Please don't misunderstand, we don't think there is anything wrong with a beautiful bunch of fresh roses, but a flower's history does matter, and you should know what they've been through.
Here are just a few things we think you should know about today's cut flower industry...
Cut flowers, such as roses and carnations, are typically grown in areas like Columbia in South America and shipped to North America and Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia in Africa where they are shipped to Europe. The areas of the world where cut flowers are produced typically have significantly lower labour and environmental regulations. This situation creates a largely under regulated industry that is hazardous to those who work in it, the environment and possibly even for those who come in contact with these flowers when they are purchased. Beyond buying local flowers, there are many other gift giving options such as gift baskets, gift certificates and homemade crafts that can show how much you care rather than flowers which will only last a week.
Water and Land Use...
Cut flower crops take away water and land resources that could also be used for farming food crops. The UN Food and Agriculture organisation reported that 23 of the sub –Saharan countries that grow cut flowers faced severe food shortages in 2000. Lake Naivasha, in Kenya’s Rift Valley, one of only a few supplies of fresh water in the region, is gradually being depleted and drying up. Stocks of fish are also declining and animal populations are being affected by the growing number of large flower plantations that surround the lake and use it for irrigation. Currently initiatives are underway to improve the conditions that cut flowers are grown in, but it still raises the question: is buying a pretty bouquet really worth all the ethical and environmental concerns it raises?
Pesticides...
Many environmental organizations, such as the United Nations have collected data on the use of hazardous pesticides like Methyl Bromide, a chemical that contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. A joint effort involving environmental organizations and cut flowers growers is now gradually phasing out the use of Methyl Bromide, but it will be a long process. Currently, pesticides can be misused due to a lack of training and education in the proper use of pesticides. Pesticides can poison freshwater sources and harm workers that are not wearing proper protection.
Here are just a few things we think you should know about today's cut flower industry...
Cut flowers, such as roses and carnations, are typically grown in areas like Columbia in South America and shipped to North America and Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia in Africa where they are shipped to Europe. The areas of the world where cut flowers are produced typically have significantly lower labour and environmental regulations. This situation creates a largely under regulated industry that is hazardous to those who work in it, the environment and possibly even for those who come in contact with these flowers when they are purchased. Beyond buying local flowers, there are many other gift giving options such as gift baskets, gift certificates and homemade crafts that can show how much you care rather than flowers which will only last a week.
Water and Land Use...
Cut flower crops take away water and land resources that could also be used for farming food crops. The UN Food and Agriculture organisation reported that 23 of the sub –Saharan countries that grow cut flowers faced severe food shortages in 2000. Lake Naivasha, in Kenya’s Rift Valley, one of only a few supplies of fresh water in the region, is gradually being depleted and drying up. Stocks of fish are also declining and animal populations are being affected by the growing number of large flower plantations that surround the lake and use it for irrigation. Currently initiatives are underway to improve the conditions that cut flowers are grown in, but it still raises the question: is buying a pretty bouquet really worth all the ethical and environmental concerns it raises?
Pesticides...
Many environmental organizations, such as the United Nations have collected data on the use of hazardous pesticides like Methyl Bromide, a chemical that contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. A joint effort involving environmental organizations and cut flowers growers is now gradually phasing out the use of Methyl Bromide, but it will be a long process. Currently, pesticides can be misused due to a lack of training and education in the proper use of pesticides. Pesticides can poison freshwater sources and harm workers that are not wearing proper protection.