Revolutionizing Floristry: The Sustainable Solution with Phoam Labs and Dundee Butcher

Text Agony Aunt Roz with your Cutflower Questions. 🌿 Welcome to this week's episode! We're thrilled to introduce you to a game-changing innovation in the world of floristry. Join Roz as she sits down with Dundee Butcher, a key figure at Phoam Labs. Dundee shares the remarkable journey behind their sustainable floral product, a revolutionary alternative to traditional foam. Derived from corn-based polylactide, this eco-friendly solution promises to transform the way florists work, offering both creativity and conscientiousness in equal measure. Dive into this episode to uncover the science, passion, and collaborative effort that has gone into creating a product poised to make a significant difference in the floral industry and beyond. 🌸🌿 Key Takeaways: Dundee Butcher, a key figure in Phoam Labs, discusses their revolutionary sustainable floral product made from polylactide (PLA) derived from corn. The product is designed to be an eco-friendly alternative to traditional floral foam, which breaks down into harmful microplastics. Dundee emphasizes the importance of providing florists with sustainable tools to support their creative work without compromising the environment. The sustainable floral foam requires a slightly different soaking process compared to traditional foam. It is lighter when wet, offers excellent rigidity, and is highly wettable. Phoam Labs is actively engaged in compostability certification, with early results indicating over 95% degradation in eight weeks in an industrial compost pile. While the sustainable foam may be slightly more expensive than traditional foam, it is competitively priced compared to other sustainable alternatives. The product's potential extends beyond the floral industry, with applications in controlled growing environments and indoor agriculture. Dundee acknowledges the challenges faced during the development process, including the need for patience, overcoming unforeseen logistical hurdles, and maintaining a strong belief in the project's mission. The environmental impact of traditional floral foam, including its presence in landfills, is a significant concern, and education and awareness are crucial. The collaborative effort and expertise involved in this project are central to its success, highlighting the importance of a collective approach to sustainability. This sustainable floral foam represents a major step towards a more eco-conscious floral industry, potentially influencing other sectors with similar substrate needs. Dundee's dedication and the broader team's collective effort are driving forces behind this groundbreaking project. First Tunnels, leaders in domestic and commercial product tunnels. https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/newsletters The Growth Club: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/thegrowthclub Lots of free resources on our website: https://thecutflowercollective.co.uk/cut-flower-resources/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgateflowers Facebook Group 'Cut Flower Farming - Growth and Profit in your business' https://www.facebook.com/groups/449543639411874 Facebook Group 'The Cut Flower Collection' https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutflowercollection