The Carbon Footprint of Flowers - Are Artificial Flowers Really More Sustainable?

When thinking about the vibrant beauty of a weekly flower arrangement gracing your home, the last thing on your mind might be its environmental impact. But the truth is, each bouquet tells a story - not just of artistry and nature, but of water usage, transportation emissions, and disposal challenges. 

Artificial flowers may be considered more sustainable than real ones, a key focus at Best & Bloom. But what does this entail? Is it universally true? The sustainability discussion depends on multiple factors and our final decisions.

This guide dives into the environmental impact of fresh and faux flowers, focusing on production, transportation, and disposal. By the end, you'll have actionable tips to ensure your floral choices support a healthier planet while still keeping your space stylish and fresh.

Fresh Flowers & Their Environmental Impact

Fresh flowers have long been a staple of home décor thanks to their delicate beauty and natural charm. But this traditional choice comes with its own set of environmental considerations.

1. Production

Fresh flowers may seem like an eco-conscious choice, given their natural origin, but growing them on a large scale can take a toll.

• Water Usage:

Fresh flowers are incredibly thirsty plants. Industrial flower farms, often located in regions like Kenya or Colombia, rely on high water volumes. For example, Lake Naivasha, one of Kenya's key water sources, has seen significant depletion due to nearby flower farms.

• Chemicals:

To keep flowers beautiful and pest-free, farms frequently use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These chemicals can harm local ecosystems and pose risks to workers exposed daily.

• Carbon Footprint:

While flowers are natural, production contributes to emissions. Heated greenhouses, often utilized in colder climates, consume large amounts of energy. Growing a typical bouquet emits an average of 10.4 kg CO2e, though locally grown flowers can reduce this to 6.7 kg CO2e.

2. Transportation

Fresh flowers are one of the most globally traded commodities.

• Air Freight:

Flowers are flown quickly across continents to ensure they arrive fresh. For instance, bouquets flown into the U.S. for Valentine’s Day produced 360,000 metric tons of CO2—equivalent to the annual emissions of 78,000 cars.

• Refrigeration:

Transportation doesn’t stop at planes. Trucks packed with coolers are used to keep stems fresh while they’re moved to florists and stores, further increasing emissions.

3. Disposal

Fresh flowers have a short lifespan—usually 7–12 days in a vase.

• When discarded, most bouquets end up in landfills, producing methane, a greenhouse gas that’s 85 times more potent than CO2 over 20 years.

• Unfortunately, only 4% of cut flowers in the U.S. are composted properly.

Key Takeaway:

Fresh flowers are stunning and biodegradable, but only if composted. The entire process—from production to disposal—leaves a surprisingly significant carbon footprint.

Faux Flowers & Their Environmental Impact

Faux flowers offer timeless beauty that doesn’t wither—but are they better for the planet? These artificial alternatives come with unique pros and cons.

1. Production

Faux flowers are primarily made from materials like polyester, plastic, and latex, making them petroleum-based products.

• Manufacturing Impact:

Faux flowers require energy-intensive manufacturing processes, resulting in a hefty initial carbon footprint of 29.1 kg CO2e per bouquet. This is nearly three times the emissions of growing fresh flowers.

• Material Concerns:

Being non-renewable, these materials don’t biodegrade and contribute to plastic waste.

2. Transportation

Unlike fresh flowers, faux flowers are primarily shipped via sea freight rather than air.

• Greener Transport:

Shipping by sea reduces emissions significantly, with faux flowers producing 94% less transport-related emissions than fresh flowers.

• Durability:

Faux flowers don’t face perishability issues, making them easier to store and ship with less energy consumption.

3. Longevity & Disposal

Faux flowers have one distinct advantage over fresh ones—their longevity. With proper care, these flowers can last decades, drastically reducing their per-use carbon footprint.

• Reusable & Resellable:

Unlike fresh flowers, faux flowers can be reused multiple times and even donated, resold, or rented. This reusability means that their environmental cost can be distributed across years of use.

• Disposal Challenge:

However, when faux flowers reach the end of their life, they often end up in landfills, as their composite materials make recycling difficult.

Key Takeaway:

Faux flowers start with a higher environmental cost, but their reusability and longer lifespan allow them to become a more sustainable choice when used over multiple occasions.

Comparing Fresh vs Faux Flowers

Aspect	Fresh Flowers	Faux Flowers
Carbon Footprint (Production)	~10.4 kg CO2e/bouquet	29.1 kg CO2e/bouquet
Transportation	Air & refrigerated trucks (high emissions)	Sea freight (low emissions)
Lifespan	7–12 days	Decades or more
Disposal	Biodegradable (if composted)	Non-biodegradable
Eco-Friendly Choice	Best for single-use events	Best if reused or resold