Episode 53 - Flowers

The Flower Industry

Four different types of products are sold in the flower industry: cut flowers, foliage, plants, and young plant material. This episode focuses on cut flowers.

The Demand for Cut Flowers

The cut flower industry is worth $100 billion worldwide. 60% of flowers are bought as a gift and another 20% are for weddings or funerals. Flowers Canada did a Consumer Research Study, which found that the two gifts millennial women most appreciate are wine and flowers.

How It Works

Flowers are grown, cut and packed on flower farms. Then they either go to a flower auction or through the direct flower trade. Florists buy flowers either through auctions or directly to wholesalers.

This short video shows what Dutch flower auction houses look like. 40% of the world’s imported flowers pass through auction houses in the Netherlands.[1] Fun fact: North America’s largest flower auction house is in Burnaby, British Columbia!

Cut flowers are typically shipped by plane, unless they are grown locally. For example, around 187,000 tons of flowers go through the Miami International Airport every year.

Globalization and the Cut Flowers Industry

Since the 1990s there has been a shift in production from Europe and North America to developing countries with warmer climates and cheaper labour. The four biggest cut flower exporters are: the Netherlands (55%), Colombia (18%), Ecuador (15%), and Kenya (15%).

The U.S. imports almost 80% of their flowers. Most flowers sold in the U.S. come from Colombia and Ecuador. Two out of every three flowers in the U.S. are imported from Colombia. In Canada, 55% of imported cut flowers are from Colombia, with 26% from Ecuador.[2]

Countries do specialize in certain flower varieties. Here is a list with the top global producer for a few flower varieties:

  • Rose: Ecuador

  • Tulip: The Netherlands

  • Carnation: Colombia

  • Orchid: Thailand

  • Peony: The Netherlands

The Rise of Supermarket Flowers

75% of the cut flowers market is made up of online retailers and supermarkets. Supermarkets tend to buy lower quality flowers than high-end florists. But they do demand a great deal of uniformity and may require some form of environmental and/or social standards in their supplier codes.

Which is better: supermarket or florist? It’s hard to say across the board. Supermarkets will adopt standards as a risk reduction strategy, whereas florists are drawn to certification either to differentiate themselves or out of a general feeling of responsibility. But most florists (at least in Europe in 2011) are not actively engaged in social and environmental standards as a purchasing criterion or in communication to customers.

Workers’ Rights

As is common with agricultural products (see our episodes on tea and chocolate, for example), flower farm workers in developing countries generally receive low wages and their working conditions are not comfortable. Union busting is common practice in some countries and can be violent.

There are a few workers’ rights issues that are particular to the flower industry.

Special events drive the cut flower industry, especially Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Mother’s Day, and weddings. 77% of flower purchases involve a specific occasion. Because the industry is so heavily event-based, flower farms need a lot of labour in very short time windows. In places with less mechanization and weak labour protections, that means flower workers often have to work very long shifts around key holidays.

Another problem that is especially prominent in the flower industry is worker safety. Specifically, flower workers can be exposed to toxic chemicals without proper protective equipment. Because flowers aren’t consumed, flower growers are allowed to use more pesticides than food farmers.[3] Approximately one-fifth of the chemicals used in the flower industry in developing countries are banned or untested in the US. Without proper protective equipment, farm workers exposed to toxic pesticides can become sick and, in some cases, die.

Sexual assault and harassment have been well-documented in the flower industry in Colombia and Kenya. Like the tea industry, there are a lot of women working in flower farming because they are perceived as being better at handling the plants delicately. In Kenya, for example, there have been accounts of sexual assault as a regular practice and in some cases as a condition of hiring and promotion.

Environment

Transportation

Timing is crucial for the cut flower industry. 45% of flowers die before they are sold. Typically, the time from harvest to sale is 10-12 days. And it is important to keep flowers refrigerated throughout this period, so they don’t spoil. For that reason, cut flowers are transported primarily by air. Of course, this means that transport contributes significantly to the environmental footprint of cut flowers.

That is why some people suggest that consumers think about plant miles – i.e.: how far did the plant travel to get to you?

Greenhouses

However, the fact that flowers are transported by plane does not necessarily mean that it is always better to buy local, from an emissions standpoint.

That is because it takes a lot of energy to heat greenhouses to the temperatures necessary to cultivate flowers in cold places like Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

A life cycle assessment commissioned by Fairtrade International found that “greenhouse gas emissions from air transport of roses from overseas are four to six times lower than  those from heating  the  greenhouses  in  the  Netherlands.” That study looked at the environmental impact of getting roses to Switzerland. So even though obviously the Netherlands is much closer to Switzerland than Kenya, Kenyan roses had a smaller carbon footprint.

