The waste of cut flowers is both a huge sustainability issue as well as an economical one. The OptiBoost technology has proven to be a solution and has proven results within retail.
Cut flowers are an appreciated product around the globe. It is a large market worth around $55 billion, USD a year.
But behind many of the beautiful bouquets lies a significant environmental impact.
Transportation, often by air and onwards by truck, the use of pesticides, energy, and water usage – this sums up to quite an impact.
A lot of resources are used to bring the cut flowers from the grower to the consumer…If they reach the consumer.
Somewhere between 30-50 billion cut flowers worldwide are produced each year. An estimated 15-25% of this is wasted. Flowers that never reach the end consumer but are simply discarded.
A huge footprint and all for nothing. The consequences are several, from a sustainability perspective, a big problem is created in terms of waste management. Economically, waste management is also a concern with costs related to handling. But perhaps above all the wastage is lost revenue for retailers and stores.
So how do we make the flower industry more sustainable? New technology is one way forward.
The OptiBoost technology was developed to tackle these issues.OptiBoost is based on Vacuum Infusion (VI). It is a technique with which external liquids can be introduced into porous structures such as plant tissue. By exposing the flowers to a vacuum we “boost” them with a nano-based nutrient solution.
In 2021 we launched a pilot test in collaboration with the wholesaler APH with one of Sweden’s largest retailers. During a 16-week trial throughout 100 supermarkets in Sweden, great results were achieved with OptiBoost-treated roses.
The final results were quite amazing:
increase of 36% in sales
Waste was reduced by 50%.
The Pilot with Dagab and Axfood Group led to a long-term partnership and the ambition to boost all of their cut flowers in the long run.
Another example is ICA Toppen Höllviken, one of Sweden’s most prominent grocery stores and supermarkets. In mid-April 2021, they decided to try selling OptiBoost-treated roses.
The results:
We are happy to explore the options for your business. Connect with us today and let’s find out what impact OptiBoost will have on your sales of cut flowers and on your waste. Fill out the form below, and we will contact you shortly.
TV host and multi-talented expert Karl-Fredrik demonstrates the art of enhancing roses with OptiBoost technology
In this video, Sweden’s leading importer of cut flowers, APH explains how the use OptiBoost® to boost sales, reduce waste and enhance the cut flower experience for consumers
OptiBoost Method: Insights from Katarzyna Dymek Katarzyna “Kasia” Dymek is one of the great minds behind the OptiBoost method for treating cut flowers and cuttings.
New technology in the flower industry can bring many benefits, The Vacuum impregnation system OptiBoost is one such technology.
In 2019 OptiCept installed OptiBoost for cut flowers in their facilities in Malmö, Sweden.
After some months of trials, amazing results were achieved
OptiBoost has entered into a partnership with One Flora Group in the Netherlands. In 2023, commercial tests are going to be done with OptiBoost for the treatment of cut flowers for the company’s end customers. In addition, OptiBoost will open a test center with a vase life room adjacent to One Flora Group’s facilities in Aalsmeer.
