We have come a long way in terms of the public perception of sustainability, ethical choices and being mindful of where your money goes. Yet, there is still a long way to go.

Our culture is built around a notion of having whatever you want, when you want it. The idea of buying something, using it and then chucking it away has become the norm. Change takes time.

The value of flowers, for example, is often undermined when you see them stacked up high as soon as you walk into a supermarket. A bunch of daffs for £1? Bright tulips for £3? Brilliant, a bargain! I’ll grab those and then I can afford to buy more next week when those ones die. Compost them (I’m doing my bit!) and replace.

Hmmm, its not quite as a simple as that though is it. Where do those flowers come from? Why are they so much cheaper than the florists are selling them for, or the local flower farmer at your weekly market?

Firstly, supermarkets use flowers as loss leaders. They know they can sell them cheap and draw people into the shop with some bright, cheap cheer. From there, they will carry on spending, so the flowers have done their job for the supermarket.

Secondly, flowers that we see in our supermarkets and our high streets are quite often imported from around the world. Just as you know that buying strawberries in February means they’re definitely not grown in our cold winter climate, you can be assured that Roses in February have also been sent half way around the world for you to enjoy on your kitchen table.

There are a myriad of problems with this, not least the carbon footprint. Take a look at these stats, taken from a study in 2017 by Rebecca Swin from the University of Leicester.

Dutch Lily: 3.478 Kg CO2
Kenyan Gypsophila: 3.211 Kg CO2
Dutch Roses: 2.437 Kg CO2
Kenyan roses: 2.407 Kg CO2
British lily: 0.819 Kg CO2(approx. 1/4 of Dutch lily)
British snapdragon (or any outdoor, locally grown flower) 0.114 Kg CO2per stem
British Alstromeria: 0.052 Kg CO2

Just for context, compare those figures to these:

Banana – 80g CO2
Christmas Turkey dinner with vegetables for 6 people – 19kg CO2
Flying to Paris from London in economy class – 58kg CO2 per passenger

A sizeable difference, right? I think most folk would be shocked to think that when they buy flowers - a “natural” product after all - they potentially could be creating such a significant carbon footprint. Buying British obviously means no air miles. If you can buy local to yourself too, you’re reducing travel costs almost completely.

If you can choose British flowers every single time you purchase - and don’t be afraid to ask your florist where the flowers were sourced from - you will be buying seasonally, by default. Dutch imported flowers, for example, are grown in tunnels with machines controlling environments, artificial light and heat, to maximise flower production throughout the year. It is worth noting, that this does also happen in the UK in some places, so again it’s really worth asking questions and understanding what flowers should bloom in which season.

Another factor worth considering, is how the flower was grown. When I am growing, i don’t use peat, I don’t use single use plastics, I use a no dig method on the flower beds which releases less carbon into the atmopshere, I compost everything and reuse that on the ground, and I would never use chemicals on my growing space or blooms. This can’t be said for every flower you can purchase! Dig deeper (theoretically of course, dig less to help the planet) and you may be surprised. Kenyan flowers are often sprayed with huge levels of chemicals, to promote growth, kill off diseases and increase the lifespan of the flower. People tending to these blooms wearing full covered bodysuits, and breathing apparatus to avoid ingesting these chemicals (thats if they’re “lucky” enough to be on a farm that provides this protection). Doesn’t sound so natural, or beautiful now does it?

If you source a local grower to where you live, ask them about their use of chemicals or their growing methods and I’m sure they’d be so delighted to tell you. British flowers are always going to be a superior choice than imported, but make sure you know that they really are grown in this country and under the right conditions.

Nobody needs flowers all year round to enjoy nature and bring beauty into their homes. No-one needs roses flown from Africa and doused in a myriad of disgusting chemicals to show their love.

Make a choice about where you want your money to go, and be confident in your choices being sustainable. Customers have the power! Make your pound count.