Sustainable Flowers | Eco-Friendly Bouquets – MO BLUMEN
Sustainable flowers – eco-friendly choices without compromising on beauty
How to enjoy flowers responsibly: seasonal, local, organic, and eco-friendly options
The global flower industry has an environmental footprint – air freight, heated greenhouses, water use, and packaging. The good news: making more sustainable choices is easier than you think, and the flowers are often fresher and more beautiful.
The environmental picture
Most cut flowers sold in Europe are grown in Kenya, Ethiopia, Ecuador, or Colombia and flown to flower auctions in the Netherlands before being transported by truck to local markets. This journey can cover more than 10,000 kilometers. Dutch greenhouse production relies on heated glasshouses in winter, which use large amounts of energy. Understanding this supply chain helps us make smarter choices.
- Air freight: The biggest source of CO2 emissions. A single cargo flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam creates significant CO2 emissions.
- Water use: Flower farming in water-scarce regions (such as the Lake Naivasha area in Kenya) raises concerns about local water resources.
- Pesticides: Conventional flower farming uses more pesticides per hectare than food agriculture – affecting workers and local ecosystems.
- Packaging: Cellophane, plastic sleeves, and foam are standard. Most of them end up in landfill.
- But also: Flower farming provides a livelihood for hundreds of thousands of workers in developing countries. The solution is not to stop buying flowers, but to shop more thoughtfully.
Choose seasonal flowers
The most effective sustainable choice: buy flower that are naturally in season. Seasonal Calendar .
- Spring (March–May): Tulips , daffodils, ranunculus, anemones, hyacinths, lilac, peonies (May). Spring Guide .
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Sunflowers , Dahlias , garden Roses , sweet peas, lavender, lisianthus. Summer Guide .
- Autumn (September–November): Chrysanthemums , dahlias, asters, Hydrangeas , berries, ornamental grasses. Autumn Guide .
- Winter (December–February): Amaryllis , hellebores, forced branches, early tulips, evergreen foliage. Winter guide .
- Why it matters: Seasonal flowers require less energy (no heated greenhouses), travel shorter distances, and are fresher. They also cost less and last longer in the vase.
Support local growers
- Flowers grown in Austria: Austria has a small but growing number of local flower farms. Whenever possible, look for florists who source their flowers regionally. Field-grown flowers in Austria are seasonal by definition.
- Farmers’ markets: At Vienna markets (Naschmarkt, Brunnenmarkt, etc.), you can often find local flower vendors during the season. The flowers are cut that very morning and travel only a few kilometers, not thousands.
- Grown in the garden: Growing your own cutting garden is the ultimate sustainable option. Even a balcony can produce zinnias, Sunflowers , sweet peas, and herbs.
- The “Slow Flowers” movement: Inspired by “Slow Food,” the Slow Flowers movement promotes seasonal, locally grown, and sustainably produced flowers. It is growing across Europe and North America.
Ask your florist: “What’s currently in season and locally grown?” is the best question to ask when buying flowers sustainably. A good florist will guide you to the freshest, most eco-friendly options. At MO BLUMEN, we prioritize seasonal sourcing whenever possible.
Certifications to look for
- Fairtrade: Ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, and environmental standards for flower farm workers. Look for the Fairtrade label on imported flowers.
- Rainforest Alliance: Certifies farms that meet environmental and social sustainability standards. Look for the frog logo on the packaging.
- MPS (Milieu Programma Siertelt): The Dutch environmental certification for ornamental horticulture. Most European wholesale flowers carry MPS ratings (A+ to C). MPS-A and MPS-A+ are the most sustainable.
- Organic: Grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Less common for cut flowers, but growing in popularity. Ask your florist.
Practical sustainable choices
- Extend vase life: The longer your flowers last, the less often you need to buy them. Proper care ( A Guide to flower Vase Care ) maximizes the lifespan of every flower bouquet.
- Dry your flowers : Dried flowers last for months or years. No waste, no extra water. Hydrangeas, statice, lavender, and grasses dry beautifully.
- Choose potted plants: A Houseplant or potted Orchid lasts for months to years – much longer than cut flowers. Lower overall environmental impact per day of enjoyment.
- Reduce packaging: Ask your florist to wrap the flowers in paper (compostable) instead of cellophane (plastic). Bring your own bag. Skip unnecessary plastic.
- Compost faded flowers: Flower stems and petals are excellent compost material. Return them to the earth.
- Reuse vases and containers: Keep a collection of jars, bottles, and vases. Creative reuse is both sustainable and charming.
- Choose living gifts: A potted plant, an herb garden, or a garden shrub is a A gift that keeps growing — zero waste and lasting joy.
Sustainable Wedding Flowers
- Choose seasonal: The biggest impact. A June wedding with garden Roses and peonies is naturally more sustainable than importing flowers that are out of season. Wedding Flower Guide .
- Reuse ceremony flowers: Move the ceremony arrangements to the reception. One flower set, two uses.
- Potted plants as centerpieces: Guests can then take them home. No waste and a living reminder of the day.
- Donate afterwards: Arrange for any leftover flowers to be donated the next day to a hospital, care home, or women’s shelter.
- Dried flower confetti: Biodegradable, beautiful, and often more affordable than fresh petals.
Sustainable floristry at MO BLUMEN Vienna
Seasonal, responsibly sourced, and beautifully hand-tied. Flowers that feel as good as they look.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. Surprisingly, flowers grown outdoors in Kenya and flown to Europe can have a smaller carbon footprint than Dutch greenhouse flowers grown in heated glasshouses in winter. The sun and climate in East Africa provide natural warmth and light that greenhouses must recreate using fossil fuels. The most sustainable choice depends on the season: in summer, European field-grown flowers are clearly the better option. In winter, the comparison is more nuanced. Fairtrade-certified imported flowers also provide an important source of income for developing communities.
Generally yes – dried flowers last for months or even years and require no water, no cooling, and no replacement. If the flowers are grown locally and dried naturally, their environmental impact is minimal. However, some commercially dried flowers are treated with chemicals, dyes, and bleach. For maximum sustainability, dry your own flowers naturally or buy unbleached, naturally dried varieties. Pampas grass, lavender, statice, and Hydrangeas dry beautifully without any treatment.
Just ask directly – good florists are always happy to discuss sourcing. Signs of sustainable practices include a focus on seasonal flowers, being able to tell you where their flowers come from, offering locally grown options when available, using minimal or paper-based packaging, and stocking certified products (Fairtrade, MPS). A florist who says, “I recommend whatever is in season right now,” is already practicing sustainable floristry. Avoid florists who offer everything all year round without any seasonal variation – that usually points to a heavy reliance on imports.