So, if you are buying local it is also important to think about flowers that are grown in-season.

Water Use 

A single rose grown in Kenya takes ten litres of water to produce. So, the water footprint of a flower is relatively small (Quick reminder that a 6oz. steak has a water footprint of 2,551 litres).

However, some flower farms are more water efficient than others. And it can matter whether the flower farm is located somewhere that already struggles with water scarcity. Flower farms can impact local communities through water diversion for irrigation and water pollution.

Because of water scarcity in Kenya, the cut flower industry’s water use is a big issue there, for example. Flower producers in Kenya have been connected to pollution in water bodies like Lake Naivasha.

Pesticide Use

As discussed above, the flower industry uses a lot of pesticides. In addition to being a hazard to workers, pesticide use can pollute nearby freshwater and, in some cases, create ocean dead zones.

A study commissioned by Fairtrade International found that Dutch flower producers used less pesticides than Kenyan producers. But among Kenyan producers, fairtrade certified producers in Kenya used fewer pesticides, relative to non-fairtrade producers.

Packaging

Flowers often come wrapped in disposable plastic packaging, which is not ideal. If you can find plastic-free alternatives or buy a bouquet without packaging, do so.

Ethical Certifications

There is a truly overwhelming variety of ethical standards in the cut flower industry. Here is a chart that lists the most relevant standards for European flower and plant buyers:

Describing all of these standards would be challenging. But it is worth highlighting a few.

Organic Certification

Organic certification means that pesticides and other harmful chemicals were not used to grow the flower. There are also some other environmental criteria that may be applied. Different countries have different organic labels.

Fairtrade

We have talked about Fairtrade on the podcast before. See the research note from our sugar episode for a detailed description. Fair trade is a social standard that includes values like decent and safe work, fair prices for producers, and sustainability.

Fairtrade has two different types of standards. One stream is for businesses that hire employees. Another is for smallholders who work in farmer co-operatives.

Rainforest Alliance

Rainforest Alliance is an environmental NGO. Its certification system includes social and environmental criteria.

Developing Country Standards

The four largest developing country flower exporters all have their own ethical labels:

  • Florverde (Colombia)

  • FlorEcuador (Ecuador)

  • KFC Code of Practice (Kenya)

  • EHPEA Code of Practice (Ethiopia)

Florverde Sustainable Flowers is a social and environmental standard for flower growers in Colombia. It was created based on a code of conduct developed by the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters (Asocolflores). Florverdes includes standards on a number of social and environmental topics, including working conditions, occupational health, sustainability, traceability. Flower growers apply for Florverde certification through independent third party certifiers. As of 2015, 40% of total exports of flowers in Colombia had Florverde certification.

European Standards

There are also a handful of ethical standards developed and used primarily in Europe.

Business-to-Business Standards

Some ethical standards are not designed to communicate information to consumers. Instead, business-to-business standards are used by companies that buy a product and apply to companies that produce a product. There are three main sets of business-to-business standards in the flower industry.

The first of these is GLOBALGAP. GLOBAL GAP is a coalition of large European retail chains that defines the elements of “Good Agricultural Practices” (GAP) in areas like crop management, pest control, and worker health and safety. Some other labels (E.g., Florverde) are benchmarked against GLOBALGAP. GLOBALGAP applies to other industries as well. The flower industry standard is the GLOBALGAP Flower and Ornamental Standard.

Next is MPS (“Milieu Project Sierteelt”, which means Floriculture Environmental Project). It was set up as an environmental project by Dutch auctions but now it is active in more than 50 countries. MPS has a series of certificates in different areas. MPS-ABC is the environmental management system, but there is also a social standard (MPS-SQ) and a standard benchmarked against GLOBALGAP (MPS-GAP). Florimark is also a part of MPS and is a certificate for completing certain elements of MPS.

Finally, there is the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI). ETI is a code of labour practice that focuses on ethical sourcing, used by a coalition of British companies. It is not a certification system, but companies are required to comply with ETI standards. They usually require suppliers to go through a pass/fail audit.

So, How Common is Ethical Certification?

One barrier to certification is low consumer awareness. Only about 10% of consumers are aware that sustainable flowers are available in flower shops. Consumer awareness is highest for Fairtrade.

Consumer awareness may be low, but ethical certification is common in the flower industry. A vast majority of European flower and plant growers participate in one or more certification schemes. “It is not uncommon for African and Latin American producers to hold 5 or more different certificates.” (Trade for Development Centre 2011: p.5)

Certification opens up market segments because some buyers require it. Or it can be a selling feature that differentiates a product or signals quality. For instance, although ethical certification is not required at Dutch auctions, certification through MPS-ABC, FFP, and Florimark are listed at auction.

