Sustainable Flowers Research Project
In 2020, SFN founder Rita Feldmann reached out to two academics – Professor David Bek and Dr Jill Timms – hoping to learn more about their research in sustainability and floriculture. It turned out to be the beginning of an enduring, collaborative and supportive relationship.
Dr Jill Timms and Professor David Bek
The Sustainable Flowers Research Project
David and Jill are co-leads of the UK-based Sustainable Flowers Research Project, jointly hosted by Coventry University and the University of Surrey. David is Professor of Creative Economies and Ecological Sustainability at Coventry, while Jill is an Associate Professor and Sociologist of Work and the Environment at Surrey.
Together and separately, David and Jill have spent more than two decades actively engaged in research on sustainability in the flower industry, their combined expertise covering the three pillars of sustainability: economy, environment and social equity. But their focus boils down to one fundamental question: What does a sustainable flower look like?
To answer this question, the researchers have visited farms, packhouses and retail outlets in locations as diverse as Naivasha, Aalsmeer, Lancashire and Cape Town. They have interviewed florists up and down the United Kingdom and attended international flower events, such as the Royal Flora Holland Trade Fair.
The group have also staged multiple workshops and built an active stakeholder group across the cut-flower industry.
The project asks what sustainability means in practice. Ultimately, it will support the cut-flower industry to flourish in the context of acute environmental, social and political challenges.
The Sustainable Flowers Research Project website hosts a wealth of research, news and resources.
In the last few years the research group has been busy, contributing to three publications that deepen our understanding of the challenges facing the industry and outline strategies for positive change:
- Recommendations for building fairer, more sustainable and resilient flower supply chains in East Africa.
- Building Collaboration in the UK Cut Floriculture Industry and
- Plastics, Packaging and Waste in Floriculture: A guide to build understanding and action towards a sustainable cut flower industry
Unpacking ‘local and seasonal’ – an interview with Professor David Bek
The SFN used David and Jill’s work as a reference point when we developed our first principle for florists — Choose better flowers.
Most products exist on a sliding scale from most to least sustainable. For agricultural products like flowers and food, local and seasonal growing is often the starting point. As David says, “‘local and seasonal’ is a proxy for minimal input/resource-use production”.
Buying locally produced goods can benefit local economies and enhance community identity and belonging for those associated with an enterprise.
However, as David points out, ‘localness’ does not necessarily mean that production systems are using lower input approaches.
“People tend to think of small-scale production as being undertaken by growers who are committed to the ideals of sustainability. But we should be wary of making the assumption that because something is grown locally, that it is low impact.”
“Seasonality is especially important as a driver of lower impacts, as less inputs are needed for production. Lower inputs, whether chemicals, water or power, mean lower environmental impacts. Serving local markets means that transport needs are lower therefore less carbon energy is required. All things being equal, ‘local/seasonal’ flowers will generate minimal negative impacts and may even have net beneficial impacts through promotion of biodiversity and carbon sequestration.”
“From a sustainability point of view, it would, of course, be best to manage without infrastructure such as polytunnels and greenhouses, but we have to be realistic. The key thing is to try to use sustainable materials wherever possible and to use materials that will last a long time, so they do not need replacing in the near future. And to avoid artificial heating if at all possible, unless renewably sourced.”
Seasonality is especially important as a driver of lower impacts, as less inputs are needed for production. Lower inputs, whether chemicals, water or power, mean lower environmental impacts. Serving local markets means that transport needs are lower, therefore less carbon energy is required.
❝ — Prof David Bek
The value of asking questions
For florists located a long way from areas of commercial production, David says the key is to try and control the variables that you can and ask questions of producers.
“Questions can be asked about the logistics operations. Are the transport systems being used by the wholesalers operating according to best practice sustainability standards? Is every effort being made to reduce the carbon footprint? What sustainability standards are flower growers working towards in their production systems? Do they have policies to reduce carbon footprints and plastic usage for example? Do, they comply with certifications? What growing media do they use? If the florist is buying wild-grown flowers, then are these being harvested according to conservation legislation?”
Prof David Bek says the key thing is to try and control the variables that you can and for florists to ask questions of producers.
Certifications
“In general terms, it is beneficial to procure flowers that are certified in some way. Certifications are no panacea, but they are a start. That said, smaller operations who may well operate in a very sustainable fashion are unlikely to have expensive certifications. Imported flowers are not necessarily off-limits as there are broader sustainability benefits to supporting producers across the globe. But certainly, look for certifications for imports (preferably Fairtrade or similar) and preferably shipped rather than flown. The key thing is to be alert and ask questions of suppliers.”
David acknowledges that it is pretty much impossible for any individual florist to police all of these issues themselves. “What I think is very important is for industry bodies and associations to work together, gathering information and engaging in discussion and debates with different stakeholders. Best practices can then be agreed and pursued.”
Remember, sustainability is a journey
“It is also critically important to recognise that the issues are complex and that there are few ‘easy’ answers to most of the questions, and that knowledge is evolving all the time,” says David.
“The pathway to sustainability is very much a journey and the practices we will recognise as ‘best in class’ in ten years’ time will no doubt be different to now. And this is fine! The critical thing is to embark on the journey and be committed to the core principles of reducing negative impacts and promoting positive impacts. An open-minded approach is important. Throwing mud around does not actually shift the dial or create a fertile environment for constructive debate. Equally, we all have to be alert to the fact that there will be opportunists trying to market products as sustainable when they are anything but.”
SFN and the Sustainable Flowers Research Project
Professor David Bek and Dr Jill Timms are SFN Expert Advisors, while the SFN has joined the Sustainable Flowers Research Project’s stakeholder group.
We are deeply grateful to both for their contribution to the SFN’s Foundation in Sustainable Floristry course.