs is a compostable foam company on a mission to help free the world of plastic waste and be part of the movement helping to pave the way for a planet-positive future by inventing Phoam Labs’ Floral Foam, a biobased foam solution made without compromise.
By replacing traditional foam materials with a compostable polylactide (PLA) foam, Phoam Labs’ patented floral foam bricks are bringing a non-toxic, renewable and fully functional option to the floral industry.
Designed to be used as both a wet and dry foam.
Phoam Labs’ floral foam is free from microplastics and harmful chemicals, ensuring a safer environment for both designers and users. By switching to this innovative product, designers are using a foam made from PLA (polylactic acid), a sustainable material derived from corn that is fully renewable within a 12-month cycle.
Engineered to be compostable, Phoam Labs’ floral foam is designed to break down naturally, reducing unnecessary waste in the floral industry. Made from natural sources, it degrades and returns to the earth, helping to create a more eco-friendly approach to floral design.
At Blooming Haus, we’re passionate about supporting innovative businesses that drive positive change. When we received prototypes of PHOAM LABS™️’s non-toxic, bio-based foam, we couldn’t wait to try it out! Here’s one of our designs using their eco-friendly foam. 🌿
We’ve shared our feedback to help them refine the product as they approach the final stages of development.
The choice of alternatives really depends on the specific design and the creativity of the floral designer.
At Blooming Haus, we often replace floral foam with flexible natural materials, reusable water vessels, chicken wire, and kenzans (also known as floral frogs). These sustainable alternatives allow for innovative and eco-friendly arrangements without compromising the structure or aesthetics of the design.
Looking for a luxury florist that creates bouquets and displays using sustainable practices?
Our team here at Blooming Haus is dedicated to eco-friendly design that produces stunning results without damaging the planet.
Our sustainable methods are not limited to avoiding the use of floral foam.
They’re an integral part of everything we do.
Flowers by Blooming Haus
Other sustainable practices we use include:
– Using green forms of energy to power our studio.
– Compositing our organic waste rather than sending it to landfill.
– Avoiding the use of materials that cannot be composted.
– Reusing flower buckets and delivery packaging.
– Recycling packaging where possible.
– Sourcing flowers from local suppliers whenever possible in order to limit our carbon footprint.
– Using probiotic cleaning products when we can.
Visit our sustainability page to learn more.
We also partner with other like-minded businesses like Phoam Labs.
For every commercial or wedding floral design project we complete, we arrange for a tree to be planted.
So, our clients help the environment, and they get stunning results for their investment.
It’s a win-win situation.
Flowers by Blooming Haus
Take a look at our online shop for a selection of stunning eco-friendly floral displays.
We’d also love to talk to you if you’re looking for sustainable floristry for your corporate event or wedding.
We’ll give you the results you’re looking for in a manner that’s dedicated to protecting the world around us.
Have anything to ask about the dangers of floral foam to the planet?
Pop your question in the comments, and we’ll take a look.
We’d also love to hear your comments and suggestions about sustainable floristry practices.
We look forward to hearing from you.
1. Blooming Haus is B Corp Certified – Everything You Need to Know
2. How to Use Plants as A Natural Pest Control
3. Sustainable Practices at Blooming Haus
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