Are dried flowers sustainable?

Dried flowers are wonderful to look at, but are they good for the planet? Discover whether dried flowers are sustainable and how you can tell before purchasing your own in this handy guide.

How glorious are dried flowers?

Their longevity and incredible value make them the perfect option for your home décor or to be given as a gift with their rustic look and luscious beauty.

But the question many people ask is, are dried flowers sustainable? If you want to know the answer, keep reading.

Are dried flowers sustainable?

The good news is that dried flowers from a reputable seller are 100% natural and biodegradable. With the right care, they last for years, meaning you take fewer trips to your local florist or shop and less waste.

However, it’s worth noting that some cheap, poorly crafted dried flowers can have a negative effect. For example, a dried flower bouquet from an irresponsible seller may have:

Bleached and chemically hardened the flower bouquet
Heat-treated the flowers, which causes more CO2 production
Coated it with anti-mould chemicals or water-soluble plastics, which aren’t great for the environment

As a rule of thumb, always do your homework before buying.

Are dried flowers more sustainable than fresh flowers?

Did you know that replacing just one weekly fresh flower bouquet creates an estimated 56KG of CO2 emissions a year?

Wastage is a cosmic issue in the fresh flower industry, with 45% damaged before they even arrive at the seller’s location, meaning they aren't sellable.

And this seems crazy when dried flowers are a brilliant option with little to no wastage, depending on the brand.

The great thing about dried flowers is they don’t use excessive packaging, and nearly every element is recyclable or compostable.

5 signs your dried flowers are sustainable

Instagram, TikTok, Google and your local high street are full of dried flower bouquets.

But, before purchasing the first option you find, look at how sustainable the bouquets are and how they are behind the scenes.

It's surprising how many dried flowers aren’t 100% eco-friendly. Here are five ways you can tell if your dried flowers are sustainable.

The company’s values, ethos, and overall message touches on sustainability

When looking for your dream dried flower bouquet, familiarise yourself with the company you’re buying from.

Do they promote eco-friendly values? Are they proudly singing about their sustainability?

At The Last Bunch, our ‘BEEquets’ are made in collaboration with Bee For Development to harness the power of bees to create less poverty and more diversity. We all know how amazing bees are for the environment and for keeping the world turning.

So, read up about the company and understand its values before buying.

They don’t require water

Dried flowers don’t need water to live. And this is a bonus for water usage and cutting back. A sprinkle of dust and a good position is all they need to thrive for a lifetime.

The flowers aren’t bleached or dyed, or the dye is biodegradable

To make dried flowers as stunning as they are, sometimes companies turn to bleach or dye to enhance their natural beauty.

But this isn’t always a good thing for the environment.

Aesthetically, it might seem worthwhile, but sustainably, it causes immense damage. Synthetic dyes contain toxic chemicals that can damage and poison natural habitats in rivers or soil.

However, there are natural dyes which are better for the environment.

It's important to note that on a large scale, especially in commercial instances, dying dried flowers uses a lot of water, and as previously mentioned, this can be extremely wasteful.

Dried flowers don’t include plastic

This point might seem obvious, but plastic is disguised in many forms that might not be as noticeable to you as you think.

For example, glitter is a popular decoration on dried flowers, especially at weddings. But currently, there is no such thing as eco-friendly glitter.

Additionally, some dried flower companies will coat their flowers in water-soluble plastic, which is terrible for oceans and the environment, or be treated with anti-mould chemicals, causing stress to wildlife.

Dried flower bunches that aren’t fully recyclable will end up in a landfill site or incinerated, damaging our wonderful planet.

Check before buying your flowers and ask them the questions that really matter to ensure you’re purchasing from a trustworthy, planet-friendly source.

The packaging is recyclable

Dried flowers don’t need excessive amounts of packaging. And most of the time, the packaging used is recyclable and compostable to fit the nature of the bouquet.

Shipping is also a factor. Overall, getting dried flowers from a to b is much more eco-friendly as they don’t need to be in heavy water, resulting in less fossil fuel consumption for shipping.

The best way to ensure you’re buying flowers with recyclable packaging and shipping is to check first-hand with the brand to find out what materials and methods are used when putting together the flowers for orders.

Buy sustainable dried flowers

There are many reasons to love dried flowers, and their sustainability is just another attraction.

At The Last Bunch, we have dried flower bouquets to cater for everyone’s taste.

We want to make sure all life’s moments are memorable, and what better way than with a sustainable bouquet that will never die and remind you of the good times?

To find your dream bouquet, visit our website and get searching.