ASHS 2025 Conference

As environmental sustainability becomes increasingly important to consumers of fresh cut flowers, the educators of floral design should consider adding topics covering sustainability within the floral industry into their curriculums. Perceptions of sustainability can vary depending on the US region in which a person lives and works. The main purpose of this study was to compare the perceptions of environmentalism and the use of sustainable floral design practices currently being implemented by professional florists based on the geographical area in which they live within the US. By investigating florists' attitudes toward sustainability and their current practices based on the US region in which they live, this study sought to shed light on the current sustainable practices being implemented within the floral design industry so that educators can make informed decisions when modifying their curriculums depending on where they are located within the US. A majority of respondents from each region in the study indicated they were personally aware of sustainable products (75.4% overall) and mechanics (80.5% overall) in floral design. Differences were found in the sustainable practices being implemented by professional florists based on the US region in which they live. Overall respondents from the West indicated they used fair-trade products, sustainable and/or compostable containers, sustainable and/or compostable floral foams, recycled carboard, composted flower waste, and is attempting to eliminate plastic at a higher rate than other US regions. Based on what professional florists are currently implementing into their own business models and what consumers have indicated as being important sustainable considerations to them when making floral purchases in past research studies, topics that focus on sourcing locally grown fresh cut flowers, post-harvest care for specialty cut flowers, growing specialty cut flowers within limited space, methods for composting fresh cut flower waste, sustainable design techniques that can be incorporated into multiple design styles an occasions, and current sustainable floral products on the market for use in floral design are all example of sustainable topics that could be incorporated into a floral design curriculum.