Choosing Ethical Bouquets for Valentine’s Day

The bouquet of flowers is often the star of gifts, especially on Valentine’s Day. But while giving flowers to your Valentine is a message of love, it’s not always good for the planet! Although 85% of cut flowers sold in France are imported, it is possible to choose plants that are local, seasonal and grown without heating, by horticulturists committed to an eco-responsible approach. Which flowers to choose and which labels to trust, so as not to ruin our carbon footprint?

While many of us now realize that choosing local, seasonal fruit and vegetables is important from a social and environmental point of view, it’s not so obvious when it comes to bouquets of flowers. But the issues are the same! We explain why and how to choose an ethical bouquet that’s more respectful of the planet.

Valentine’s Day, a Market That’s Not So Good for the Planet

Every year, 5% of bouquets are sold on Valentine’s Day, and the favorite flower for the occasion is unsurprisingly… the rose! A quarter of the 600 million roses sold each year in France are sold on Valentine’s Day. However, only 3% of roses are produced in France (mainly in the Var and Finistère regions), and certainly not in February! In fact, the rose season in France is between spring and summer.

Where Do 97% of the Roses We Buy Come From?

Mainly from the Netherlands (87%), transported in refrigerated trucks before being redistributed by wholesalers to florists. They are also flown in from Kenya (just under 7%), Ecuador and Colombia (between 2 and 3%).

Imported Roses: What Impact on the Planet?

• They come from far away: their carbon footprint linked to transport is therefore substantial.
• They require a lot of water.
• They are also pesticide-intensive: an average of 15 substances (fungicides, neonicotinoids, insecticides, etc.) are found in a bouquet of roses. Unfortunately, there are currently no regulations in place to limit and control pesticide residues in bouquets entering the European market. What’s more, there are often pesticides that are banned in Europe, but still authorized outside the European Union.
• They consume a lot of energy: out of season, roses have to be produced in heated greenhouses, which consume a lot of energy. For example, the Marjoland rose farm in the Netherlands consumes as much energy as a city of 30,000 inhabitants (the equivalent of the town of Lens).
• The workforce is often exploited and poorly paid: in Africa and Latin America, the workforce is often female and suffers very difficult working conditions, as legislation is much less restrictive. They work long hours on their feet and are exposed to toxic substances on a daily basis. Yet African women workers, for example, earn an average of just 2% of the sale price.

Valentine’s Day: What’s Behind Our Bouquets?

Sur le front investigated the origins of the flowers we buy.

Which Flowers to Choose in Winter?

A gift of winter flowers for Valentine’s Day or any other special event is an opportunity to send a sweet message of love to your loved one. A seasonal flower arrangement is far more original than the usual bouquet of roses, and will warm hearts without warming the planet!

Sweet carnations, fleshy camellia blossoms, multicolored anemones, elegant white hellebore (also known as Christmas rose), luminous yellow winter jasmine, poetic ranunculus and intoxicating winter mimosa are no match for Valentine’s Day’s star stems (roses, lilies, tulips, orchids, and other exotic flowers). Colorful and fragrant, seasonal flowers will last longer in the vase, since they’re sold as soon as they’re picked, without the need for repeated handling or long transport times. It’s also good to know that bulbous flowers such as the pretty hyacinth will last a long time in a pot, indoors, all winter long.

Brands and Labels Are Flourishing to Guide Us in Our Choices

Fair Trade Flowers: A Fairer Income for Growers

If they are not produced locally, between two imported flowers, it is still preferable to support the Max Havelaar approach to develop a responsible and ecological horticultural sector.