Waste not, want not – OASIS Floral Foam biodegrades
Waste not, want not – OASIS Floral Foam biodegrades
As we begin 2015, one of the food top trends reported by the National Restaurant Federation is sustainability, and this will certainly affect the grocery aisle. So how does this make its way to the floral department? Waste reduction, sustainability and social responsibility are all terms that are considered throughout store operations and important to consumers when making purchases.
Recently, Smithers-Oasis Co., makers of OASIS Floral Foam, launched a new twist on a product from 1954 — enhanced biodegradability. Enhanced biodegradability is a term used to describe products that degrade over a designated period of time and are certified through lab testing. OASIS Floral Foam Maxlife’s new foam formulation is designed for modern landfills and attracts microbes that break the foam down into methane, CO2 and organic matter. Testing based on the American Society for Testing and Materials standards shows that OASIS Floral Foam Maxlife will biodegrade 25 percent within 18 months in biologically active landfill conditions, while also keeping flowers fresh up to 50 percent longer than other floral foams. The company is also committed to continued improvement; testing is ongoing and as biodegradation rates continue, further information will be released.
The OASIS Floral Foam Maxlife formulation with Enhanced Biodegradability will be used in all OASIS Floral Products that use premium foam today, including bricks, bouquet holders and all shapes and forms. Packaging will also take on a new look, reverting back to a non-bleached, sustainably forestry initiative certified, craft carton to reduce the amount of chemicals used and assure that sourcing of the fiber used in the corrugate cartons is done responsibly.
As companies make a conscious effort to put sustainable practices into action, consumers’ interest in these products continue to grow. Year-over-year sales data analysis comparison done by Nielson show an average annual sales increase of two percent for products with sustainability claims on the packaging and a rise of five percent for products that promoted sustainability actions through marketing programs. And the benefit for companies is twofold — employing these responsible business practices can reduce costs, and if promoted properly, increase price. But the bottom line is culture change.
So as the new year begins, environmental concern and choosing products from companies with sustainable business practices will be on the top of your customers’ shopping list.
Jacque Sir Louis is marketing manager at Smithers-Oasis North America in Kent, OH. He can be contacted at [email protected].
