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Green Your Brain: Why are Cut Flowers Such an Eco-Demon?

Sara Novak

By Sara Novak
Columbia, SC, USA | Tue Oct 21 16:26:00 GMT 2008

floral arrangement


michael hitoshi/Getty Images

READ MORE ABOUT:
Green Decor | Organic | Sustainable Flowers

Who knew the eco-disaster that cut flower arrangements could cause, but why? What make the stunning bouquet on your kitchen table such a burden to Mother Nature?

Did you know that cut flowers are a $40 billion a year industry that's doing major ecological damage? Seventy-nine percent of cut flowers come from Ecuador or Columbia and are grown with 12 different pesticides. These pesticides are getting workers sick and polluting our ground water.

The floral foam used to hold flowers in place, is a petroleum bi-product that off gases formaldehyde when soaked in water. This foam is not biodegradable and has been linked to lung cancer in rare cases of extended exposure. Leaf shine, commonly used to shine greenery and plants, is an aerosol product that is also bad for the lungs. Not to mention the chemical pesticides used to keep non-organic flowers looking lively.

Buy Succulents:
Skip the Cut Flowers; Choose Eco-Friendly Succulent Plants

Think you're a green expert? Does your green lifestyle need some tweaks? Watch the exciting green game show hosted by Tom Green, Go for the Green

 
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