Generally, certified flowers and plants do not receive higher prices than non-certified products. Certified flowers do go for higher prices at auction, but typically this is due to differences in product quality.

The Slow Flowers Movement

The slow flowers movement encourages consumers to buy flowers grown locally, seasonally, and ethically. Slow also means flowers that are grown “in a considered manner and not rushed through with all sorts of chemicals and artificial interventions.”

What Can You Do?

You can start by looking for flowers that have ethical certification. Ask your local florist or supermarket where they get their flowers! If you are not impressed with the answer, think about finding alternatives. This article from World Vision has a few links to florists that offer fair trade and organic options in Canada.

In general, it is better environmentally to get a potted plant than cut flowers, because they last much longer. For this same reason, you should avoid potted plants that are “designed to die” like poinsettias. Before you buy, Google the plant to ensure that it is not endangered. To get you started, here is an A to Z guide of common house plants.


Endnotes

[1] Business Wars Daily Podcast. (24 February 2021). COVID Ransacked the Cut Flower Industry. Business Wars Daily Podcast episode 653.

[2] Richardson, Courtney. (2014). Love Hurts. Alternatives Journal 40(1): 56-56.

[3] Dundas, Mairead. (7 June 2019). Toxic Cocktail: The Secret Within Your Flowers. France 24 https://www.france24.com/en/20190607-down-earth-pesticides-toxic-chemicals-slow-flowers-bouquets-agriculture-netherlands.

Episode 15 - Kristen and Kyla React to COVID-19

 
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Kristen’s Three Champions

Healthcare Workers and Retirees

Obviously, healthcare workers are at the frontlines of this pandemic, and they deserve our immense gratitude. But I also want to draw attention to the champions who are volunteering to provide surge capacity. Across the country, nurses are volunteering to come out of retirement to help out with the pandemic response. In Ontario, for instance, the Registered Nurses’ Association asked for volunteers to help with the Telehealth information line. As of Monday, 3,000 licenced nurses had volunteered. Provinces are also expediting licensing requirements so that retired physicians and nurses can become licensed and get to work. The expedited licenses are for a constrained time period (four months in Nova Scotia).

Frontline Service Workers, Including Gig Workers

Thank you, grocery store workers and pharmacists. Thank you, warehouse workers and couriers. Thank you to the workers who are keeping utilities, infrastructure, and public transit in operation. Thank you, taxi drivers. We appreciate you.

Trust and Social Solidarity

In a time of global crisis, it is important to be able to look to and trust our public institutions. And it seems like Canadians are able to do that. A poll by the Angus Reid Institute found that Canadians have become much more concerned about COVID19 since early March. Between March 5 and March 13, the proportion of Canadians that see the coronavirus pandemic as a serious threat increased by 26 percent. As of last Friday, 68% see it as a serious threat. That proportion is probably even higher today.

As concern has increased, public trust in institutions and government has also increased. Trust in information coming from health and medical authorities has increased 8 points, to 87%. Trust in information from provincial governments has increased 12 points, to 73%. Trust in information from the federal government has increased 9 points, to 67%.

A poll of eight affected Asian countries found something similar. They documented very high levels of trust in medical professionals.

The flip side of public trust is a commitment to follow rules and guidelines. So far it seems like Canadians are taking that seriously. Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health said today that within hours of Ontario declaring a state of emergency they had 96% compliance with rules closing bars, restaurants, recreational facilities, and private schools.

Kristen’s Three Problems

Economic Rights for Wage Workers

The United Nations estimates that COVID-19 could push 25 million or more workers into unemployment, underemployment, and working poverty. Overall, they estimated that workers stood to lose $3.4 trillion in income by the end of 2020. Just 20% of the work leave taken by low-wage earners in Toronto is paid. Only two provinces (Quebec and PEI) require paid sick leave. So, the decision to allow this really is up to the employer in most cases.

Most retail stores have closed over the past week. Many companies are now offering paid sick leave, but not all of them. And even fewer are offering economic leave (retrenchment benefits) while their physical stores are closed. That poses very real economic challenges for wage workers, even if they have access to Employment Insurance (EI).

Independent Contractors/Gig Workers and COVID-19

Gig workers are the people working generally low wages for gig economy companies like Uber, Lyft, Foodora, and Skip the Dishes. These companies claim that gig workers aren’t their employees, but rather independent contractors – and so they don’t have to provide the same protections that they would for employees. There are some ongoing court cases to challenge this, with some successes. In Ontario, some Uber drivers are trying to join a union (the United Food and Commercial Workers union). But change has been slow.  

COVID-19 has revealed how important gig workers are to our everyday lives and, at the same time, how few social protections they have. Most gig workers don’t have access to government benefits like EI. By definition there is no sick leave or economic leave for these workers.

