Gen Z and millennials embrace sustainable alternatives to imported fresh flowers

When Emily Day decided to grow flowers for her October wedding in Calgary, Canada, she never expected the project to become a personal awakening about the environmental impact of the global flower industry. Instead of hiring a professional florist, Day transformed her front yard into a flourishing garden that would eventually provide all the arrangements for her special day.

“The homegrown arrangements were just as beautiful as store-bought ones and cost a fraction of the price,” Day explained. She and her fiancé began their floral journey in March, constructing garden boxes from wooden shipping containers and filling them with various blooms including yarrow, feverfew, strawflowers and statice.

The couple harvested and dried the flowers in midsummer to protect them from autumn frosts. On their wedding day, Day’s bouquets featured warm fall colors complemented by blue echinops from a local farmer and tansy foraged from roadside ditches. Unlike typical fresh wedding flowers that wilt within days, her dried arrangements will last for years.

The DIY approach proved financially beneficial as well. Day spent approximately 1,300 Canadian dollars ($925), significantly less than the thousands many couples allocate for professional wedding flowers. More importantly, the project prompted her to consider the hidden environmental costs of imported blooms – from plastic packaging to the carbon footprint of international shipping.

This trend reflects broader shifts among younger generations. Millennials and Generation Z are increasingly incorporating sustainability into their celebrations, with some growing their own bouquets, harvesting wildflowers, or using potted plants that can continue growing after the event. In response, businesses are adapting by sourcing locally and offering flower recycling services.

The environmental impact of imported flowers is substantial, according to Kai Chan, professor of sustainability science at the University of British Columbia. The journey of imported blooms to North America often begins in South America, involving extensive refrigeration and air transport – both energy-intensive processes that release significant greenhouse gases.

Large-scale commercial flower production typically involves monoculture farming, which requires clearing natural vegetation and creates ecological imbalances. “It’s kind of antithetical to the way that ecosystems work… you’re fighting against nature at every turn,” Chan explained. He advocates for purchasing from local, small-scale farmers who generally employ practices better suited to regional environments and whose products travel shorter distances.

Holly Lukasiewicz, owner of District 2 Florals in Omaha, Nebraska, exemplifies this sustainable approach. Her business practices include local sourcing and avoiding non-biodegradable floral foam. For an additional fee, she offers post-event flower collection for composting, and provides pressing and preservation services.

“When I started my business, I knew that I wanted to recycle everything that I could, compost what I could, repurpose what I could,” Lukasiewicz said. She encourages clients to embrace seasonal and local selections rather than expecting any flower variety regardless of season.

The shift toward imported flowers occurred decades ago due to trade policies and lower production costs. While imported blooms often carry lower price tags, particularly for varieties that can’t be grown locally, the environmental cost remains hidden from consumers.

Neil Anderson, professor of horticulture at the University of Minnesota, highlights the market challenge: “Some people prefer locally-grown, sustainable products and are willing to pay that higher price point. But oftentimes most consumers go, ‘I’m going to buy the cheapest one that’s there.'”

Beyond environmental benefits, locally grown flowers can add deeper meaning to special events. Debra Prinzing, founder of the Slow Flowers Society, notes that local blooms tell a story about the place where they were grown. “Next year, when your anniversary comes up and you see those flowers in bloom or you see them at the farmers market, they’ll remind you of your wedding,” she said.

This sentiment resonates with many couples. According to Esther Lee, editorial director at The Knot wedding planning website, sustainability is increasingly prioritized in wedding planning, with couples seeking to personalize their celebrations while giving guests a sense of local character. “There is just such a unique ambiance and element to the local flora of a place,” Lee observed.

While artificial flowers are sometimes marketed as sustainable alternatives, Silvia Bellezza, associate professor of business at Columbia Business School, cautions consumers to verify manufacturers’ claims. Many artificial options are plastic-based and imported, undermining their environmental benefits.

For Day, the sustainability benefits extended beyond her wedding day. Guests took home dried arrangements, and a friend later borrowed several pieces for another ceremony. “That’s what’s cool about them too, is you can reuse them time and time again,” Day said. “And then when they get beat up, unlike plastic flowers, you can just throw them in your compost and say, ‘go back to the earth, see you later.'”