The U.S. Patent Office today granted a patent for the first environmentally friendly alternative to green floral foam in 65 years. The rare patent was awarded to the FloraGUPPY, an eco-friendly, reusable, recyclable device for arranging flowers and an alternative to floral foam which is an industry staple.
FloraGUPPY inventor, James Wong of Vancouver, Canada, says, “‘The Guppy’ does pretty much everything that foam can do and more, and it does not leave behind, what critics call, a trail of plastic waste. It’s a long time in coming and can replace foam that, for years, has been disposed of in landfills.”
Florists have used green foam for years, but in the past decade florists throughout the world have begun to abandon it as potentially harmful to the planet. And the Royal Horticultural Society - the world’s most influential floral organization - has banned it from the most prestigious flower shows in the world including the Chelsea show which begins on May 24th. The prestigious show has been patronized by Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family for decades.
"The FloraGUPPY is better for the planet than foam and it’s convenient and a money and time-saver,” says Wong.
The FloraGUPPY is versatile, comes as two interlocking halves, and can be molded and reshaped in warm water. It’s shaped like a sphere and has 58 holes of various sizes to accommodate fresh-cut, specialty plants like orchids, silk, and papercraft. Both florists and home enthusiasts say it's a ‘game changer’ and has been described as the ‘Post-it-Note’ for the flower industry.
