Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the world need compostable floral foam?

Every year, an estimated 15,000 metric tonnes (33 million lbs) of non-degradable, petroleum-based floral foam is used in the EU alone. That’s 250 million bricks of foam destined for the landfill every year. Phoam Labs is on a mission to provide the everyday florist with a better solution – floral foam with a responsible end-of-life strategy that doesn’t sacrifice performance.

How well do flowers stay hydrated in Phoam Labs’ floral foam?

The flowers stay hydrated as they do in traditional floral foam. The soaking process is slightly different. Simply submerge the foam underwater and hold for approximately 90 seconds.

How long do flowers last in the foam?

As florists know, this is highly dependent on flower quality, type of flower, outside temperatures, humidity, and other factors. You can expect flowers in our foam to last 5-7 days in a vase with water. Our foams are also re-wettable unlike most current foam and foam-alternative products, so you can always add additional water.

Can I cut Phoam Labs’ floral foam?

Yes. Phoam Labs Floral Foam cuts easily with any bread or serrated knife.

Can I use the foam as a dry foam?

Yes, Phoam Labs floral foam works as a dry foam too. Please make sure to dispose of our foam properly in compost bins after removing any non-compostable contaminants (such as floral tape, plastic flowers, or chicken wire).

What is the foam made of?

The primary ingredient in our floral foam is polylactic acid (PLA). Polylactic acid is made by fermenting sugars of fast-growing plants that are renewable within a 12-month cycle – typically corn or sugar cane. We also add several food-grade ingredients that help with the foaming process and ensure the mechanics work well for florists. Our mission is to give florists a safe, nontoxic choice to move away from fossil-fuel-based foams and other high-carbon cost alternatives while maintaining the performance they need to make floral arrangements.

Is the foam non-toxic?

Phoam Labs' floral foam is non-toxic, although like cardboard it is not edible and should not be ingested (no matter how good it smells!). It is made from plant-based and food-contact grade materials. Most importantly our manufacturing process does not include any "forever" chemicals like fluorocarbons, commonly referred to as "PFAS," which never degrade and have been linked to health problems. Phoam Labs is committed to manufacturing products that lessen our dependence on fossil fuels while maintaining the health of our employees, customers, partners, and the environment.

Is polylactic acid a sustainable material?

Yes, polylactic acid (PLA) is made from renewable, fast-growing plants like corn or sugar cane. Importantly, PLA is made without the use of “forever” chemicals like fluorocarbons (“PFAS”) which are common in the traditional plastics industry and have been linked to several health problems. Using PLA means we can move away from our dependence on fossil fuel-based plastic products. Our manufacturing process also allows us to recycle foam scraps created when we cut foams down to brick sizes. Rather than discarding scraps into the landfill, as is typical in the floral foam industry, we can use scrap material to make new foams.

Is the foam compostable?

Our foam is bio-based and compostable. We’re in the process of obtaining final compostability and bio-based certifications through the major certifying organizations. This process can take up to a year, but we have passed the initial tests which indicate our foam breaks down more than 95% in 8 weeks. Our foams break down completely into environmentally friendly components

Why is composting important?

Composting is the process of breaking down organic matter using bacteria resulting in nutrient-rich soil. The creation of compost avoids methane emissions by diverting organic waste from the landfill, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers in agriculture, and increases soil water retention, preventing erosion, and further providing carbon sequestration.

What is the process for getting certified compostable?

There are several global certifying organizations for compostable products including TÜV, BPI, and CMA (Compost Manufacturing Alliance). Each of these organizations requires a unique set of composting tests both in laboratory environments and real compost facilities. The primary qualification to meet compost certification is that products must degrade to environmentally friendly byproducts and be indistinguishable from other compost materials. Certification can take up to a year for a new product. Testing on Phoam Labs products is well underway and we’re excited to release results as they become available.

Recycling vs composting – which one is better?

Recycling and composting are both important components of sustainability. However, they are two very different end-of-life strategies. Recycling has been designed around materials that can be reused in a new product. Composting is built for organic materials that have a single degradable lifetime and can contribute nutrients to soil for agriculture. Few materials are both recyclable and compostable as recycling centers do not want materials contaminated with food or other organic material and composting facilities do not want materials unless they completely break down in a compost pile.

‍

The European Commission developed an EU policy framework in 2022 to define the goals of compostable vs. recyclable material, noting that while recycling is ideal for many applications, there are specific uses that call for an industrially compostable version to better meet sustainability goals. In a report funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, floral foam is specifically listed as an application that should be a compostable product that enters the organics waste stream rather than a recyclable material due to the organic contaminant from cut flowers.

‍

Phoam Labs floral foam has been designed so that the entire arrangement (flowers and foam) can be discarded into the compost stream and safely degraded by microbes to their component parts. Conversely, traditional floral foam can neither be composted nor recycled and must be discarded in the landfill. Phoam Labs is working hard to give florists a sustainable choice. We still need you to do your part and dispose of Phoam Labs’ floral foam properly into the compost!

What are microplastics and does Phoam Labs’ floral foam contribute microplastics to the environment?

Microplastics are pieces of plastic that are less than 5 millimeters in size. They can come from a variety of sources, including cosmetics, clothing, food packaging, and full-sized plastic products that break apart into microplastics over time. While PLA, or polylactic acid, is classified as a “bioplastic” or a “biopolymer,” it is completely different from traditional petroleum-based plastics. PLA is made from renewable, plant-based resources, such as corn starch or sugar cane. Traditional plastics break down into millions of tiny pieces called microplastics that can end up in our waterways, food systems, and even our bodies. Similar to leaves in a compost pile, PLA breaks down into smaller pieces as it degrades, but these pieces are eaten by microbes until there is no material left to contribute microplastics to the environment.

Does the foam break down in the landfill?

The short answer is our foam would break down in landfill, but it could take a long time and release methane just like food waste in landfill. It is important to dispose of Phoam Labs floral foam in the proper end-of-life stream: compost! Until now, florists only had one option for disposing of floral foam: the landfill. Traditional floral foam cannot be composted, and it cannot be recycled. We have designed Phoam Labs floral foam to degrade completely when disposed of properly in the compost. Our floral foam gives florists the choice to be kinder to our planet and avoid the landfill. But we still need you to do your part! Please make sure to dispose of our foam properly in compost bins after removing any non-compostable contaminants (such as floral tape, plastic flowers, or chicken wire).

Where is the foam made?

We are currently making foams in our US R&D facility to trial with florists primarily in the US and Europe. After a lot (and we mean A LOT) of thoughtful consideration we are proudly pursuing our manufacturing with incredible partners in both the US and Europe.

When can we buy the foam?

We hope to have products available for purchase in 2024. Our team is working hard to reach commercial scale manufacturing volumes. Our entire process has had to be invented from the ground up – from our raw materials to our manufacturing process to our supply chain. We’re excited to disrupt the traditional foam and plastics industries with compostable products that have a proper end-of-life option for florists. Stay tuned on our Instagram for product release dates!

Where can we buy the foam?

We plan to sell primarily through major floral distributors in Europe and the US. Our products will also be available for sale online.

If you have any questions not answered above in our FAQs, please contact us directly.

Get in touch