Counting the cost of cut flowers
It's a token of love, a sign of caring. It's a breath of fresh air, a scent of the great outdoors. What could be nicer than a bunch of freshly-cut flowers?
And yet, beneath the perfumed petals lurks an industry that stinks. The environmental impact of a typical bouquet has risen alarmingly in recent years but now Garden Organic, the UK organic growing charity, is taking a stand with a newly designed "Cut Flower Garden", which demonstrates how to grow your own beautiful organic blooms without the chemicals and carbon footprint.
There are few better examples than the cut-flower industry of how consumer pressures can lead to incredibly energy-intensive efforts to meet customer demand.
More than 85 per cent of cut flowers sold in the UK are imported from countries such as Colombia, Kenya, Israel and the Netherlands.
Others, such as India, South Africa, Ecuador and Malaysia are increasing production, and a rising demand for cut flowers means that while the future of the flower industry looks good, its environmental reputation is wilting fast.
The true extent of the flower trade's environmental impact has only recently been recognised officially. For example, figures released by Defra showed that one East African country exported almost 17,000 tonnes of flowers to the UK in 2004, worth more than 46m.
These were flown more than 4,000 miles and represent 33,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year, meaning that the transit of each individual flower generates vastly more than its own weight in CO2.
The impact of the cut-flower industry has a human cost as well, with flower farm workers around the globe often facing dreadful conditions as the growing processes become ever more industrialised.
Poor workers' rights, pesticide exposure and water-source pollution are regularly linked to vast flower farms like those around Lake Naivasha, in Kenya.
Clare Lanes, Gardens Manager at Garden Organic, Yalding said: "Many people don't realise how much a pretty bunch of flowers can damage our environment and the workers who grow them.
"The more people begin to grow their own flowers, the more we can reduce the environmental impact of this luxury.
"Fresh flowers should be a joy rather than damaging our planet. Growing them yourself makes them even more rewarding.
"We hope our garden will provide the inspiration for people to change the way they view their cut flowers and help reduce their environmental impact."
The new garden, at Ryton, near Coventry, has been designed to provide a steady supply of fresh flowers throughout the year and features flowers such as Cosmos, Dahlias, Verbenas, Cleome, Sweet peas, Alliums and Anemones.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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