Our Sustainability Statement

Our Mission

Featherstone's mission is to provide sustainably grown, seasonal flowers to both retail and wholesale customers. We pledge to treat everyone with respect, share our passion for seasonal, local flowers, and empower our communities to thrive. We acknowledge and incorporate the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental—in all our business decisions.

Featherstone's is committed to a robust sustainability strategy, reflecting our core values of balancing people, profit, and planet. Our business model revolves around replacing imported flower stems, eliminating single-use plastic, increasing biodiversity, and educating our local and professional communities on sustainable practices.

Our business was founded on the principle of sustainability, driven by a passion for horticulture, the environment and a desire to enhance the supply of locally grown cut stems to both retail and wholesale markets. We firmly believe that a luxury like flowers should not harm the planet, aligning our mission with the shared values of our community.

Our core values revolve around localism and seasonality. We aim to connect people with the natural world and the changing seasons, thereby reducing the overall ecological impact of events such as weddings and funerals. Our commitment to transparency is reflected in open, honest, and truthful communications.

Central to our strategy is a focus on creating a financially sustainable business that cares for its staff, the land we occupy, and enables our customers to reduce their carbon footprint. We maintain an open and supportive workplace.

We strive to provide a high-quality service to customers, encouraging the use of locally grown stems while setting an example for quality and reliability in the flower farming community. Opening our doors to the public, we provide opportunities for them to witness our sustainable practices, fostering education in sustainable floristry.

Our networks foster positive relationships between farmers and florists, promoting collaboration in a supportive and non-judgmental manner.

In terms of scope, sustainability permeates every aspect of our operations:

We grow our flowers according to the principles of regenerative agriculture. These practices protect the soil and allow the life in it to recover. This reduces the reliance on fertilisers, prevents run-off and reduces water usage. We only use organic approved fertilisers and plant invigorators.
We are constantly looking to be improving the land which we manage to boost biodiversity and have already seen a huge increase in insect numbers and variety of species on the land.
We never use imported flowers means that bouquets and arrangements from Featherstone’s have a carbon footprint 95% less than those of an average bouquet of imported blooms.
We consistently assess and minimize emissions and waste. Our waste reduction efforts have led to 100% waste-free weddings, where all plant material is composted, and mechanics are reused.
In our floristry we strive to only use compostable or re-usable mechanics and are looking at ways to reduce or swap packaging for that which is less environmentally damaging.

Collaboration is key, and we openly support and collaborate with other businesses in their sustainable missions.

We are members of Flowers From the Farm, the Sustainable Wedding Alliance, and the Association of Green Funeral Directors.

Sustainability Strategy 1.3
May 2025

Featherstone Flowers remains deeply committed to sustainable floristry. Our 2025 strategy builds on what we’ve learned in the past year—refining existing practices and developing new ones to ensure that our flower farm and floristry business continues to be environmentally responsible, people-focused, and economically viable.

On the Farm

Increased Production
We expanded our growing capacity in 2024 by creating new flower beds, to use the space more efficiently and improving the way we use them. Beds are now covered when not in use to protect soil health and reduce turnaround time. We are also creating new beds around our barn to grow flowers for education, floristry and photography. We are still using our app to track harvests, but there is scope to expand its use further.
Additional Land
Although no new land has been taken on yet, expansion remains a medium-term goal, with plans to secure more growing space by the end of 2025.
Perennials & Soil Health
We’ve increased the number of perennials on the farm and removed those that weren’t productive or well suited to our site. Some gaps remain, which we plan to fill as part of our long-term soil and plant health strategy.
Biodiversity Focus
The shelterbelt and biodiversity study remain priorities, though not yet in progress. A wildlife pond is still in planning as part of the garden at the barn.
Energy & Water Use
Biodiesel was explored but ruled out due to tractor limitations. Timed irrigation was successful in the polytunnel in 2024, and in 2025 we’re expanding drip irrigation with timers to more outdoor beds.

