Thursday, January 31, 2008

Tell Supermarkets to Stock Eco Certified Flowers!

Globalization has brought about a greater awareness and concern for partners in trading relationships with North America, and around the world. Environmental policies, like the Kyoto accord, are trying to bring accountability to companies who harm the environment. Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with where their products are coming from and under what social and environmental conditions they are produced. Reports of human rights abuses and harmful environmental practices have affected the sales of everything from running shoes and clothing to coffee and fresh produce.

Demand your supermarket & independent flower retailer to support ethical flower trading and the Sierra Eco Program by stocking Sierra Eco certified flowers. We know about organic, fair trade coffees and organic, fair trade teas, and we have heard about organic, fair trade flowers, but we don't yet see them in our supermarket flower section or at our favourite independent flower shops. The Sierra Eco Label supports and markets the sale of flowers from socially and environmentally responsible farms. Learn more about the Sierra Eco Label here: http://www.sierraeco.com/program_brand.asp.

To see how this program works - watch this excellent video - http://www.sierraeco.com/pr/agrocoex1_hs.wmv

Sierra Eco Certified flowers are found at environmentally conscious retailers. Though the market for organic flowers is still small (sales totaled $8 million in 2003, a fraction of the $19.4 billion consumers spent on all flowers nationally) - it's growing fast. Consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for products made without chemicals harmful to workers or the environment. Organic flower sales are expected to grow 13 percent annually through 2008, according to the Organic Trade Association.

Eco Certified flowers assure us that the producers at the beginning of the supply chain are receiving a fair price for their labor. Also, unlike many conventional flower plantations, where international standards for pesticide-use are disregarded, eco certified flower farmers adhere to all international pesticide legislation, with the most dangerous pesticides not used at all. Eco Certified means a fair deal for farmers, and a healthier environment for all of us.

Lake Naivasha was once considered one of the world's top ten sites for birds and a paradise of clear water, with beautiful papyrus and water lily fringes. A haven for African wildlife and a major source of water for the lakeside's quickly growing population. Now - Lake Naivasha, Kenya's second largest lake, has shrunk to half its original size and its water level has dropped three metres. Vital wetlands, are degraded beyond recognition. Nowhere in the world is water from one lake basin used to supply drinking water to two basins, electricity to a whole country's grid and flowers & vegetables to a whole continent. The rotting tissues of the hippo carcasses reveal the secret to perfect bouquets - DDT and, 40 times more toxic, Dieldrin - pesticides banned in countries whose markets have made Kenya the world's number on exporter. This is happening not only in Africa, but in developing countries all over the world.

Floriculture in South America - Although floriculture has brought many opportunities to these flower growing regions and surrounding communities, there have been devastating social and environmental costs. For more information: http://www.sierraeco.com/program_culture.asp
Certification Programs - Sierra Eco is now recognizing and promoting farms certified under the Veriflora certification system. Learn more about Veriflora here: http://www.sierraeco.com/program_cert.asp

Florists who sell Sierra Eco Certified Flowers: http://www.sierraeco.com/florists.asp

We know that it is vital to take a leadership position – by way of demanding responsibly grown flowers. The next time you go to your local flower shop, ask if they carry certified flowers. We know that real change will happen when consumers insist that the only kind of flowers they want to buy are sustainably grown, ethical flowers….certified Eco flowers!

Sign & deliver our letter to major supermarket chains asking for more eco certified flowers, and take action to start working with a supermarket in your community.

As a concerned citizen & customer, I am writing to request that your store begin selling Sierra Eco certified flowers in your flower section.

More and more customers are looking for organic & Fair Trade products, including flowers, because they support fair labor conditions and environmentally friendly farming practices. Sierra Eco certified flowers are high-quality and beautiful and should be available to customers for many reasons:
• Through Sierra Eco certification, flower farmers earn a living wage that enables them to not only cover production costs but also send their children to school and provide medical care to themselves and their families. Fair Trade premiums are also often invested in programs that teach farmers about recycling, organics, reforestation, and other strategies for building healthy communities.
• Sierra Eco certification standards forbid the use of the most dangerous toxic chemicals and pesticides, protecting workers in the field, and guaranteeing the safety of the flowers in your store.
• Sierra Eco certified flowers are better for our environment, as they are not genetically modified, and are grown using sustainable farming practices such as, mulching, non-chemical weed control, filtering waste-water, recycling, and safe waste management.

Additionally, I'm concerned about the human rights and environmental records of large conventional corporations. For example, Chiquita Brands Inc. recently paid a $25 million fine to the US government after pleading guilty to transacting with terrorist organizations in Colombia.
Listed below are several independent flower wholesalers from whom your current distributor can buy Sierra Eco Certified™ flowers. Please work with your stores and their distributor to contact these importers and start offering Sierra Eco certified flowers today! Also, for further information on Sierra Eco certified flowers, visit http://www.sierraeco.com/default.asp.

By offering Sierra Eco Certified flowers, you will distinguish your supermarket as one with an eye for quality, concern for environmental preservation, and a commitment to socially responsible business practice. This will further earn you the loyalty and respect of your customers. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Council of Canadians - London Chapter

3 comments:

Heather @ Wiggly Wigglers said...

I enjoyed reading your post about supermarkets and fair trade flowers. Whilst I am all for fair trade and organic I'm not convinced about the ethics of transporting flowers by air. What about sourcing flowers grown in this country and supporting British growers?

GreenDrinks London said...

I agree Karen - local is best. Thanks for the post.

Unknown said...

The trouble is that i dont think in this country that we could keep up with the demand for flowers all year round and whilst this could be achieved eventually, i dont think its going to happen in the short term. florists such as imogen stone and John Lewis offer fairtrade flowers and plants and its about time that supermarkets showed they had a corporate soul and supported their suppliers rather than their own profit margins!