Sustainability template helps florists improve operations and efficiency

The American Floral Endowment introduced a sustainability planning template for wholesale florists at the 2026 WFFSA Floral Distribution Conference in Miami.

Developed through industry input and survey data, the template provides a framework for assessing operations and setting measurable sustainability goals. It covers areas including packaging, post-harvest management, sourcing, transportation, energy and water use.

The tool uses a stoplight system to help businesses evaluate current practices and prioritize improvements. It also guides users through leadership reviews, team discussions and development of sustainability metrics.

Amanda Solliday, senior program manager for Sustainabloom, said the tool is designed to be flexible.

“These tools not only provide guidance, but help floral wholesale businesses take action and make it easier to communicate their efforts,” she said.

The resource aims to help wholesalers address challenges such as rising costs, supply chain disruptions and product spoilage while improving efficiency and customer trust.

Kari Stringfellow, executive vice president of the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association, said the framework supports practical progress.

“Sustainability continues to be an important focus for our members, and having a clear, adaptable framework like this makes the work feel achievable,” she said.

The template is available as a free download and builds on a similar tool released for retail florists in 2025.

Photo courtesy of the American Floral Endowment.