Tara Joins Global Sustainability Floristry Network

21 August 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MATAKANA FLORIST TARA SOUTHGATE OF TWIG & BLOOM JOINS GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE FLORISTRY NETWORK

After completing the ‘Foundation in Sustainable Floristry’ course, Tara Southgate of Twig & Bloom has become a Sustainable Floristry Network Member Florist. Member Florists are setting a new standard for floristry by driving change in the industry.

“At Twig & Bloom, sustainability isn’t a trend — it’s a commitment. Every stem, wrap, and choice we make is guided by a deep respect for nature and a desire to tread lightly on the earth”, says Tara.

Behind its natural veneer, floristry hides multiple problems. A significant proportion of the world’s cut flowers are grown in equatorial countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya and Ethiopia and air-freighted to their destinations in refrigerated conditions. Many others are produced out of season in heated glasshouses. Both processes can result in flowers with a large carbon footprint. Floristry is also reliant on a lot of single-use plastics. Floral foam, the green block you often find at the base of flower arrangements, is particularly problematic because it creates microplastics that easily leak into the environment.

“We see florists as champions of nature,” says Rita Feldmann, a second-generation florist who founded the Sustainable Floristry Network (SFN). “But we’re in the middle of an environmental crisis, and floristry is still unsustainable on many levels.”

To become an SFN Member Florist, Tara pledged to embed sustainable practices into her design and business.

“SFN Member Florists commit to four core principles: Choose better flowers, design out waste, invest in ethics, and communicate with the community,” says Rita. “That may sound simple, but transformation takes effort”.

“Switching to a sustainable wrap and investing in an electric delivery van was an easy and natural step”, says Tara, “but one of the biggest hurdles remains finding a high-performing alternative to traditional floral foam. We sometimes use AgraWool, which is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't yet match the performance of conventional foam. I've reached out to one of my wholesalers about supplying Oshun pouches — a promising and popular sustainable option used overseas. While we’re not yet fully sustainable, we’re committed to continuous improvement and doing the hard work to get there.”

Not your typical florist — Twig & Bloom creates unique florals that blend art, sustainability, and heartfelt connection. They design florals for photoshoots, weddings and events, as well as offer same-day deliveries from Puhoi to Mangawhai. They are locally owned and operated and have been a Matakana Village staple since 2015. You can find their design studio in Matakana, next to the famous Matakana Farmers’ Market, and online at www.twigandbloom.co.nz.

The SFN website currently hosts a wealth of free educational resources for both florists and consumers. Written in plain English, these articles break down key concepts in sustainability and give practical advice on topics such as sourcing flowers, cutting waste from design, and alternatives to floral foam.

Learn more about the Foundation in Sustainable Floristry at the SFN’s education platform. Or browse the free resources at the SFN website.

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