Chicken wire is much better that floral foam and should be the first option when you are going to create a floral arrangement.

Is reusable, is more economical, the flowers are able to drink naturally and is much much better for the environment.

A win win for us and the planet.

Step by step to how to use chicken wire in a floral arrangement:

• Cut a square of chicken wire and fold it into a cushion shape, making sure that all the sharp edges of the chicken wire are twisted towards the inside of the cushion to avoid damaging the container.
• The size of the chicken wire required depends on the size and shape of the container. Unfortunately there is not a specific rule to follow but I am sure that after few attempts will much easier.
•  Place the chicken wire cushion into the container and if you have the possibility you can fix it with floral tape or with any other tape that you have available. The best method is create a cross on the wire with the tape and stick the end on the container. Try to use as little tape as possible and try to not make showing that much or you will need lots of flowers and foliage to cover it.
• If you decide to use a transparent glass vase a good trick is to line the container first with large simple leaves or a twist of trailing ivy to conceal the wire.

• Add water to your container and possibly includes some flowers food. Start your decoration by adding you foliage, make sure that the stems are long enough to reach the base of the vase and so they can drink easily and last for long time.
• Once you are the majority of foliage add your flowers and use the last foliage where required.
• Every few days or whenever you fill that is need it top up the water in the container.

Do you wonder why floral foam is not good for the environment?

Read here our blog post THE GREEN ALTERNATIVE TO FLORAL FOAM

Here at The Hiden Collective the impact that we have on our planet  is important to and we are trying our best to reduce our impact on the environment and consider all aspects of our activities no matter how small the impact maybe.

This is why we have chosen from the beginning of the  Collective not to use :

• non biodegradable cellophane,
• flowers foam,
• ribbon or any other nasty things….

Our flowers are gorgeously wrapped with an innovative biodegradable hydrating fabric (helping us to keep the flowers happy during their overnight carbon-neutral journey) water holding bag and hessian.

We want to share with you and encourage you to be creative and reuse the hessian to pro long it's life cycle. Celebrate it's brilliance of being so multi purpose or nurture your creativity by working it into your day to day wrapping needs! Here is some interesting facts about Hessian and some of our ideas of how to reuse the Hessian but we would love to hear what you do with yours?  

What is Hessian?

Hessian is an eco-friendly woven fabric made from skin of the jute plant.

Hessian is consider to have a lower environmental impact than cotton due to its less water intensive production process, fast growth and its ability to biodegrade in soil.

The strength of the hessian jute fibres means that the fabric does not easily tear or stretch, and keeps its strength even after being wet and dried repeatedly.

Historically hessian has been produced as a coarse fabric, but more recently it is being used in a refined state for creating bags, rugs and other products.

Hessian was first exported from India in the early 19th century and is mostly used to ship goods like coffee beans and tea (thanks to the fact that it is breathable and so resists condensation and associated spoilage of contents).

The word hessian is attributed to the historic use of the fabric in German soldiers uniforms, who were known as hessians.

What can you do with the Hessian flower wrapping? 

Concerns surrounding global warming are growing as the effects on our planet become more and more noticeable.

Despite this, waste is increasing yearly and causing severe pollution in our environment - according to government statistics, the UK produced around 37.9 million tonnes of commercial waste in 2019 alone.

To help reduce the carbon footprint of commercial waste, many businesses have adopted waste management practices that aim to improve recycling efforts and minimise waste.

Effective waste management practices can help businesses save money, reduce harmful emissions, and meet their green energy targets.

Below, we’re going to explore the different waste management processes that small businesses and independent retailers have adopted:

Setting up a recycling scheme

The first step to effective waste management is to create a recycling scheme that enables waste to be disposed of in a way that is responsible and sustainable.

The environmental benefits of recycling are well-known, yet a recent study found that the majority of UK companies don’t have a recycling policy in place.

A recycling policy allows businesses to review their environmental impact and identify ways to make their operations as sustainable as possible.

As part of a recycling scheme, companies must identify what items can be recycled within their business.

Fortunately, most common workplace items - including plastic, cardboard, glass, printer cartridges, and electrical equipment - can now be recycled.

Once businesses are aware of what they can recycle, they need to determine how their waste will be stored and transported to recycling facilities.

Many small and independent retailed choose to enter into a contract with a waste management company.

These companies will typically collect waste from your business premises, then transport it to local recycling facilities, thus providing a convenient method of green waste disposal.

Enforcing recycling policies

For a recycling scheme to be effective, businesses must communicate green policies with their employees and educate them on the importance of adopting sustainable practices in the workplace.

Employees play a crucial role in the success of business recycling schemes. For instance, if employees fail to properly separate items before placing them in recycling bins, then this could result in a whole batch of items being sent to landfill instead of being recycled.

It is, therefore, essential that businesses get their staff on board with their recycling efforts and create a green culture in the workplace.

Employers can help simplify the recycling process by storing recycling bins close to where the waste is produced and putting up signs reminding employees of the recycling policies.

Companies can also invest in equipment like balers to save both time and money.

Balers are innovative machines that compress recyclable materials like cardboard, paper, and plastic compactly. This allows these items to be stored and transported efficiently and means that employees don’t need to spend time manually flattening cardboard boxes.

Minimising waste

Another key way that small and independent retailers are reducing the carbon footprint of commercial waste, is by reducing the amount of waste produced in the first place.

In particular, many companies going paperless to minimise waste.

Switching to digital processes is now quick, easy, and is a highly effective way for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.