Business Operations & Partnerships

Collaborations
We’ve expanded our network of sustainability-minded partners, including a local funeral director and a luxury hotel. More partnerships are in development with additional funeral directors and businesses. We are now working with a local university who highly value sustainability, local sourcing and biosecurity as well as the National Trust who have come to us for our sustainability credentials.
Technology & Data
The harvest-tracking app is yielding useful data. However, we recognise the need to collect additional data to better understand productivity and profitability.
Sustainability Review
Our planned February 2024 review was delayed but is underway. Sustainability remains a key factor in decision-making, though recording those decisions more systematically is a goal for 2025.
Supplier Assessment
We have reviewed and updated our supplier list, replacing some suppliers based on sustainability performance and adding new ones with stronger environmental policies.
Waste Management
Packaging returns (notably moss) are working well. Winter waste has increased slightly due to higher demand, but we are offsetting this by growing more of our own winter flowers and foliage. Glass recycling is being planned following staff training updates.
Carbon Footprint
Our 2024 CO2e study has just been completed. A more comprehensive Scope 3 study remains a future goal.
Staff Engagement
Sustainability continues to be embedded in monthly staff meetings. Our team remains highly committed to this area.
Transport & Equipment
EV delivery options have decreased due to external supplier changes, and we are relying more on our own van. All new electrical items are now purchased second-hand or refurbished.

Customer-Facing, Product & Community Engagement

Communication & Education
We’ve not hosted formal sessions this year, but sustainability resources remain available via our blog and have been shared externally with partners.
Packaging Innovation
We didn’t implement the 'naked bouquet' option as planned. We've changed some packaging suppliers and are trialling a more sustainable option in 2025.
Zero-Waste Weddings
We regularly discuss our zero waste weddings with customers and clients and now repurpose flowers after events as a matter of course. Customers are informed about this as a matter of course and it is simply part of our event package.
Resources & Flower Club
Educational content is embedded in our Flower Club sessions, where sustainability is a regular theme.

Education & Staff Development

Ongoing Learning
Carbon Literacy training has not yet been completed. Sustainability remains a standing item in staff and Flower Club discussions.
Education Review
No formal education review was carried out in 2024. We are working with creating developmental goals for those who are interested.

Our 2025 strategy reflects progress, learning, and a few delays, but our direction remains clear. We are strengthening the areas that work, identifying where we can go further, and continuing to build a floristry business grounded in respect for nature and community.

Our Carbon Footprint

1st January 2024 - 1st January 2025

Scope 1 & 2: 6.1 tonnes CO2e

Carbon Intensity = 0.9 tonnes CO2/employee

Breakdown:

3.1 tonnes CO2e Buildings

2.3 tonnes CO2e Cars & Transport

0.7 tonnes CO2e Vehicle Fuel

These numbers are considered to be very low and do not consider the sequestering of carbon that the flower field achieves (estimated to be around 1 tonne CO2e per year). Read the full report here.

We are looking into ways to reduce our carbon footprint further. We have already implemented many sustainable practices into our work

How we conduct business:

Furniture is second-hand wherever possible
Electronics second-hand (fridge, freezer, dishwasher, microwave)
Coffee from Winchester Roasters – a local company who are transparent about sourcing fairtrade and sustainable coffee beans.
Tea – plastic free bags from companies with strong ethics and fairtrade purchasing
Office is a recycled shed.
Use second-hand furniture.
Committed to only purchasing re-conditioned or second-hand electronics.
Partnerships with many small artisan businesses
Artisan market which carefully selects local craftspeople with sustainability practices that align with ours
Pay staff above living wage and run an inclusive, positive and supportive atmosphere.
Unable to control our own energy supplier – but asking what can be done to source greener energy.
Recycling old ink cartridges

Flower sourcing:

