AS Valentine’s Day approaches, the hunt for the perfect gift is on for many. Fresh flowers may be the most popular and annual gift associated with Valentine’s Day. While it’s only now gaining popularity in Guyana in recent years, it is a billion-dollar industry in many developed countries. In fact, it is a booming business in these countries, regardless of Valentine’s or not. People use fresh flowers for wedding ceremonies, birthday gifts, religious events and many other occasions. With that said, as Guyana develops further, so will these existing industries, including flowers.

There is a flower waste problem in many of these countries as well. I always believe in prevention rather than finding a cure before issues arise beyond our control. As such, I decided to dedicate this week’s column towards flower waste management. You might be thinking, how can flowers ever be a waste product? Aren’t they on the earth already? Without proper management, flowers can become pollutants. Lately, I have seen a specific solution to the overuse of fresh flowers and how its “waste” is used in the textile industry in India. Flowers are used all year long in very large quantities for religious purposes in India. Most of the flowers ended up in drainage and even the rivers. As such, new businesses were developed to provide a solution to these challenges.

The natural dyes/colours of the flowers can be used to dye textiles. As such, a clothing business was developed to use only flower dyes to colour their textiles and even make patterns with the flowers themselves. It created a unique style and inspired many big brands to purchase the textiles as well. The idea of turning trash into cash is not a foreign comfort. Whether you consider this approach to an innovative business through flowers or another form of waste—it provides opportunities to create an income while ensuring the sustainability of a green environment. I applaud efforts such as these. Even if you can’t afford to create a large company, there are other unique ways to create a business opportunity by using flower waste.

You can collect flower petals and dehydrate them to create stickers or decor. Certain scented flowers can also be used to extract oils and make perfumes. The internet has a lot of great resources explained by experts from around the world on other ways on how to make byproducts of used flowers. I believe we should invest in innovative business methods. We can use this in all sectors—not just with flowers- to create solutions to everyday problems. As you collect your Valentine’s Day roses or sell your bouquets—I hope you consider some sustainable approaches afterwards. It’s the least we can do for ourselves and our planet.