Gail Smith Flowers is committed to leading the industry in terms of minimising the impact of its activities on the environment. Environmental sustainability and minimising our carbon footprint is at the heart of what we do, shaping much of our practice. As a small company we have an informal but none the less a very highly developed environmental policy. As professional florists and informed individuals the whole team is extremely committed to reducing our carbon footprint and advising clients how we can help reduce theirs with the designs and procedures we suggest.
The most important element of our environmental policy is to source locally grown flowers. With this goal we have built up a huge database of knowledge regarding seasonality and availability of flowers, foliages and plants from UK and European growers. This information is extremely specialised and has taken over 20 years to acquire as we continue to foster good relationships with UK suppliers.
Code of Practice
-To use locally grown flowers and foliage wherever possible
-Minimise waste by evaluating operations and ensuring that they are as efficient as possible.
-All waste is sorted and recycled where possible.
-Green waste is composted
-Packaging is reused, e.g. boxes are returned to our suppliers to be reused and paper used by our suppliers is re-used by us for wrapping in the shop, polystyrene is used in planters for drainage
-Reuse of vases and containers
-Donating plants and flowers to community projects.
-Reduced travelling by being based in N1.
-Using public transport to get to site visits when not carrying goods
-Creative / imaginative low energy designs for clients who are sympathetic to green issues.
-Flowers leftover from events are never thrown away. They are given to clients, other contractors, community groups, charities (e.g. Floral Angels) or staff. Reused if ever possible and dried e.g. for use in Christmas decorations.
-Running a paperless office, documents are not printed
-Member of van/car sharing club, committed to running only one vehicle.
-Encourage the adoption of similar principles by our suppliers
-Gail Smith Flowers will meet or exceed all the environmental legislation that relates to the company.
These are some of the commitments we have made toward sustainability, please ask if you want any more information.
info@gailsmith.co.uk | T 0207 697 9284
279 Liverpool Road, London, N1 1LX
Please visit instagram @gailsmithflowers for the most up to date images of our work
© Gail Smith 2020