Exploring Composting: U.S. Consumer Perceptions & Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Environmental Practices in the Floral Industry
By Cindy Hanauer, Grand Central Floral
Composting is one of the easiest ways to begin a sustainability program. The practice of composting has been around a considerable amount of time, with evidence of ancient civilizations composting as far back as 4,000 years ago. However, the modern method of composting as an agricultural practice began in the 1920s.
A florist can recycle and compost green waste by separating plant trimmings and organic matter, such as leaves and flowers, from plastic and non-organic waste. Mix the waste with brown materials such as shredded newspaper or sawdust, and add some water to moisten the mixture. These plant materials can be composted using a compost bin or heaping in a pile or row, which will break down the organic matter and turn it into nutrient-rich soil amendment. The finished compost can then be used as a fertilizer for potted plants or returned back to the soil to achieve a robust agricultural crop.
So, what if you don’t have a garden or outdoor growing area? Some florists partner with local composting facilities, floral growers, or agriculture farms to dispose of their green waste sustainably (a list of composting facilities can be found on the US Composting Council’s website.) A business may also arrange for compost pickup by contacting their local waste management or composting company to see if they offer collection services. If not, many cities have community composting programs where residents can drop off their compost.
The Floral Marketing Fund’s recent study, U.S. Consumer Perceptions & Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Environmental Practices in the Floral Industry, explores consumers’ perspectives on sustainable practices, including composting and recycling, among many other sustainable practices.
So, what are your consumers saying is the willingness to pay value of composting floral waste?
And the survey says…
The majority of participants shared a willingness to pay a premium of 10% or more for flowers to a floral provider that recycles their flower waste through composting rather than disposing of it in a landfill. This was the second most influential sustainable practice where consumers are willing to pull out their wallets behind locally sourcing flowers.
Does age impact this response? When asked to “indicate how much more, if any, you would be willing to pay for a flower arrangement made by a retail floral provider that recycles their flower waste through composting rather than disposing of floral waste in a municipal landfill,” it was found that in all age groups, except for those 65 years of age and older, indicated a willingness to pay of 10% or more for flowers to a floral provider that composts their floral waste.
Additionally, some local, county, and state governmental bodies offer incentives for composting, such as tax credits or rebates for purchasing composting equipment or using compost in agriculture. Contact your local government, county extension agency, or waste management company to see if any incentives or programs are available in your area.
Is your business already composting? If so, we’d love to hear about it!
To read the full study, view additional articles on other sustainable practices, and watch webinars, click here. You can share any of your own business experiences with us at firstname.lastname@example.org.
"Kuchunguza Composting: Uwezo wa Watumiaji wa Marekani na Utayari wa Kulipa kwa Mazoea ya Mazingira ya Uendelevu katika Sekta ya Maua ""Kwa Cindy Hanauer, Grand Central Floral Composting ni moja ya njia rahisi za kuanza mpango wa uendelevu." Utaratibu wa kutengeneza mbolea umekuwapo kwa muda mrefu, na ushahidi wa ustaarabu wa kale wa kutengeneza mbolea unarudi nyuma hadi miaka 4,000 iliyopita. Hata hivyo, mbinu ya kisasa ya composting kama mazoezi ya kilimo ilianza katika miaka ya 1920. Mfanyabiashara wa maua anaweza kuchakata na kutengeneza mbolea kwa kutenganisha vipande vya mimea na vitu vya kikaboni, kama vile majani na maua, kutoka kwa plastiki na taka zisizo za kikaboni. Kuchanganya taka na vifaa vya rangi ya kahawia kama vile magazeti yaliyokatwa au mchanga wa mbao, na kuongeza maji ili kunyunyizia mchanganyiko. Mimea hii inaweza kuyeyushwa kwa kutumia chombo cha mchanga au kuunganishwa kwenye rundo au safu, ambayo itavunja vitu vya kikaboni na kuigeuza kuwa marekebisho ya udongo yenye virutubisho. Mbolea hiyo inaweza kutumiwa kama mbolea kwa ajili ya mimea ya sufuria au kurudishwa ardhini ili kutokeza mazao mazuri. Kwa hiyo, vipi ikiwa huna bustani au eneo la kukuza nje? Baadhi ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua ya maua. Kampuni inaweza pia kupanga kukusanya mbolea kwa kuwasiliana na usimamizi wa taka wa ndani au kampuni ya mbolea ili kuona ikiwa wanatoa huduma za ukusanyaji. Ikiwa sivyo, majiji mengi yana programu za uundaji wa mbolea za jamii ambapo wakazi wanaweza kuacha mbolea zao. Utafiti wa hivi karibuni wa Mfuko wa Uuzaji wa Maua, Uwezo wa Watumiaji wa Marekani na Utayari wa Kulipa kwa Mazoea ya Mazingira ya Uendelevu katika Sekta ya Maua, unachunguza maoni ya watumiaji juu ya mazoea endelevu, pamoja na uundaji wa mbolea na kuchakata, kati ya mazoea mengine mengi endelevu. Kwa hivyo, ni nini watumiaji wako wanasema ni utayari wa kulipa thamani ya kutengeneza taka za maua? Utafiti huo ulionyesha kuwa washiriki wengi walikuwa tayari kulipa malipo ya 10% au zaidi kwa maua kwa mtoaji wa maua ambaye anatumia taka zao za maua kupitia mbolea badala ya kuzitupa kwenye mahali pa kuondoa taka. Hii ilikuwa njia ya pili yenye ushawishi zaidi ya kudumu ambapo watumiaji wako tayari kutoa mkoba wao nyuma ya maua ya ndani. Je, umri unaathiri mwitikio huo? "Wakati aliulizwa ""kuonyesha kiasi gani zaidi, ikiwa kuna, ungekuwa tayari kulipa kwa mpangilio wa maua uliofanywa na mtoaji wa maua wa rejareja ambaye hutumia taka zao za maua kupitia ufumbuzi badala ya kuondoa taka za maua katika mahali pa kuondoa taka za manispaa,"" iligunduliwa kwamba katika vikundi vyote vya umri, isipokuwa wale wenye umri wa miaka 65 na zaidi, walionyesha utayari wa kulipa 10% au zaidi kwa maua kwa mtoaji wa maua ambaye hutumia taka zao za maua." Kwa kuongezea, baadhi ya mashirika ya serikali ya mitaa, kaunti, na serikali ya jimbo hutoa motisha kwa ajili ya composting, kama vile mikopo ya kodi au punguzo kwa ajili ya kununua vifaa vya composting au kutumia compost katika kilimo. Wasiliana na serikali yako ya eneo lako, shirika la upanuzi wa kaunti, au kampuni ya usimamizi wa taka ili uone ikiwa kuna motisha au programu zinazopatikana katika eneo lako. Je, biashara yako tayari inaweka mbolea? Ikiwa ndivyo, tungependa kusikia juu yake! Ili kusoma utafiti kamili, angalia makala za ziada juu ya mazoea mengine endelevu, na angalia webinars, bonyeza hapa. Unaweza kushiriki uzoefu wako wa biashara na sisi kwa kutumia barua pepe ya kwanza na ya mwisho.