Grow as many of our own flowers as possible meaning zero travel miles to reach us and we are sure of the way they are grown.
Only buy in British (English) grown flowers. We know that they are grown buy companies who employ staff responsibly and grow using green energy (or are moving towards using more green energy). These flowers are also not transported by air.
Embrace seasonality as much as possible – we like to use flowers in their natural seasons when buying in. For example we use lots of narcissi at the beginning of the year as they will take the least energy to produce. (They also help us to feel seasons and appreciate the change in flowers throughout the seasons)
Keep in touch with our suppliers to find out what they are doing to keep improving on their sustainability.
Avoid regularly purchasing certain flowers we know have a higher carbon footprint in their production (such as lillies) than others
Communicate with our suppliers to ensure they are moving to be as sustainable as possible.

Floristry:

Only use packaging which is either re-used, recyclable and/or home -compostable. Vases are all made of recycled glass where possible but are also higher quality and can be re-used indefinitely.
Delivery partners who use electric vehicles (https://www.local-zero.co.uk/)
Never use floral foam or any of its ‘eco’ alternatives.
Deliver 100% waste-free weddings
Deliver 100% biodegradable/compostable funeral flowers
Use re-useable mechanics in all our floristry such as chicken wire and willow structures.
Source British made as much as possible
Choose high-quality long-lasting equipment avoiding single use items.
Always look for the sustainable options – envelopes for our gift cards are made from recycled sugar-beet
Enable others to purchase zero waste stems by offering buckets of blooms. Stems are transferred into customers buckets meaning no wrapping at all.
We do not promise specific flowers to our customers – unless we are 100% sure we can supply. For example, weddings are conducted based on colour themes and the style rather than specific blooms which leaves us flexibility in which flowers we use. This means we never have to resort to using imported stems.
Buy quality tools which will last (Niwaki)

How we encourage others:

Sustainable church flower demonstrations given free which teach about sourcing British flowers and sustainable mechanics
Workshops which teach flower arranging using locally grown flowers and foliage throughout the year and sustainable mechanics
Supply sustainable floristry materials such as chicken wire in small quantities and sustainably sourced moss
Have a good selection of items available to hire, which come with sustainable mechanics and prevent people buying their own, using once and throwing away.
Open days which promote British flowers and sustainable mechanics
Contribute to the improvement of mixed flower farms wholesale supply.
Work with florists to supply our own grown flower stems in large quantities.

Farming and land

Choose to restrict the number of single use bulbs – we do not grow hyacinths and are reducing the number of tulips that we grow and reducing our reliance on them.
Increasing the proportion of perennial crops which we grow. These require less water & food, are more tolerant of drought and floods and are excellent for the soil as their roots prevent the breakdown of the soil and create a healthy environment for the soil flora and fauna.
Working at ways to reduce our reliance on plastic ground-cover materials which slowly breakdown over time, increase ground temperature and create an excellent habitat for pests.
Use woodchip where possible as ground cover which is excellent for
- regulating soil temperature and moisture
- breakdown slowly improving the organic matter in the soil creating much healthier soil.
Avoid digging the soil over which releases carbon into the atmosphere and destroys soil life
By protecting and enhancing the soil and building soil life we reduce reliance on fertilisers and water.
Do not grow with additional heat – most of our plants are grown outside.
Grow a wide range of flowers which means that if one does not suit the weather and quality is not high enough¸ we always have another option without having to resort to buying in flowers.
Log piles for insects
Only use organic approved fertilisers
Use composted local green waste to mulch beds
Wrap flowers in used newspapers for wholesale sales.
Hort supplies from Fargro who support their customers in their sustainable endeavours in horticulture production, waste reduction and sustainable sourcing. Helping growers move to peat free: https://fargro.co.uk/solutions/sustainability/peat-free/helping-growers-make-the-switch-to-peat-free
Repurpose old yoghurt tubs by cutting up and using for plant labels
Buy secondhand extra rigid propagation trays which have already been around many years and will do us decades to come
Use organic peat free compost – looking into UK made as currently ours is coir based.