There are many changes that we need to make right now if we want to ensure that the planet remains green and gorgeous for our children and grandchildren.

What does biodegradable mean?

When it comes to the meaning of biodegradable, we need to look at the wider picture of sustainability. Biodegradability refers to whether or not a product can be broken down, and reabsorbed, without causing any harm to the surrounding environment. Microbes, fungi and bacteria are responsible for naturally breaking down items.

However, this is rather simplistic. Different things take different lengths of time to break down. And some release harmful gases or chemicals in the process. It also needs clarification because most things will break down eventually, but it may take hundreds of years to do so.

Therefore, the term ‘biodegradable’ can be a little confusing and misleading when you’re trying to make sustainable choices. Especially when it comes to packaging and single-use items. This has been exacerbated because the term has been used widely from a marketing perspective. 

In order to stick to being truly biodegradable, you want to choose natural products and avoid plastic as much as possible. Having said that, if the only alternatives available are made with biodegradable plastic versus traditional plastic, then the greener choice is to go with the biodegradable version and dispose of it properly.

What does eco mean?

‘Eco’ is a very generic term. In its loosest sense, it’s a prefix, and simply means anything ‘connected with the environment.’ 

However, nowadays it is more weighted in common usage. If a term has eco as a prefix, then it is generally considered to be something that is good in environmental terms.

An excellent example of this is with the term ‘eco-friendly’.

What does eco-friendly mean?

Eco-friendly is an example of the prefix ‘eco’ in action. If something is eco-friendly then it is considered to be something that is good, or kind, to the environment. 

It’s seen to not be harmful. Therefore you can have eco-friendly products such as an eco-friendly shower puff, but you can also have eco-friendly processes, decisions or actions, such as how to make an eco-friendly home.

It’s possible to see that eco-friendly is also closely tied up with our understanding of sustainability. 

In many ways, the two go hand in hand.

What does zero waste mean?

Zero waste is a concept, or principle. 

It is the aim to change how we consume things so that waste is prevented and ultimately eliminated. 

This would mean that no waste ends up in landfills and incinerators, as well as in the natural environment, such as our oceans.

Going Zero Waste explains it as “We aim to send nothing to landfill. 

We reduce what we need, reuse as much as we can, send little to be recycled, and compost what we cannot.” 

They go on to explain that “the circular economy mimics nature in that there is no trash in nature.”

Zero waste as a concept has most significance for individuals when they consider the packaging that the items they consume come in. 

By choosing products such as the zero waste starter kit, consumers can actively choose to create less waste through their purchasing decisions.

Creating an eco-workspace: get the basics right

Natural light is really important to our wellbeing, particularly at work. So if possible, position your desk and chair in a spot flooded with natural light. You’ll feel more invigorated and energised for work.

Lastly, bring the outdoors in. 

Plants are proven to help reduce workplace stress, so why not surround your workspace with some greenery? 

If you’re tight for space, then make use of these beautiful crochet plant hangers. 

Made with 100% recycled cotton, and available in a range of colours, they definitely fit the green bill!

The days are starting to get longer in early Spring and this is an exciting period for the British cut flowers grower as they start to see some of the result of the previous months planting.

The weather is getting warmer and when you look at the countryside you are able to start to spot bouncing lambs and beautiful blooms like daffodils and bluebells.

Like most growing living things, British grown flowers are affected by the seasons, the weather, and other regional natural changes. 

As a result some of the flowers listed in this early Spring flowers seasonal guides may not be available at a certain time. 

Would you like to know more about  British flowers?

Are you curious to see the difference between emissions of CO2 between British flowers and Dutch flowers?

Have a look at our BEST BLOOMS - BRITISH BLOOMS  blog post and I can promise you that after that you realise how much more CO2 has been produced by the imported flowers you will always want to source British Flowers.

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.

Are you wondering what  each flower symbolise? If they have a meaning?

I am sure that everybody knows that red roses represent love, but what about all the other flowers?

The meaning of flowers trough history

For centuries throughout Asia & Europe flowers have been recognised for their symbolic language.

They have held an important part in Mythologies, folklore and sonnets.

They are also often found in the ancient civilisations of the Egyptians, Chinese,  and Greeks  as well as holding importance in  Romans plays and also in Shakespeare's works.

During the Victorian times learning the special symbolism of flowers became a popular pastime (called floriography) . Believe it or not the two books that you will find in almost any home was the Bible and the meaning of flower books!.

Flowers were used to deliver messages that couldn't be spoken aloud, for instance  if you wanted to say "yes" you will hand flowers to the receiver with your right hand and for a "no" you will pass the flowers with your left hand.

Also depending on how the flowers were presented would change the meaning, that is  if the flowers were given upside down the message was the opposite of what was traditionally meant.

Through the years the meaning of some flowers have changed significantly and different cultures have their own symbolic meaning for different flowers. 

What flowers symbolised? 

Do you want to send your partner a rose to show love? Or are you looking for a different flower with a different meaning? However you want to express yourself, say it with flowers! There's practically a flower for every mood you are feeling...... 

• Amaryllis - Pride
• Anemone - Sickness
• Apple Blossom - Preference
• Aster - Symbol Of Love
• Bay Tree - Glory
• Bluebell - Humility
• Carnation - Love
• Chamomile - Patience in Adversity
• Chrysanthemum Red - I love you
• Chrysanthemum Yellow - Slighted Love
• Chrysanthemum White - Truth
• Clematis - Mental Beauty
• Crocus - Youthful Gladness
• Cyclamen - Resignation
• Daffodil - Regard
• Dahlia - Good Taste
• Daisy - Innocence
• Forget Me Not - True Love Memories
• Gladiolus - Remembrance
• Holly - Foresight
• Hyacinth - Sport
• Blue Hyacinth - Constancy
• Purple Hyacinth - Sorrow
• Yellow Hyacinth - Jealousy
• White Hyacinth - Loveliness
• Hydrangea - Gratitude For Being Understood
• Iris - A Message
• Lavender  - Distrust
• Lilly Calla - Beauty
• Lilly Of The Valley - Sweetness
• Marigold - Despair
• Peony - Happy Life
• Poppy - Consolation
• Rose Red - Love
• Rose Pink - Happiness
• Rose White - I'm worthy of you
• Rose Yellow - Jealously
• Sunflowers - Adoration
• Sweet Pea - Delicate Pleasure
• Sweet William - Gallantry
• Tulip Red - Passion
• Tulip Yellow - Sunshine In Your Smile

Meaning of flowers by colour:

I am sure that is not a surprise that the Red Rose symbolises love and desire but roses come in a variety of colours and each has their own meaning.

• White rose: purity, innocence, reverence, a new beginning, a fresh start.
• Red rose: love, I love you
• Deep, dark crimson rose: mourning
• Pink rose: grace, happiness, gentleness
• Yellow rose: jealousy, infidelity
• Orange rose: desire and enthusiasm
• Lavender rose: love at first sight
• Coral rose: friendship, modesty, sympathy

What meaning do you want to send in your flowers today?