Earth Day is a unique holiday where we take the time to celebrate the earth and it’s resources that we tend to look over in our busy lives. Everything we have has come from the earth: the wood in our houses, the water in our coffee, the food we’re eating for lunch, and so much more. Isn’t it our time to give back?

This Earth Day, find a new way to use the 3 R’s in your daily life: Reduce Reuse Recycle!

Here are some great methods florists already use in their flower shops. (If you’re a florist, perhaps you can find a way to start using some of these great, earth-friendly actions.)

• 1. Recycle and reuse cardboard.
• 2. Encourage customers to bring in glass vases for reuse or recycling.
• 3. Give bubblewrap to the local packaging store (UPS).
• 4. Use terry towels instead of paper towels at your design table.
• 5. Reuse packing material whenever possible.
• 6. Use recycled office paper to make notepads for shop use.
• 7. Use a hybrid or other earth-friendly vehicle to do deliveries.
• 8. Empty cooler bucket water onto outdoor plants.
• 9. Recycle stems and other organic waste in a compost, or find a local composter to give it to.
• 10. Give flower boxes back to wholesalers.
• 11. Keep mug boxes and other pretty containers to use as ‘economy’ containers by using a plastic liner for small arrangements.
• 12. Save extra pieces of ribbon, fabric, cardboard tubes and foil to give to local pre-schools for art projects. [Read more…]