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QR Zipper™ Partners with American Floral Endowment to Support Sustainability in the Floral Industry

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is proud to announce a new corporate sponsorship agreement with QR Zipper™, an innovative technology company bridging physical gifts with digital messages, in support of AFE’s Sustainabloom initiative and other industry sustainability efforts. As part of this partnership, $0.01 from every QR Message sold by QR Zipper™ will be donated to AFE’s Sustainabloom initiative to further their mission of sustainability education, environmental responsibility, and industry advancement in floriculture. “This partnership is an exciting step forward in combining technology with purpose,” said Marcin Malicki, Founder of QR Zipper™. “By supporting AFE’s Sustainabloom initiative, we’re not only enhancing the gift-giving experience with QR technology — we’re also giving back to the floral community in a meaningful way.” Beginning March 15, 2025, QR Zipper™ will issue quarterly donations to AFE, along with transparent reporting on QR Message…

AFE and Sustainabloom Partner with Continental Flowers to Promote Wholesale Nickel Program

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) and Sustainabloom are excited to announce a new partnership with Continental Flowers to advance sustainability in the floriculture industry through the Wholesale Nickel Program. This initiative enables wholesalers to support Sustainabloom’s research-driven resources by pledging up to five cents per box on orders placed through Continental Flowers, ensuring continued investment in sustainability education and best practices. As a leader in the industry, Continental Flowers is furthering its commitment by matching all contributions on orders placed through them, doubling the impact of participating wholesalers’ support. “AFE’s Sustainabloom initiative is an innovative solution to bring sustainability efforts to our industry and be at the forefront of our industry’s sustainability story. Continental Flowers will always seek to support industry programs that can be amplified with…

New Wholesale Nickel Program Supports Sustainability In Floriculture

Sustainabloom, a program from the American Floral Endowment (AFE), is proud to announce the launch of the Wholesale Nickel Program, a new initiative that empowers wholesalers to support industry-wide sustainability efforts with a simple yet impactful contribution. Through this program, participating wholesalers are invoiced monthly on their orders from participating growers and shippers, and they can choose to contribute up to five cents per box. These contributions go directly to Sustainabloom to support the development of educational guides, resources, and research—all designed to help educate the floral industry in sustainability and drive meaningful change. By participating in this program, wholesalers can take an active role in supporting sustainability and demonstrate their commitment to environmental and social responsibility.  “We are excited…

Sustainabloom Launches Inspiring New Video On Sustainability in Floriculture

Sustainabloom, the industry’s trusted resource for floriculture sustainability, is excited to announce the launch of a new promotional video: Sustainabloom Road. This powerful short video brings to life Sustainabloom's mission of educating and empowering the floral community on its journey toward a more sustainable future.  Now available on YouTube and Sustainabloom.org, the Sustainabloom Road video highlights the essential role that floral industry professionals play in sustainability. It also conveys a simple yet powerful message: sustainability is a journey in which every floral industry member can participate—no matter where they are today. Sustainabloom offers free, easy-to-use resources to help businesses take meaningful steps forward, whether they're just starting to explore sustainable practices or looking to build on existing efforts. Sustainabloom invites…

Sustainabloom Forges Path to Greener Future

In the spring of 2024, floriculture business members were introduced to an initiative launched to heighten awareness and provide guidance to more sustainable practices throughout the industry. In a year’s time, growing support of the program has enabled Sustainabloom to flourish, doubling the offerings of research-based guides and resources and positioning the initiative for further expansion.  The American Floral Endowment (AFE) unveiled the Sustainabloom website in April 2024, tying the organization’s mission to fund innovation and growth in the industry with the pursuit to support  industry members in their sustainability journeys. The program provides industry resources and in-depth, easy-to-follow guides detailing sustainable processes and considerations for every aspect of the industry – from cultivation to customer.  A Hub of Information Sustainabloom…

Sustainabloom Releases Three New Guides Focusing on Social Sustainability

Sustainabloom, a program from the American Floral Endowment, is pleased to announce the release of three new comprehensive guides designed to help the industry understand the role and importance of social sustainability. These new guides, developed by researchers at NC State University, offer valuable insights into key areas such as employee continued education, health benefits, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.“By sharing new research and knowledge on these key areas of social sustainability, these guides are designed to empower employers in creating a healthier, more engaged, and diverse workforce in the floriculture industry,” said Dr. Melinda Knuth, one of Sustainabloom’s researchers from NC State University.  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Employee Sustainability GuideThis guide explores the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and shares…

How Your Day-to-Day Operations Can Help Fuel a Circular Economy

Circular economy practices in floriculture are effective when each entity of the supply chain is dedicated to the outcome. These industry entities include growers, wholesalers, retailers and florists, transporters and suppliers.  A break in the chain by not working to reduce waste, maintain resources or foster social equality leads to a linear economy, which further complicates efforts in addressing pressing issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. When all sectors within the industry are operating in a value supply chain, they help each other achieve goals of eliminating pollution, strengthen the flow of product and renewing ecosystems. Sustainabloom’s research-driven guide prepared by experts in the industry explains the importance of a circular economy, providing details about the benefits of such practices, not…

American Floral Endowment Launches $2.5 Million Fundraising Campaign to Drive Floriculture Sustainability

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is excited to announce the launch of a $2.5 million fundraising campaign to support Sustainabloom, a collaborative sustainability program created for the floral community. Initially established with seed funding from 10 forward-thinking organizations, Sustainabloom has expanded significantly providing sustainability resources for the industry. Sustainabloom is a comprehensive, industry-wide resource hub, launched in April 2024, designed to help businesses of any size advance their sustainability efforts. The program’s free resources are developed by top researchers and accessible to everyone in the industry supporting eco-friendly practices. These resources, which include comprehensive guides, assessment tools, government funding opportunities, and certification information, enable organizations to evaluate, initiate, or enhance their sustainability efforts for a more sustainable future. “Sustainability is no longer just…

Sustainability and Transportation Logistics: Insights from EZRack

“Sustainability and logistics go hand in hand,” says Greg Troeger, Head of Logistics at EZRack. This principle drives the company’s circular supply chain model, which supports one of the largest rack rental pools in the nursery industry. By leveraging a national network of recovery operations and advanced tracking technology, the company recovers both grower-owned reusable racks and their rental racks, significantly reducing waste at retail locations. To enhance sustainability, EZRack prioritizes logistics efficiency. Troeger emphasizes that “optimizing resource use can improve environmental impact while also leading to cost savings.” Beyond racking systems, the principles the EZRack team uses for optimization can help provide insights for any company that transports products over any distance. Key Strategies to Drive Success EZRack employs…

Sustainabloom Releases Four New Guides for Floriculture Sustainability

Sustainabloom, a leading resource for sustainability in the floriculture industry, has released four new industry guides to help businesses support their sustainability journey. These comprehensive guides offer insights and practical advice on Energy Efficiency, Carbon Accounting, and Inventory Management.Developed by Sustainabloom program researchers at NC State University, these guides provide industry members with the tools and knowledge they need to reduce their environmental impact and improve their business operations. The new guides released include: Carbon Accounting: The Carbon Accounting guide offers a comprehensive overview of this essential practice and helps businesses understand the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their operations, measure their carbon footprint, and begin to think about strategies for reduction and offsetting. By implementing carbon accounting, florists and growers can make informed…

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