FLORAL FOAM: Prepping for foam-free installations can take a little more effort but it’s worth it. As we all head into a busy wedding season, I want to encourage everyone to seek out alternatives to floral foam this year. If the environment isn’t a concern to you, I would hope your own health and the health of your community is. Floral foam IS toxic. It is comprised of carcinogenic substances including formaldehyde, barium sulfates and carbon black. These substances are inhaled when the foam is dry and are absorbed into your skin when it’s wet. Being in contact with these toxins has shown a negative impact on fertility, can create skin issues and cause cancer. Any amount of foam debris that gets washed down your sink can cause harm to micro organisms in the water supply. Foam that gets thrown into the landfill plays a part in negatively impacting the surrounding marginalized communities who are in close proximity to the toxic choices people make. Perhaps we are privileged enough that we can simply get rid of it without thought or feeling impacted by it, but other people have to live with our choices absorbing into their environment. These blocks of foam become micro plastics and are eventually washed out of landfills, absorb into the surrounding land, bodies of water, impacting mammals, marine life, our food supply and so much more. For what? I used floral foam on a regular basis just a few years ago. It’s never too late to have a realization based on new knowledge and declare that you’re going to officially make a change. I’m not here to shame you for your choices, but I hope to just show you it’s ok to change your mind, learn new ways, and gently help others do the same. ❤️ #nofloralfoam #floristry #floraldesign #flowers #floraldesigner #floralarrangement #floralinstallation #foamfreeinstallation #sustainability #healthyliving #healthiswealth #healthiseverything #nontoxicliving #nontoxichome #floristryschool #floristrycourse #floristrystudent #floristryclass