At our core, we believe in making choices that not only honour your loved ones but also respect the environment. As proud members of the Farewell Flowers Directory, we’re committed to offering sustainable alternatives to traditional funeral flowers. And here’s why it matters.
According to the statistics collected by the directory, over 14,670 cubic metres of floral foam – a single-use plastic – ends up in UK landfills each year from crematoriums alone. To put that into perspective, that's the equivalent of six Olympic swimming pools. It's staggering, isn’t it? This is why from day one of creating funeral arrangements we have never used floral foam.
Creating Something Seasonal and Personal
One of the beautiful things about choosing locally grown, sustainable flowers is that we can create arrangements that truly reflect the current season. Each time that season comes around, there’s a special memory tied to it. We can even include plants in your arrangements, allowing you to take them home and plant them in your garden—keeping the memory of your loved one alive in a very tangible way.
This approach is so much more personal. In contrast, traditional funeral flowers have remained largely unchanged over the past 50 to 60 years. Many of the arrangements you see today are similar to what you would have seen decades ago—standardized designs from a catalogue, made with imported flowers and floral foam. There’s very little room for nuance or personal touches.
A Tribute That Reflects the Person You Loved
If the person you’ve lost had a deep love for gardening or an allotment, we can reflect that in their arrangement. We can incorporate their favourite flowers, or even vegetables, into the display. Want something truly unique? We can craft an arrangement in their much-loved hiking boots if they were a keen walker or another meaningful item. The possibilities are endless when it comes to making the flowers a reflection of the person they were.
Sustainable Options with Lasting Impact
Our arrangements can be fully compostable, minimizing their environmental impact. Or, they can be designed in a way that allows them to be divided among family members. It’s important to us to think about what happens to the flowers after the funeral. For example, many of the fresh flowers we use can be turned into posies, bouquets, or bunches, which are then shared with family. And because the flowers are cut fresh, often the day before the service, you’ll have an additional week of beauty to enjoy at home before composting them.
Recently, I created a stunning funeral spray for a lovely woman who sadly passed away. The arrangement was made up of four different bouquets, which were easily lifted out after the service and shared between her siblings. These bouquets could even be preserved, creating keepsakes and lasting memories for the family.
Thoughtful, Eco-Friendly Flower Mechanics
Even the mechanics of our arrangements are thoughtfully designed to be sustainable. We use willow frameworks, moss, twine, and bracken to create the structure that holds moisture and keeps the flowers fresh. I always make sure to prepare everything the night before, adding final touches on the day to ensure the flowers look their absolute best for the service.
For certain arrangements, I might incorporate jam jars or chicken wire with a plastic tray, especially if the flowers need more support to stay fresh. These materials can be returned to us for reuse, further reducing waste.
In the end, it's about honouring your loved one in a way that feels authentic to their life and values—while also being kind to the earth.
If you’d like to chat more or found this post helpful, feel free to drop me a message at rhiannon@bluehillflora.com.
Thanks for reading!
Rhiannon
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