Roses are red… They are also fragile and almost always flown to the U.S. from warmer climes in South America, where roughly 80 percent of our roses take root; to warm the hearts of European sweethearts, they are most often imported from Africa. They are then hauled in temperature-controlled trucks across the U.S. or the Continent and locked up overnight in cold boxes before their onward journey to the florists of the world. According to Flowerpetal.com, which tries to limit the environmental impact of flower purchases, sending the roughly 100 million roses of a typical Valentine's Day produces some 9,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from field to U.S. florist. So what's a lovesick, albeit "green," beau to do?

First off, don't assume that imported roses are environmentally hostile. A 2007 study by Cranfield University in England found that raising 12,000 Kenyan roses resulted in 13,200 pounds (6,000 kilograms) of CO₂; the equivalent number grown in a Dutch hothouse emitted 77,150 pounds (35,000 kilograms) of CO₂. (Both examples include energy used in production and delivery by plane and/or truck. The roses from Holland required artificial light, heat and cooling over the eight- to 12-week growing cycle, whereas Africa's strong sun boosted rose production by nearly 70 percent over those grown in  Europe’s flower auction capital.

"In Ecuador, the low-carbon impact of flower farms was evident. Greenhouses used no artificial heating or lighting, and most farm workers walked or biked to work," observes Amy Stewart, author of Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers. "In the U.S., most flowers grown commercially come from climate-controlled greenhouses, and many workers drive to the farm."

Although there is no study that makes a similar comparison of flowers grown in and outside the U.S. Colombia set up a "Florverde" (Greenflower) brand in 1996, and now labeled as such on bouquets at Wal-Mart and other big chains, with high environmental and social (worker benefits) standards. Roughly one in five U.S.-bound Colombian blooms is Florverde-certified, meaning stringent standards are verified by annual inspections done by Icontec in Bogotá and Geneva-based SGS, S.A. (Société Générale de Surveillance).

Similar "Sustainable-," "Fair Trade-" and "Organic-" branded bouquets are increasingly available at mega- retailers and florists in the U.S.,  including Sam's Club, FTD, natural food stores and Web sites like Flowerbud.com, Organicbouquet, TransFair, and 1-800-flowers. (Due to the expensive nature of going organic, however, international "organic" brands may have laxer guidelines than those in the U.S., authorizing less, but not zero, pesticide use; they also may be produced from cuttings that were not organically grown.) They boast labels like FlorEcuador or the U.S.'s VeriFlora, each with their own standards and independent inspection schemes.

Florverde's standards, for example, include minimal water use via drip irrigation and rainwater collection; hummus fertilization; boilers with air pollution filters; sulfur vaporization; integrated pest control for 46 percent less pesticide use; and environmentally sensitive waste disposal. Among social programs and benefits offered to workers: educational and housing subsidies; day care centers; literacy education, higher- and shorter- than-average wages and workweeks, respectively; on-site health care; full benefits including medical, disability and retirement insurance; and a floriculture school for those displaced by violence. Florverde is working to further grow the program and cut energy use, according to Colombian floral association, Asocoflores, chairman, Ernesto Vélez. With advice from U.S. universities, it is also testing biological pesticides, such as natural predators, and sending heartier breeds like carnations by ship.

6 Comments

1. 1. tigerchi 01:52 PM 2/14/09

   Your article reads: "'Florverde' (Greenflower) brand in 1996, and now labeled as such on bouquets at Wal-Mart and other big chains, with high environmental and social (worker benefits) standards" Really? In what universe is Walmart known for its worker benefit standards? This reads like a press release from Walmart. Very disappointing, I expect more from SciAm.....
   
   Please see links: http://action.americanrightsatwork.org/aaraw/walmart_workersrights.html
   
   or ACLU site, or any other host of sites which reports on Walmart atrocities: both social and environmental.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

2. 2. CathyR 01:53 PM 2/14/09

   It's totally puzzling why a floral wire service affiliate marketer (call center only, and not a florist) like FlowerPetal.com would be mentioned in this article. They stock no flowers and have no control over the origin of the roses provided by the local florists who make and deliver the FTD and Teleflora items shown on their site.
   
   'Green' flowers are a hot topic in the floral industry and solid strides, to improve both cultivation and transportation, have been made in the last few years. Nice to see that work mentioned.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

3. 3. Brian Crummy 03:18 PM 2/23/09

   CathyR, I'm sorry, but you are wholly in error. FlowerPetal.com is a local delivering florist with designers, coolers, delivery vehicles and of course flowers! We also offset the carbon emissions associated with all the flowers we sell in addition to buying environmentally friendly flowers when possible from our local wholesalers.
   
   Brian Crummy
   President
   FlowerPetal.com

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

4. 4. mollymeme 12:24 PM 3/1/09

   Really? Really? A local delivering florist? Phooy! I just investigated on google maps and found you are NOT a retail florist. Your locations show NO store fronts. Lets see some photos of your store fronts in Chicago, IL.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

5. 5. Brian Crummy 12:39 PM 3/2/09

   MollyMeMe... I assure you we have a design center in Chicago located at 2140 West Fulton. It's not retail store front, we don't need one as our website generates plenty of business and takes the place of a storefront. It's fully equipped with designers, delivery drivers, numerous vehicles, a 300 Sq Ft main cooler, and smaller coolers for tropicals. If I could upload photos here I would. We purchase flowers down the street from AJF Wholesale. Fernando (AJF's owner) and I have had multiple conversations concerning organic and fair trade flowers. I wish you the best MollyMeMe, but encourage you to get the all the facts before you defame FlowerPetal.com.
   
   Brian Crummy
   President
   FlowerPetal.com

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

6. 6. awb17 07:35 PM 9/16/09

   I feel that this statement is very misleading.
   
   "A 2007 study by Cranfield University in England found that raising 12,000 Kenyan roses resulted in 13,200 pounds (6,000 kilograms) of CO2; the equivalent number grown in a Dutch hothouse emitted 77,150 pounds (35,000 kilograms) of CO2. (Both examples include energy used in production and delivery by plane and/or truck. The roses from Holland required artificial light, heat and cooling over the eight- to 12-week growing cycle, whereas Africa's strong sun boosted rose production by nearly 70 percent over those grown in Europes flower auction capital."
   
   Although this may be true and there may be less CO2 emitted from Kenya (still Dutch-owned) hot-houses, you did not address the poor working conditions of the laborers working there (low wages, lack of facilities, subjection to chemicals). The lack of appropriate sanitation systems is doing quite a number on the environment in that area. The lakes in the Great Rift Valley area are in great danger from the flower farms - I have seen it! Hot houses are invading the landscape like a devastating swarm of locusts. CO2 emissions are not the ONLY thing that affects whether or not a company / industry is sustainable.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this