This blog showcases The Bali Florist’s journey towards being a more sustainable florist and shares our efforts on becoming more friendly towards the environment. Far from being an overnight process, we recognise that sustainable floristry is an on-going journey of trial and error, a willingness to adapt and a desire to do better for everyone involved. We understand that sustainability practices may differ based on where you are in the world since diverse cultures, environments and local resources all have a part in influencing our decisions and actions. We’re learning and welcome you to be a part of our learning journey!

How do florists employ eco-friendly practices to become part of the sustainable floristry movement?

Here at The Bali Florist, we take baby steps towards becoming more environmentally sustainable through these proactive efforts:

Locally Sourced Materials – As a start, we make sourcing for flowers/foliage from local and reputable growers within Bali a priority. There are understandably limited growers in the island, coupled with the intricate challenges of floral cultivation in the tropical climate, we also source flowers and foliage from within Indonesia, namely Java. For specific flower varietals, we will get our supplies overseas.

Recyclable/Reusable Materials – Since we started the florist in 2017, we pride ourselves on never using single-use containers and choose paper wrapping as a standard practice. Furthermore, we up-cycle beverage bottles by cutting off the bottle necks making them into rustic vases. We’ve even managed to consistently reuse supplier paper wrappings where possible. We also discourage the overusing of cellophane plastic wrapping in hand bouquets. Unfortunately, there is not yet a practical alternative to floral foam but we hope this will soon change. 

Waste Reduction – When we plan for the coming week’s supply, we base it on an estimated order volume and try to avoid over-ordering. We also strive to make use of every bit of our supplies – flowers, foliage and otherwise. Any organic waste that can be dried will be hung to dry for future dried arrangements, while the rest will be processed for garden compost.

Refilling/BYO Containers – Many of our customers appreciate the fact that we use reusable containers (such as wooden vessels, glass vases, ceramic pots, etc.) and avoid single-use cardboard/plastic boxes. Furthermore, we encourage new customers to bring-your-own containers, while repeat customers can reuse and refill original containers with new flowers. 

Composting – We are fortunate to be able to partner with Urban Biologist Bali (@urbancompost.bali) in processing our organic florist waste into healthy, reusable compost for our gardens. Each day we have a sizeable load of floral/foliage waste which we collect and separate into proper breathable sacks. The Urban Compost team picks up our organic waste twice weekly, then processes them into fresh compost each month. You too can make a difference and be a part of this movement. For more information and enquiries, please refer to their website here.

Sustainability Doesn’t Stop at the Florist: What You Can Do to Help

In this blog, we will share various tips, efforts and ideas on handling/caring for nature’s prettiest offerings for use in your home and within your surroundings. You, too, can be part of the sustainable movement in your daily lives.