The world of flowers is constantly changing with the demand for sustainable alternative playing an increasing role. At Emerald Eternal Green, we feel a deep passion for nature and strive to make the world a little happier and more colourful, in a way that is good for the environment. But how sustainable are artificial flowers really? And how do they compare to fresh flowers when it comes to CO2 emissions?
To gain more insight into this, we asked Anthesis to conduct an independent study. This study compares the carbon footprint of artificial and fresh flowers based on a range of popular flower varieties. We analyse the impact of artificial flowers compared to fresh flowers over the full life cycle: from production to the moment of disposal (end-of-life). In this article, we take you through the results of the study and explain how it contributes to our mission.
Why this research?
For us, nature is a source of inspiration and motivation. Our goal is therefore to offer our customers flowers that are not only beautiful, but also good for the planet, so that we can make the world a little happier and more colourful in a sustainable way. We believe in the power of artificial flowers and want to offer insight into their impact with this research. By looking at every aspect, from materials we use to how flowers and artificial flowers are stored and transported, we hope to paint a complete and honest picture of the impact of our artificial flowers.
How was the artificial vs. fresh flowers survey approached?
The study was conducted according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, an internationally recognised standard for measuring greenhouse gases. This involved calculating the carbon footprint of four artificial flowers and three representative fresh flowers. Each flower type was analysed based on its full life cycle, from production to the moment the flower reaches the consumer’s home. The flowers studied are:
| Artificial flowers from Emerald | Fresh flowers |
| Gloriosa | Chrysanthemum |
| Rose (Marleen) | Rose |
| Gypsophila | Tulip |
| Sunflower |
This included different parts of the life cycle of both artificial and fresh flowers;
- 1. Materials
What raw materials are needed to produce both an artificial flower and a fresh flower? - 2. Production process
How much energy and resources are consumed during the production of both types of flowers? - 3.Packaging
What is the type and amount of packaging required for transport? - 4. Distribution
What distance and what means of transport will be used for the (artificial) flowers to reach their destination? - 5. Storage
What space and energy are needed to store artificial flowers and flowers until they reach the consumer? - 6. Waste disposal
What happens to flowers at the end of their life cycle?
The calculations were done in CO2 per stem, so that the impact of each type of flower can be accurately compared. This gives us a good picture of the environmental impact of each flower over an entire year. It is good to know that the comparisons are based on data from 2023.
The comparison of flower stems
So are artificial flowers really more environmentally friendly compared to fresh flower stems? According to the results of the study, the average carbon footprint of the artificial flowers assessed is lower than that of fresh flowers. Below is a summary of the main results and conclusions.
1. Lower carbon footprint of artificial flower
The average footprint of four selected artificial flowers is lower than the average footprint of three representative fresh flowers. For artificial flowers, the emissions are 0.498 kg CO2 per stem versus 0.555 kg CO2 per stem for fresh flowers.
2. The difference in impact of rose Marleen
One of the most striking findings is that the footprint of Emerald’s artificial rose Marleen is 70% lower than that of a fresh rose. Where as the footprint of a fresh rose is 1.080 kg CO2 per stem, the footprint of our artificial rose Marleen is only 0.321 kg CO2 per stem. This difference is mainly due to the intensive growing and cooling processes of fresh flowers and the intensive transport to keep the roses fresh. This also brings us to the following conclusion.
3. The impact of cultivation and transport in fresh flowers
Fresh flowers have a higher negative impact due to the growing process and transport compared to the production and transport of artificial flowers in Asia. Fresh flowers often need to be refrigerated and transported quickly to maintain their freshness. This leads to high CO2 emissions, especially when fresh flowers are flown in from distant countries. In contrast, our artificial flowers are transported by boat and require less intensive transport movements due to their longer lifespan.
What do these results mean?
The results of the study clearly show the differences in CO2 emissions between the artificial and fresh flowers studied. Artificial flowers require plastic and energy during production, but they last longer and do not require refrigeration or fast transport. We want to share our passion for flowers in a way that makes the world a little more colourful and happy, today and in the future. We keep working to improve our products and continuously look for ways to further reduce our carbon footprint.
Curious about our other sustainability initiatives at Emerald? Discover how we are committed to a greener future and the steps we’re taking to reduce our impact. And don’t forget to check out our sustainability certificate.
