Sustainable floral altars for a sustainable send-off from Hibiya Kadan

Hibiya Kadan’s funeral service division will introduce its “Sustainable Collection” of floral arrangements from 7 July, offering environmentally considerate options for memorial services. The new product line aims to significantly reduce or eliminate the use of floral foam, a material associated with carbon dioxide emissions.

Floral foam, a petroleum-based phenol resin sponge, is commonly used in floristry to secure and hydrate flowers. However, its lifecycle (from production and transport to disposal) contributes to CO2 emissions. Hibiya Kadan stated, “As Hibiya Kadan has been supported by the gift of nature that is flowers and has accompanied everyone’s lives with flowers since its founding, it has a responsibility to continue protecting our rich nature.”

The “Sustainable Collection” features several designs. The “Green Earth” (¥440,000, tax included) and “Heart Blossom” (¥550,000, tax included) floral altars are made entirely without floral foam. The “Green Earth” arrangement, a dome shape in white and green, also incorporates artificial greenery to minimise plant waste. The “Heart Blossom” design depicts flowers blooming on a green hill. Another offering, “Hikari” (¥1,100,000, tax included), from the company’s story-based “Ano ne,” series, reduces floral foam usage by approximately two-thirds compared to conventional full-foam designs. This is achieved by arranging flowers in glass vases for the altar’s middle section.

The company wants the the new collection to be an option for those who want to bid farewell to their loved ones with plenty of flowers but also want to choose something environmentally friendly, or for those whose families always made environmentally conscious choices.