By Melissa O’Brien 

The 2024 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) demonstrated remarkable progress in sustainability, building on the achievements of previous years. The event continued its efforts to move toward being a zero-waste event, successfully diverting 84.7% of waste from landfills — a 3.2% increase from the previous year. 

We set ambitious sustainability goals and are excited to share our success in achieving a near-zero waste event in 2024!  

Materials Breakdown 

Throughout the event, a staggering 549.83 tons of material were carefully handled and donated, thanks to our community groups and donation partners. The figures below demonstrate our commitment to reusing and diverting waste from the landfill. Here's a breakdown of the various materials and their respective disposal methods of handling the items:   

• Single Stream Recycling: 5.84 tons recycled 
• Cardboard: 6.93 tons recycled 
• Green Compost: 6.18 tons composted 
• Mulch: 97.3 tons composted 
• Textile: 335 lbs recycled 
• Concrete/Stone Block: 268.15 tons recycled 
• C&D Recycling: 44.02 tons  
• Mixed Waste: 41.21 tons  
• Landfill Waste: 43.04 tons  
• Food Digester/Composter: 6,000 lbs composted 
• Donations: 33.99 tons to nonprofits and local community groups 

Key Sustainability Initiatives and Efforts

The 2024 Flower Show's sustainability success was driven by strategic initiatives and collaboration. Effective waste management and reduction practices, along with vendor and exhibitor contributions, played a significant role. The PCC’s Green Team ensured proper waste sorting and cleanliness, while resource use and emissions were carefully managed with a focus on renewable energy. Donations of plants to local nonprofits further extended the show's environmental impact, creating greener communities across Philadelphia. Here are the key efforts that made these achievements possible. 

Waste Management Operations 

• Early identification of materials allowed for planning and waste stream management, ensuring more materials were reused or properly disposed of. 
• Orientation and training for housekeeping staff and vendors improved waste sorting and reduced contamination of recycling streams. 

Waste Reduction 

• Plants and materials were donated to local nonprofits, reused in ongoing PHS projects, or repurposed throughout the Show itself. 
• Water refill stations saved 20,108 plastic bottles from the landfill. 
• Compostable food and drink containers were used by select vendors, with efforts ongoing to expand this practice. 
• Digital ticketing and paperless transactions significantly reduced paper waste. 

Vendor and Exhibitor Contributions 

• Vendors and exhibitors played a crucial role by donating items, planning for reuse, and reducing the use of non-sustainable materials. 
• A new non-professional design competition explored floral design without traditional plastic floral foam. 

Housekeeping  

• The PCC Green Team ensured cleanliness and proper waste sorting on the show floor and in bathrooms, contributing to the overall sustainability efforts. 

Resource Use and Emissions 

• The show used 980,169 kWh of electricity, resulting in 367.3 tons of CO2 emissions, with 50% coming from renewable sources. 
• Water usage totaled 192,576 CF, with efforts to source plants locally reducing transport emissions. 

Donations 

• PHS partnered with local nonprofits to donate plants, materials, and supplies. Over 9,120 small/medium plants, 89 trees, and 55 shrubs were re-homed, enhancing green spaces throughout Philadelphia. 

Future Sustainability Goals 

The 2024 Flower Show's sustainability success was a team effort involving PHS operations teams, housekeeping staff, vendors, exhibitors, and donation partners. The achievements of this year provided valuable lessons for future events, reinforcing PHS's commitment to environmental responsibility and community engagement.  

As we celebrate our current success, we're already looking forward to increasing our waste diversion rates at the 2025 Flower Show, promoting zero-waste packaging, and engaging more partners and sponsors in our sustainability efforts. The success of our sustainability efforts at the 2024 Flower Show demonstrates what can be achieved with commitment and action. We look forward to exploring even more ways to ensure our beautiful Show remains green and sustainable in the future.