The global floriculture sector is standardizing the methodology for quantifying the environmental impact of bouquets, providing consumers, retailers, and suppliers with a metric to assess sustainability. This structured approach, rooted in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles, focuses on calculating the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents ($\text{CO}_2\text{e}$)—generated throughout a flower’s existence, from seed to disposal.
Industry experts emphasize that accurately calculating this carbon footprint requires defining a clear scope, typically categorized into three main boundaries: Cradle-to-Gate (ending when flowers leave the farm), Cradle-to-Shelf (extending through retail storage), and Cradle-to-Grave, which provides the most comprehensive estimate by including consumer use and ultimate disposal.
Tracing Emissions Across the Flower’s Lifecycle
The calculation methodology systematically breaks down the flower’s journey into distinct stages, each contributing varying levels of $\text{CO}_2\text{e}$.
The cultivation stage is a primary emission source, encompassing substantial energy demands for heating, lighting, and ventilation in greenhouses. Furthermore, the production and application of synthetic fertilizers, particularly nitrogen-based compounds, release potent GHGs. To calculate this stage, multipliers known as emission factors must be applied to the volume of energy (kWh) or material used (kg of fertilizer). For instance, specific synthetic fertilizers carry a much higher $\text{CO}_2\text{e}$ impact than general electricity use, depending on local power sources.
Following harvest, post-harvest handling emissions are generated primarily through the energy required for cooling, refrigeration, and cold chain transport. Packaging materials, such as plastics and cardboard, also contribute embodied carbon, calculated by multiplying the weight of the material by its respective emission factor.
Transportation often represents the most volatile component of the carbon footprint. Emissions are highly dependent on the mode and distance traveled. Air freight carries a significantly larger environmental cost than sea or road transport, often increasing the overall $\text{CO}_2\text{e}$ of the bouquet dramatically, particularly for highly perishable or internationally sourced flowers like out-of-season roses. Specialized equations using distance, fuel consumption, and mode-specific emission factors are used to quantify this segment.
The final stages include retail and storage ($\text{CO}_2\text{e}$ from in-store refrigeration and display lighting) and disposal. While composting the organic waste results in minimal emissions, flowers sent to landfills can produce methane, a potent GHG requiring careful accounting.
Normalization and Contextual Factors
To enable meaningful comparison between floral products, the total calculated $\text{CO}_2\text{e}$ is then normalized by dividing it by the weight of the bouquet or the number of stems. This allows buyers and retailers to compare the environmental performance of different suppliers or growing methods.
Experts stress the critical importance of considering local and seasonal factors. Flowers that are locally grown and in season generally possess a vastly smaller footprint due to reduced transport and lower reliance on energy-intensive greenhouse climate control. Conversely, products requiring extensive air freight to meet immediate consumer demand will carry the maximum environmental burden.
This rigorous, data-driven approach, supported by international emission factor databases, aims to empower the floriculture industry to identify major emission hotspots and make informed investments in sustainable practices, driving down the overall environmental cost of celebrating with flowers.