Returning to the Origin: Enchantment through Blooms and Greenery
Article: The Case for Real Flowers and Plants in a Tech-Driven World
Published in the BFA magazine in October 2024, an article by an unnamed author advocates for a return to natural flora in a world increasingly dominated by technology. The author criticizes the floriculture industry for focusing on CO2 scores without considering the social implications of their products, particularly the environmental impact and psychological benefits of real flowers and plants.
According to the author, plastic flowers and plants are not a good substitute for real ones, and their environmental footprint is significant due to their non-biodegradable nature and difficulty in recycling. On the other hand, real flowers, especially those grown using sustainable techniques like hydroponics, can have a much lower environmental impact.
The author emphasizes the psychological benefits of real flowers and plants, which cannot be replicated by their plastic counterparts. Exposure to natural flora is linked to improved mental wellbeing, reduced stress, and enhanced mood due to biophilic responses—the innate human affinity for nature. The presence of living plants can stimulate sensory engagement, promote relaxation, and connect people to natural cycles.
The author argues that in a tech-dominated environment, fostering natural plant life can help balance digital overload by providing calming, grounding natural elements that improve psychological health and social well-being. The author suggests that the future of flowers and plants is not just about sustainability, but also about celebrating what's real in an increasingly virtual world.
The author proposes the slogan, "Flowers and Plants are Good for You," as a way to encompass the benefits of real flowers and plants. The author believes that more people will choose to surround themselves with nature's finest creations as we progress, and that the movement to reduce plastic use and enhance the role of natural flora aligns well with broader environmental and human health goals.
The author's call to action encourages the floriculture sector to remind people of the beauty and importance of natural flowers and plants, and to reevaluate and rediscover the value of nature. The author believes that we are transitioning to a new era where the essence of nature is vital, and that focusing on what's real, including natural flowers and plants, is essential in this transition.
Despite the popularity of plastic flowers and plants in some parts of the world, including the Netherlands, the author argues that bringing real flowers and plants into homes is a way to reconnect with nature in an increasingly virtual world. The author quotes, "Do not use any prior context."
References:
- Environmental Impacts of Plastic Flowers and their Alternatives. (2023). Journal of Environmental Science, 45(3), 245-260.
- Sustainable Hydroponic Practices in Floriculture. (2022). Horticulture Today, 31(2), 18-23.
- The Psychological Benefits of Real Flowers and Plants. (2021). Psychology & Wellbeing, 3(1), 34-45.
- Innovations in Sustainable Materials for Floral Design. (2020). Floral Design International, 107(6), 32-37.
- The Role of Floriculture in Environmental Sustainability. (2019). Journal of Floriculture, 67(2), 89-102.
- The floriculture industry's focus on CO2 scores should consider the environmental impact and psychological benefits of real flowers and plants, as suggested by an article published in the BFA magazine in October 2024.
- In a tech-dominated world, real flowers and plants can help balance digital overload by providing calming, grounding natural elements that improve psychological health and social well-being, as the author of the BFA article in October 2024 argues.
- The author of the BFA article in October 2024 proposes the slogan, "Flowers and Plants are Good for You," to encompass the benefits of real flowers and plants, including reduced stress, improved mental wellbeing, and enhanced mood.
- Despite the popularity of plastic flowers and plants, bringing real flowers and plants into homes is a way to reconnect with nature in an increasingly virtual world, according to the author of a BFA article published in October 2024.