And at the same time, the demand for many gig workers’ services are up, as people order food and products online to avoid leaving the house. There is some evidence that COVID-19 is accelerating the movement to protect gig workers. Recently, for example, an advocacy group called the Gig Workers Collective formed in the US to advocate for fair pay.

If you aren’t a gig worker, one question you may be asking yourself is: should social distancing include online ordering?

Ordering online increases the risk that deliverers will contract COVID-19. Delivery personnel are at among the highest risk of contracting the virus. Delivery people are braving “a germ-filled world when people of means would rather not.” On the other hand, not ordering hurts workers too because it cuts into their income.

Ethicist Carissa Véliz said the following about the ethics of ordering food online: “Society always relies on a minority of people to carry out risky or unpleasant jobs that not everyone is willing to do. To be ethical, ideally, those people should be paid more than others who have more comfortable jobs.” In the same article, the Guardian also interviewed several couriers for their article, and one of them said: “Whether or not you order won’t change the calculus for workers who have no choice but to do it either way. So, the best you can do is be considerate.”

What you can do to support gig workers during COVID-19:

1.     Treat couriers kindly: be patient with delays, leave a good rating.

2.     Tip especially well, and tip electronically if possible.

3.     Practice social distancing, so it’s safer for them. If you are going to order online, health specialists recommend leaving the food at the door or being at arm’s length from the deliverer.

4.     Convey your ethical concerns to companies. Ask if workers’ jobs are being made as safe as possible and if they can take sick leave. If you decide to boycott, let companies know why.

5.     Try ordering from a local business. Order directly from the restaurant if possible. And if you need books, why not order from a local independent bookshop? Many of them will deliver.

Refugees and Temporary Foreign Workers

With governments around the world closing their borders, what to do about refugees and temporary foreign workers?

When Kristen and Kyla recorded, there was a lot of uncertainty around whether temporary foreign workers (TFW) will be allowed into the country, which could be a big problem for our food system – especially given that March and April are busy months. One idea is to allow TFWs and quarantine them. There are 140,000 TFWs in the Canadian agricultural sector (and that doesn’t include food processing). On March 18, the Government of Canada announced that it would allow TFW and international students to continue entering Canada despite border restrictions. Upon entering Canada, a 14-day quarantine will be applied.

But the pandemic also highlights gaps in access to healthcare for groups like TFWs. TFWs who are part-time or between contracts often don’t have medical coverage in Canada.

Unfortunately, there have been some columnists and Twitter personalities starting to call for the government to turn back asylum seekers, now that the Canada-US border is closed to non-essential travel. (We don’t want to amplify these voices, so we are not linking to them). Thankfully, so far the federal government is not barring irregular asylum seekers.

 

Kyla’s Three Champions

Companies That Shut Their Doors with Paid Leave

There are a number of companies that have voluntarily closed their doors, and are compensating their employees. Some of those include Patagonia, Apple, Indigo, Nike, Urban Outfitters, Lush, and more.

And shout out to the other high-risk places that have been isolating, it’s the right thing to do; ships, prisons, and care homes.

Doctors, Nurses, First Responders

Let’s take care of our healthcare workers while they take care of us. Best practice is to stay home if you can!

Capitalism Grinds to a Halt, the Environment Thanks Us?

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/16/asia/china-pollution-coronavirus-hnk-intl/index.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/coronavirus-shutdowns-have-unintended-climate-benefits-n1161921

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/climate/nyt-climate-newsletter-coronavirus.html

Bonus Champion: Brewdog

Brewery in the UK starts making and distributing hand sanitizer to hospitals.

Kyla’s Three Problems

Panic Buying

Panic is contagious, and herd-mentality sends us down a slippery slope. Oh wow, everyone is buying toilet paper, maybe there’s something they know that I don’t know? Guess I should pick up some extra as well. Which means shortages. Although interestingly, part of the TP shortage is caused by everyone staying home, which means fewer folks needing the industrial TP for offices, schools, and restaurants, and more needing the home-style stuff. This is a disruption in the supply chain for both types of TP, as they are produced by different companies.

Media

There’s been a lot of information sharing regarding the virus, and as with any major story, there is a lot of false information floating around. Please check your sources! Memes are not a source of news! This gets me too, from time to time. You see a meme that says something that sounds like it could be right, and it’s easy to believe it. This is how I thought sneezing wasn’t a symptom of Coronavirus, when it actually is. And this is how the toilet paper panic buying started. This is important! We highly recommend getting your news from the CBC.

Vulnerable Workers Left Hanging

https://globalnews.ca/news/6659997/coronavirus-ei-sickness-benefits/

https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/how-labour-policy-in-both-canada-and-the-u-s-affects-the-spread-of-coronavirus/