'Sustainability gives floral art a creative boost'

In an era when sustainability is becoming increasingly important, floral designer Max van de Sluis looks back to the past to find inspiration for the future. Reflecting on insights from his recently published book, Sustainable Floral Design, he candidly shares his personal experiences, practical insights, and explains why sustainability primarily offers a creative opportunity for the art of floral design.

'Sustainability gives floral art a creative boost'

'When you become aware of sustainability, you can't unsee it. Once you start realising the impact of your materials, it really opens your eyes. Suddenly you think: What are we actually using? This awareness has profoundly changed his approach to floral art.'

'Sustainability isn't a step back; it's a step forward. It's not limiting. On the contrary, it opens doors, and I find it incredibly inspiring because you must think differently about your materials.' Reflecting on his past work, Max openly acknowledges his personal shift: 'Years ago, I created stunning floral designs in Japan, full of vibrant plastic materials. The photographs were beautiful - but today, I wouldn't choose those materials anymore.'

Together with Swedish floral designer Per Benjamin, Max recently published the book Sustainable Floral Design, from which we publish five arrangements by Max and Per.

Especially for this World Cup edition of DPK Floral Magazine, Max also created five unique arrangements, using special sustainable techniques, and reusable bases. 'Everything we do affects something else.' So be inspired by sustainability.

Wrapped

In this design, numerous glass test tubes in varying sizes have been individually wrapped in ultra-thin wood veneer, then joined together to mirror the shape of the gold-toned bowl by Ecri Living. Flowers are inserted directly into water-filled tubes, ensuring hydration without floral foam. The result is a decorative base made entirely from botanical and reusable materials - perfect for sustainable design and versatile for future use across different styles and settings.

Harmonious Family

This playful yet elegant arrangement features a collection of glass vases in varying shapes and sizes, all from the same design family. Grouped together on a round, gold-colored base, they form a unified display with a shared foundation. Each vase holds a carefully chosen flower in rich tones of purple, blue, red, and brown - giving every bloom its own space and presence while contributing to the overall harmony.

Energetic

In this arrangement, an aluminum bowl is filled with OASIS® Renewal Floral Foam and finished with a thin layer of clay, echoing the bowl's shape, and complementing the color palette. The warm yellow of Craspedia 'Paintball Pop' and the deep purple of Clematis 'Amazing Tokyo' are both visu
ally and structurally reinforced by the clay surface. Craspedia spheres extend the form, while Phormium leaves reflect the clay's tone and connect seamlessly with the Clematis. The contrast between purple and yellow creates a bold, energetic composition - both refined and sustainable.

Rolled and Tied

In this eco-friendly arrangement, leaves of Ficus elastica 'Belize' are rolled and tied together with natural twine, then firmly wed
into a round shaped straight-edged bowl to create a stable base - no floral foam or support materials needed. The flowers are placed directly in water.

A structural frame is first built using Gloriosa 'Simba Fifty Shades', Sanguisorba 'Red Dream' and Talinum 'Long John', into which Paeonia, Dianthus, Scabiosa 'Dark Cherry Scoop', Pennisetum 'Black Fox' and Gerbera are added. Removing all foliage from the stems enhances the composition's transparency, highlights the floral lines, and intensifies the color palette.