Doing funeral flowers differently

This estimate represents just the UK crematorium sector and doesn’t take into account church yards and other floral memorials.

The ‘green stuff’ is the basis for most pictorial or 3D floral tributes, and also underpins most floral letters and traditional large arrangements covering the tops of coffins. It’s even still used by many florists to create wreaths and sheaf bouquet style arrangements if you look closely at what lies beneath the flowers. This foam is made from plastics and crumbles down into tiny particles but doesn’t leave the environment. Microplastics will linger in the world for a lot longer than we will. There many less damaging and better alternatives readily available and The Farewell Flowers Directory is here to help you make the switch.

Over the past decade awareness of the damaging impact of microplastic waste in the environment has grown - following David Attenborough’s iconic ‘Blue Planet’ series, public attention was suddenly focussed on marine micro-plastic pollution. In 2022 The Royal Horticultural Society banned floral foam use at their flower shows and The General Synod, the Church of England's legislative body, has faced calls for a ban on its use in funeral flowers.

How does this happen? After soaking blocks of floral foam, any leftover water and all its tiny green foam particles is most often poured straight down the sink or into a drain and this allows it to work its way into the natural aquatic environment.