In addition to the environmental benefits, going paperless can also save companies significant amounts of money on office supplies and ensure that valuable data is stored securely.

Some companies are further reducing their environmental impact by minimising packaging or eliminating it completely.

Fortunately, there are many simple ways for businesses to reduce waste and minimise environmental harm - here are a few ideas:

Complete a waste management audit to assess what waste is being produced.

This helps businesses identify ways to reduce waste and avoid unnecessary waste i.e. duplicate invoices and documents.

Reduce packaging and try to reuse materials like boxes and wrapping whenever possible. Also, opt for packaging that can be recycled easily.

Purchase products that can be reused or recycled and avoid anything disposable. For example, companies should buy refillable pens and encourage staff to avoid using plastic water bottles.

Supporting Local Economies

There are many advantages to shopping at small and independent retailers, the main being that they give back to the local economy – according to Small Business, '£10 spent at a local independent shop means up to an additional £50 goes back into the local economy.’

This is due to the fact money is circulated more this way, as what you gave spent in an independent business is then often spent in restaurants and other local amenities.

By helping your community grow, you are contributing towards a healthier economy.

The most important reason why independent retailers benefit the economy is because usually, independent retailers startup because they would like the ability to make a difference.

Many small businesses today support disadvantage areas and sustainability – research shows that 66% of independent and small businesses give to local charities.

This suggests that independent retailers are fighting for causes that affect our planet – including climate change and waste production.

Final thoughts

Adopting effective waste management policies offers many benefits to businesses.

This includes reducing harmful emissions and helping companies to reach their environmental targets.

Many small and independent retailers are taking advantage of green practices as a way to save money and gain a competitive edge in the modern business world.

Consumers are increasingly becoming eco-conscious and searching for ways to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting green, sustainable businesses.

All companies should be taking responsibility for their waste by adopting green waste management policies like those discussed above.

The new year is around the corner and it’s time to set some resolutions. But how about you ditch those old cliche resolutions this year and instead make some ethical ones that make a difference to your environment as well as the entire planet?

Sounds interesting?

Here’s what you can add to your list of ethical new year resolutions 2021 - 

Say No To Plastic - Plastic is a big no when it comes to the environment so this new year, abandon everything that is plastic. So instead of going to a supermarket and buying a new plastic bag every time, invest in reusable tote bags that you can carry when you shop. 

And remember to say no to bottled water because they are the of the primary reason for polluting the oceans and beaches.

The Minimalist Lifestyle - Living a minimalistic lifestyle in simple words means being mindful of your purchases. It means to be aware of the consequences of what you spend your money on. There’s a line between shopping for your needs and fulfilling your wants. This year let’s try to be cautious of our purchases and enjoy the liberation that this new minimalistic life brings with it. 

No Palm Oil - Avoid eateries, makeups, sanitation commodities, or combustible that contains palm oil in the component listing. Palm oil is one of the reasons that contribute to disastrous changes like deforestation, global warming, human rights breaches, and deteriorating health when used. 

Sustainable Home Decor - When we talk about sustainable home decor, it is about being considerate to both living beings as well as the planet. It is about picking commodities that use the least resources which are long-lasting, or that can be reused or recycled, so as to make sure that we leave the world in a sound position and create succinct waste. 

This also habitually means utilising products that add to green living or adapting manners that help save resources like energy, water, etc.

Choosing to go for Eco-friendly home decor also lessens augmentations to different kinds of pollution which is why it is so important to be mindful about what you add to your living space.

Winter is on its way and that goes to say that Christmas is near.

The gleaming autumn shades of orange, gold, red, and brown are going to soon disappear and possibly all our trees are going to be decorated with white snow.

The festive season is fast approaching and we have the perfect solution for your gifts..

Flowers, yes!

Flowers are the perfect way to show how much you appreciate your loved ones. It's something about fresh flowers and the aroma of these gorgeous bunches that takes the cake!

So for the next set of questions - what are the best flowers that you can add to your list of Christmas gift ideas and on Christmas flowers delivery in the UK, we’ve taken care of it too!

We’ve specially curated a few bouquets that you can order on the go as your Christmas gift.

Attention on the climate emergency and the sense of ethical consumerism is increasing with time. 

So while most of the readily available bouquets out there are imported, this bouquet is made up of British grown flowers as it is considered to emit around 95% less CO2 emissions than the imported ones.

Additionally, they are wrapped with biodegradable hydrating fabric & reused coffee bags of hessian so you can celebrate a guilt-free green Christmas!

Now, let’s go over a few more tips for a Eco-friendly Christmas - 

• Choose Decorations Wisely - While decorations are the paramount part of Christmas, plastic decors just go down as waste once the party is over. So this year, go with long-lasting decorations that are environmental friendly and can be used again next year. Fabric and glass ornaments are great substitutes for plastic, and recycled wood is a great way to go too. 

• Dinner The Right Way - While ending up cooking too little is the worst nightmare for any host, ending up with a lot of leftovers isn’t pretty either. Buy according to your guest list, and cook according to what seems right for the amount of people joining for the meal. If you still end up with some leftovers consider including the veggies in a recipe the next day. 

• Send E-Cards - Rather than going for the paper cards, choose e-cards or other digital channels to connect with your loved ones. If you still prefer going traditional with the handwritten card, recycle old cards or paper. 

We hope we have given you something to think about at this special time of year which can be good for you and for our planet!  Here's to a very special Christmas period- goodness knows we all deserve it! 

Happy holidays!