Sustainability

We're proud to be part of a passionate "sustainable floristry" and farming movement, and have been from Day 1. The resurgence of local flower growers in the US is palpable. New flower farmers are showing up at farmers' markets each season and are beginning to sell their blooms to grocery stores and retail floral shops. Returning to our tables are long-lost varieties that do not withstand air travel. Organic farming principles are at the heart of new farmers' practices, and a new wave of florists have rejected the use of floral foam and even plastic sleeves en masse. New mushroom and wool based biodegradable products have hit the market, enabling florists to produce designs in a more eco friendly manner. 

Sustainability is complex. In general, at MOF we think it means moving away from systems, policies, and hierarchies of power wedded to extracting or spoiling the earth’s natural resources for profit. It’s learning, building relationships and storytelling in ways that build equity, wellness and health for all.

There are a number of ways we incorporate and pioneer “slow flowers” practices to reduce our impact.

Some of our practices include:

vanishing point farms new york sourcing sustainable flowers from local neighborhood farmers

Sourcing Local Flowers

We source the hardiest, highest quality flowers available, grown by local flower farmers from within 200 miles of NYC. the farmers we love like to grow “better than organic,” focusing on soil health and sustainable practices that do not compromise soil life, and the surrounding living environment.

Foam + Synthetic Chemical Free Design February wedding red and pink and white flowers

Foam + Synthetic Chemical Free Design

At MOF, we stick with the basics: clean water. We do not use floral foam, synthetic sprays, or toxic holding solutions - for our health, for yours, and for the diverse ecosystem we coexist with. We favor reusable “mechanics” like chicken wire, floral frogs, and willow to help create some of our designs.

MOF composts all organic waste from production in the studio and post-event at a local urban farm

Composting

MOF composts all organic waste from production in the studio and post-event at a local urban farm, half a mile from our studio. In sum, We compost (and divert from landfills) about 2,000 lbs of organic waste a year!  Compost can be a BIG part of the solution to climate change in cities in the US. In NYC, residents create ~12,000 tons of waste every DAY. Most of this waste is trucked to landfills in Ohio, Virginia + Pennsylvania or incinerated in New Jersey. yet, 22% of this waste is COMPOSTABLE. At Molly Oliver Flowers, we do our part to compost all organic material.

katrina siladi wedding table flower in ceramic vase by molly oliver flowers

Rented and Locally Sourced Vessels

We stock a variety of vessels and re-use these as long as possible (years!). This greatly reduces consumption of packaging (plastic, paper, foam), and cuts down on fossil fuel energy used for plastic production + shipment of vessels from faraway places. Any new vessels we purchase these days are locally made.

Sustainable wedding tips Beeswax candles in recycled glass holders Molly Oliver Flowers Brooklyn NYC

Candles and Candle Holders

Candles - especially votives - are small, but often in abundance at an event, and a critical component of any table! We purchase paraffin-free votive and pillar candles from GoodLight candles, and offer recycled glass votive holders. We also love to purchase 100% Beeswax candles from Beehive Alchemy in Wisconsin.

Molly Oliver Flowers Sustainable design studio Brooklyn NY Terracycle All in One upcycling bin

Terracycle Partnership

We invest a Terracycle zero waste bin for our studio, for the non-recyclable + non-reusable odds and ends: a stray boutonniere pin, soft plastic wrapping, nylon twine used to bale branches on 28th street. Terracyle accepts forms of waste that NYC’s recycling program can’t accept, and repurposes these items.

Molly Oliver Flowers Sustainable Florist Brooklyn NYC recycled paper for reuse in packing arrangements

Reusing Materials

Cardboard, bubble wrap, and paper packaging from past flower purchases and vessel shipments is stored and re-purposed for protecting work surfaces and for safe transport of designs. Reusing is second after reduce, after all.

Molly Oliver Flowers Send special order Flowers 100% local flowers Anemones March seasonal

Packing materials

Our packing materials (bags, sleeves, and tissue) are 100% compostable and recyclable.

PRESS

Our commitment to sustainability has been noted.

Why Sustaintable Flowers? A short history

Once refrigerated overseas air shipment took off in the 1970s, local floriculture -- vibrant across the US -- essentially ceased. Local growers could not compete with cheaper imported blooms, once flower production made a dramatic move to the global south, due to lower labor and land costs, and lax environmental regulations. Today, 80% of flowers purchased in the US come from overseas: Colombia, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Japan, Vietnam, and elsewhere. While florists were enabled to create with an expanded inventory of year-round flowers, unfortunately, baked into this system was a deep neglect for the planet and for the communities and landscapes where floriculture is now principally based. In tandem with this sea change in the late 20th century, around the globe, florists adopted new products like "Oasis" flower foam to help stabilize and preserve their designs -- despite the fact this product was made with formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and non-biodegradable. Packaging and selling flowers in plastic sleeves, shipping flowers overnight across the country (using massive amounts of fossil fuels), treating flowers with synthetic chemicals and even spraying them with chemical-based perfumes became routine. Flower consumers came to expect affordability, easy and fast and long-lasting flowers.