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 Survey Reveals Push Toward Sustainability and the Opportunities Ahead 

A newly released survey led by North Carolina State University (NCSU) and funded by the American Floral Endowment’s Sustainabloom program reveals promising trends in sustainability across the floral industry—and outlines opportunities for growers, wholesalers, florists, and suppliers to build greener, more profitable businesses.“Across all floral industry sectors, we’re seeing strong interest in sustainability,” said Dr. Melinda Knuth, assistant professor at NCSU and faculty lead on the project. “And by communicating their efforts and tapping into consumer values, floral businesses can turn sustainability into a competitive advantage.”The 2024 Floriculture Sustainability Survey gathered input from over 100 floriculture businesses from the grower and retail segment, as well as industry wholesalers and suppliers. While the responses represent only a small sampling of the industry—primarily from those who…

Green Matters: Composting Strategies for Floral Shops

Green waste in the floral industry is inevitable. Stem trimmings, petals, and withering blooms unfit for sale are part of everyday business as owners create stunning arrangements for customers.  Because these byproducts are destined to become decomposed organic waste, composting is a strategy that helps keep harmful emissions from the environment. For mid-size floral shop owners, however, composting programs may present some challenges – space, cost, time and odor.  To help shop owners address those hurdles, Sustainabloom's Industry Guide on Composting offers a practical framework tailored to the floral industry. Developed by top researchers, the guide breaks down the composting process, outlines on-site and off-site options, and offers tips to implement and improve sustainable waste management over time. Equipped with…

From Emissions to Action: Carbon Accounting in Floriculture

Horticulture and floriculture have been built on the ability to tap into the rich resources of nature.  Environmental assets like clean water and healthy soil are essential for a thriving industry, and these resources are deeply impacted by climate change. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and more frequent and severe weather events pose significant risks, leading to soil degradation and decreased water availability. As such, it is crucial that those in the sector preserve the foundation upon which their businesses are built — not only for their own success and growth but also for the world around them.  Carbon accounting can help floriculture companies measure the amount of carbon dioxide their processes remove from or emit into the environment. By…

Two New Guides Added to Sustainabloom’s Lineup of Resources

Two new guides have been added to the growing list of resources provided by Sustainabloom to simplify the area of floriculture sustainability and support industry members in reaching their goals with actionable resources and education. The new Cold Chain Management and H-2A and H-2B Work Visa guides will join an extensive lineup of industry guides previously published through Sustainabloom's website, which was launched in April 2024 by the American Floral Endowment (AFE). Using data-driven information, strategy suggestions, and expert advice, the information is presented in an easy-to-follow format to help industry members at every level of the supply chain gain a better understanding of the material and explore options in their sustainability journeys. The Cold Chain Management guide informs business…

“Clean Driven Logistics” at Armellini Logistics

Armellini Logistics is proud to be celebrating their 80th Anniversary this year. Although they have enjoyed a rich history, they are always planning ahead and sustainability is part of their plan. Their sustainability program is titled “Clean Driven Logistics”. Armellini Logistics is an EPA SmartWay Partner. They enjoy a ranking of 1 (1 = lowest CO2 and NOx emissions vs. 5 = highest CO2 and NOx emissions). They have a Florida DEP approved Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and provide training to employees on the importance of clean water and pollution prevention. The terminal managers are certified in stormwater management. In 2024, they recycled 370 tires through a local vendor. Recycled tires can be used in a number of…

Sustainability at Mayesh Wholesale Florist (from Plastics Guide)

As a national wholesaler focused on floristry educational initiatives, Mayesh put sustainability at the top of its educational pillars for 2023. Among the efforts – plastics reduction. “Plastics, in particular, are tricky,” says Pat Dahlson, CEO of Mayesh. “We are really trying to move away from them where we can.” Mayesh started working with flower growers in Ecuador to remove plastic sleeves and replace them with cardboard. In addition, once the flowers are in the United States, they are traditionally re-sleeved from one type of plastic to another. Instead of using more plastic and more labor to re-sleeve, Mayesh has started encouraging replacements such as butcher-block paper, craft paper, and newsprint, which works particularly well for summer flowers. “As a…

Sustainability at Neal Mast Greenhouses (from the Substrate Sustainability Guide)

The sustainability team within Neal Mast Greenhouses actively ensures that the company remains accountable for its environmental impact and helps align the company’s goals with sustainability practices. Part of their overall efforts focuses on green waste reduction. “We have a responsibility to be mindful of our shrink and keep waste out of the landfill,” says Brooke Wiig, the human resources manager and sustainability officer at Neal Mast. Wiig acknowledges this is especially important given the company’s large scale. In response to this challenge, Neal Mast has maintained a seven-year partnership with a local landscaping company. The collaboration involves repurposing growing media, where the landscaping company incorporates Neal Mast’s substrate into their landscaping projects alongside other planting materials. Wiig emphasizes the…

Sustainable Solutions at HC Companies (from Plastics Guide)

Sustainability is a competitive advantage companies can have if they are a leader in that space, says Tom Marting, the director of Sustainable Solutions at HC Companies. “We all need to be thinking about sustainability because the future will be different than the past,” Marting says. Plastics are produced from byproducts of petroleum refining, and climate goals necessitate individual and collective reductions in fossil fuel consumption which will result in plastic supply constraints in the long term. HC Companies, for example, is using sustainable alternative materials such as recycled paper fibers for pots and hanging baskets in their EcoGrow containers, which are 100 percent bio-based. They also utilize wood-derived, cellulose-based compostable materials in their BioPax bioplastic containers. Robust recycling programs…

IPM at Metrolina Greenhouses (from Integrated Pest Management Guide)

Think IPM is a fringe idea in pest management? One of the largest ornamental producers in the country, Metrolina Greenhouses, practices integrated pest management to maintain crop health and sustainability. Dr. Mark Yelanich, director of research at Metrolina, emphasizes the importance of monitoring the major insect pests, such as thrips, white fly, fungus gnats, shore fly, spider mites, and aphids. At Metrolina, they do weekly 24-hour counts with sticky cards, which enable the growers to find hot spots in the more than 200 acres of greenhouses. “We want to avoid simply scheduling chemical sprays without understanding the pest pressures,” Dr. Yelanich says. “And over time, our pesticide usage is going down, so we’re heading in the right direction.” Metrolina employees…

Carbon Offsets at Continental Floral Greens (from Carbon Accounting Guide)

Navigating emissions trading and carbon markets can be challenging, but it’s worthwhile pursuit, says Madison Milgard, who leads sustainability efforts at Continental Floral Greens. “Not only can carbon credits provide a revenue stream for a company,” Milgard says, “But the process also helps growers learn more about their land and become sustainable for generations to come.” At Continental Floral Greens, the company started by looking at carbon sequestration and soil health, and looking for a crediting process that could fit in their budget. For them, the search led to Earth Optics, a company that measures and verifies carbon storage through soil mapping. The process only took a few weeks for their 10,000-acre timber farm. Through the data generated by the…

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