Your Local Seattle Wedding Florist: Why We Avoid Flower Foam
Congrats on getting engaged! You’re probably looking for a local wedding florist in Seattle to help make your big day as stunning and sustainable as possible. If this is the case, you'll be thrilled to learn that we at Moonflower avoid using foam when creating our floral designs. Flower foam may be traditional, but its toxic components can have a long-lasting negative impact on the environment. Keep reading to find out more about why flower foam is bad for the environment and what alternatives we use instead.
What is floral foam?
Floral foam has been a go-to mechanic for traditional florists for decades, but it's not without its controversies. Floral foam is a spongy material that's used to stabilize flower arrangements and keep them hydrated. It's versatile, easy to work with, and cheap (monetarily speaking.) However, environmentalists have raised concerns over the foam's non-biodegradable material and its potential impact on the Earth. Despite its drawbacks, floral foam remains a popular choice in the wedding industry due to its convenience and effectiveness. As a wedding florist, I can attest to its usefulness, but I think it’s imperative to utilize and explore more sustainable options.
What are the components of floral foam and why is it bad for the environment?
Since the beginning of my floral design journey, I've made it my mission to avoid floral foam in my designs as one part of practicing sustainability in my business. First of all, floral foam is made of non-biodegradable plastic, which means it can sit in landfills and oceans for centuries. And to make matters worse, the foam releases toxic chemicals (such as formaldehyde, a known carcinogen) into the soil and water as it breaks down. As someone who loves working with beautiful flowers, it's important to create designs without having such a negative impact on our planet.
Working with alternatives to floral foam in our designs
As a Seattle wedding florist, we believe in being inventive when it comes to the materials and mechanics we use in our designs. While floral foam has long been a staple in the wedding and floral industries, we recognize that it does not align with our commitment to sustainability. We have been exploring a variety of alternatives, such as chicken wire, moss, pin frogs, and even compostable foam alternatives. Not only do these options minimize our impact on the environment, but they also offer new creative opportunities for our designs. For example, chicken wire allows us to create structural shapes and moss provides a natural and textural element to our arrangements. We are excited to continue to innovate and experiment with new mechanics as we strive to create beautiful and eco-friendly designs.
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Ultimately, when it comes to creating stunning wedding florals, floral foam is not worth the convenience. We have identified ways of creating a sophisticated aesthetic using sustainable alternatives. We are always learning new ways to source and use the best materials for our work. At the Moonflower studio, sustainability is not simply limited to rejecting foam; we also take pride in sourcing locally-grown flowers when possible and composting green waste. If you’re looking for a floral design team that puts beauty at the core of every creative decision – from aesthetics, to experience and sustainability – then inquire now and we’ll bring your dream florals to life.