For Brown’s the Florist owner Natasha Crawford, the key to green living is to put the planet before the process.
“When it comes to preserving the environment, we are committed to making recycling an integral part of everything we do,” she said.
Recycling paper, cardboard, hard and soft plastic, cellophane, Styrofoam, metal and glass are just a few of the ways Brown’s the Florist reduces its carbon footprint.
Crawford is pleased to work with Refuse, a local company that blends Brown’s organics with yard and garden trimmings that are fabricated into premium compost. “That diverts 85 per cent of our waste from the landfill.”
Although Canada has strict regulations regarding the use of pesticides, Brown’s takes that a step further by purchasing from local growers who use natural predators to control unwanted pests. “Eliminating toxic chemicals is far more preferable to finding a few pests here and there,” she notes.
Co-ordinating delivery from its Victoria, Sidney and West Shore locations by pooling deliveries four times a day means each vehicle covers one part of the city, greatly reducing fuel consumption, mileage and emissions.
“We also make every effort to buy locally wherever possible to provide our customers with the best selection while reducing the amount of fuel required to bring our products to our door,” Crawford said, adding that fair labour practices are another aspect they look for.
Brown’s offers in-store customers the option of using eco-friendly recycled and unbleached recycled paper and raffia as a wrap, in addition to the traditional recyclable clear cellophane and rice paper. “We still need to use a little plastic around the bottom of the stems to keep the paper dry, but it’s another way to help reduce the environmental impact,” Crawford noted. “With recycling, the more you do, the better it is for everyone.”
Brown’s West Shore is at 2972 Jacklin Rd.
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