Over onsNieuwsSustainable OASIS® products in the Plantion webshop
April 26, 2023

Sustainable OASIS® products in the Plantion webshop

The most common OASIS® products have already been available via the Plantion webshop since the beginning of the year. The high quality and highly sustainable OASIS® TerraBrick™ Floral Media was added to those in March. Thanks to a joint initiative by VBW, Plantion and Smithers-Oasis, florists are always assured of quick delivery of floral media.

Trade association VBW received feedback from florists last year that they were unable to obtain floral media, particularly the unique shapes, from Smithers-Oasis in time. “Problematic,” says Bram Rijkers of VBW, “because the availability of floral media is very important for funeral arrangements, for example.” Parties held discussions with Plantion to look for a structural solution. That led to OASIS® products, including the latest OASIS® TerraBrick™ Floral Media product, becoming available for ordering and delivery from the Plantion webshop.

What is OASIS® TerraBrick™ Floral Media?

Chris Martens, Smithers-Oasis: “This product is our response to the demand for sustainability. We had already launched OASIS® Bio Floral Foam: a brown and largely degradable floral foam, on the market six years ago. But OASIS® TerraBrick™ is a completely different product.
It looks different and is completely degradable, or it can be reused. The material consists of coir and a compostable binder, amongst others. Even the packaging is recyclable. It is also important that the product has been fully certified as compostable by TÜV Austria.”

What can florists do with it?

Chris: “Firstly, our sustainable floral media meet the Sustainable Florist Barometer criteria. In addition, OASIS® TerraBrick™ really adds something with its appealing, natural appearance.” Bram: “That means florists can charge more for an exceptional flower arrangement. They often refrain from doing that, because they are worried it puts customers off. But if you produce something personal for the important moments in life, people are often less concerned about the price.”

Is the green floral foam also still available to buy?

Chris: “The great thing is that florists can decide themselves: green, organic, or TerraBrick™. The trend is towards a hundred percent sustainability, like society as a whole. We will therefore develop OASIS® TerraBrick™ further into shapes other than the current brick shape.”

How is collaboration with Plantion going?

Chris: “Plantion is a very important distribution partner. I say partner, because Plantion, VBW and Smithers-Oasis have the same DNA when it comes to unburdening the florist.” Bram: “All three of us want to maximise the position of the florist. One-stop-shopping and quick availability of products like OASIS® are very important in that respect. That works very well via the Plantion webshop.”

Can any florist order OASIS® from Plantion?

Bram: “Plantion customers can order the products in the webshop anyway. Florists who are not customers yet can register with Plantion for this specific part of the range. What’s more, customers who are also VBW members get a 10 percent discount on all OASIS® products in the webshop: 7.5 percent immediately upon purchase and another 2.5 percent at the end of the year.”

‘Prompt delivery is essential’

Chris Derksen is a sustainable florist in Apeldoorn and co-owner of the Afscheid met Bloemen platform. He now purchases his OASIS®
products from the Plantion webshop. “The most important thing is that I can always count on it, because you cannot make funeral flower arrangements without media. What I order from Plantion is delivered the next day. Along with the flowers I buy on the clock.” About OASIS® TerraBrick™ Floral Media: “It works really well. And it is commercially viable. Because if a customer wants a natural product for a funeral, they are willing to pay for it. That is how we contribute to sustainability together.”