Floral foam has long been a staple in the floral industry, but did you know it's harmful to the environment and human health? Made from hazardous chemicals like phenol and formaldehyde and breaks down into microplastics that can take thousands of years to decompose fully. These microplastics end up polluting our water sources, harming wildlife, and is harmful to human health.
Why Pursue Foam-Free Floristry?
As a sustainable florist, the commitment to being foam-free is essential. By eliminating the use of floral foam, I am taking a step towards reducing my environmental impact and promoting a healthier planet for future generations. Foam-free floristry is not only better for the environment but also for the health of wildlife, myself, employees, clients and the community.
Creating a Foam-Free Funeral Wreath
This weekend, the opportunity arose for me to create my first foam-free funeral wreath. By using alternative techniques and materials, such as chicken wire and moss, it was possible to design a beautiful floral wreath without relying on harmful floral foam. The process definitely required more ingenuity, patience and skill, but it was so worth pushing through the hiccups and will become a much faster process and get easier as time goes on.
In creating this wreath, I found moss to be a wonderful medium. The moss retained moisture to keep the flowers fresh and held the flowers in place surprisingly well. I added stems of rosemary to the back of the wreath for added structure and to finish off the back. Even though people don't look at the back, I was taught to always finish it. I love how it turned out!
I do not currently have refrigeration so I was a little concerned about how the flowers would hold up overnight. When I walked into the studio the next morning, I was pleasantly surprised to find everything looked just as I had left it. Major win in my book!
Next steps for me to look into is how to create a banner with more eco-friendly materials and researching what exactly is in the floral hydration sprays I use and if there is a better alternative. For attempt number one, I am so happy with the results and look forward to creating many more in the future to better serve my community.