Sideau® Floral Block

Sideau®

For everyone conscious about the planet whilst creating intriguing floral arrangements for any occasion, Sideau® floral block is your solution. Developed in 2018 by Agra-Wool International, Sideau® is made from biodegradable products like Earthwool®, which originates from a natural product, basalt, a volcanic igneous rock. Unlike other floral foam made from oil derivatives and phenol resin.

Sustainable floristry is a possibility with the use of Sideau®. If you are wondering how the sustainability concept comes in, worry not here is how. Once used for the first time, Sideau® can be reused by wrapping chicken wire around it, case you no longer want to use it because it has deteriorated into little pieces, there is an alternative use for it yet again!  With Sideau® you no longer have any waste of product. If you have pieces left over after cutting the Sideau® blocks into shapes, you can easily tear these pieces into smaller parts and keep them. Please put them in a pot, vase, or wooden crate, and use Sideau® as a substitute for potting soil. Anything with a root will grow on it.

Sideau® Floral Block, Product Characteristics

• Sideau® is completely natural (made of basalt and an organic binder of Sucrose).
• Sideau® absorbs water incredibly fast without the forming of air bubbles in the product
• Sideau® is usable for all kinds of flower arrangements, dried flowers, silk flowers, and fresh flowers. 
• Sideau® is reusable. It can be used for a second time by wrapping chicken wire around it
• With Sideau® you no longer have any waste of product. If you have pieces left over after cutting the Sideau® blocks into shapes, you can easily tear these pieces into smaller parts and keep them. Please put them in a pot, vase, or wooden crate, and use Sideau® as a substitute for potting soil. Anything with a root will grow on it.

• Sideau® has a neutral Ph-value and a small nutrient supply of 0.8 Ec.
• Sideau® is easy to cut with for example a bread knife, without crumbling
• Sideau® can be disposed of in small pieces in a green container (according to the legislation of your country). You can also deposit it on your compost heap
• Basalt is full of nutritious minerals and is also used to upgrade heavy clay soil
• What remains when degraded, is Basalt meal (sand) which is completely natural and harmless to nature
• Sideau® is a registered product of AgraWool International, the Netherlands

Embracing Sideau® Floral Block in Floristry

Sustainability debates are gaining immense momentum, some within the floral chain, while others are coming from parties interested in painting floriculture as unsustainable. With this conversation picking speed, proactively incorporating sustainability in everything you do within the floral chain is much needed. Sideau® Floral Block is the ideal alternative to plastic floral foam and notable players within the floral sector are taking huge steps in adopting sustainability as part of their strategy, more than two years ago, Chelsea Flower Show banned the use of plastic floral foam, sending a strong message to the florists and floral arrangements to be sustainable.

Sustainability is not an individual's responsibility but a collective resolve towards bolstering sustainability efforts aimed towards putting the sector on the map. Florists have a significant role to play because they are in direct link with the end consumer. Adoption of sustainability by florists can effortlessly influence consumer behavior and preference towards sustainably produced and arranged flowers. This is a possibility with the use of Sideau® Floral Block, which is suitable for every type of flower.

Transform your creations as a floristry or designer while being conscious of the environment; this is a great milestone for the floral community, Sideau® floral block is here to the rescue. Different floral designers have worked with Sideau® and found it rewarding and indeed an alternative to the normal plastic floral foam, which is not sustainable.

It is your turn to give Sideau® floral block a try, let us know how you find this innovation!

Pictures by @Agra-Wool International