- Hi my name is Saachi Kamath I am an International Business and Economic Consulting major with a passion for sustainability
- My sponsor is Alan Russel who is a Mathematics Professor at Elon with a background of origami
Ever since I was a kid I have always been deeply concerned with flowers. My dad even claims I would never let him pick the weeds from our backyard because "the flowers are my friends." Young Saachi was always passionate so I’ve now decided to take a creative stand by crafting and promoting paper flowers. The reality of fresh flowers in the United States is that most are flown in from other countries like Colombia and Ecuador. The process of importing fresh flowers is devastating to the environment, leading to large amounts of carbon and other greenhouse gasses being released. This made me question the true cost of a simple bouquet. In addition, the widespread use of toxic pesticides that harm workers, pollinators, and waterways made it clear that beauty shouldn't come at a high price.
By creating handmade paper flowers, I aim to offer a sustainable and symbolic alternative. These blooms don’t wilt. They don’t travel thousands of miles. Most importantly, they don’t require harmful chemicals. Each flower is a small act of resistance: it is a way to reduce demand for an industry that often hides its environmental and human toll behind short term beauty.
This project is more than a craft; it’s a conscious effort to rethink traditions, raise awareness, and show that we can celebrate life’s moments without compromising the planet or people in the process. Something people can keep forever.
My first prototype for my flowers needed to be simple... something anyone could make! I tested out which were the easiest for me and the average person to make. So I experimented and drew out some of my favorite flowers and chose which worked best aesthetically and practically!
This is one of my sketches where I examined the textures and layers. I then brain stormed some materials I would need. Paper + scissors + glue + compostable straws = flowers!
- Cut the Paper: You begin by cutting a rectangular strip of yellow paper using a paper trimmer. This ensures clean, straight edges.
- Fold the Strip in Half: You fold the yellow strip lengthwise to double the thickness, preparing it for fringe cuts.
- Make Fringe Cuts: With the strip folded, you make small vertical cuts along the open edge, creating a fringe effect. You stop the cuts before reaching the folded edge so that the strip remains intact.
- Roll the Strip: Once the entire strip is fringed, you start rolling it tightly from one end to the other, forming a coiled center and allowing the fringed parts to fan out like petals.
- Fluff the Petals: Finally, you adjust and fluff the fringes outward, creating a full, blooming flower shape.
- Yellow Paper – This is the main material for creating the flower petals. You likely used standard colored printer paper or craft paper, which is easy to cut and curl.
- Glue – Used to secure the rolled flower in place after forming it. It helps keep the flower from unraveling.
- Paper Trimmer – You used a straight-edge paper trimmer to cut the yellow paper into even, clean rectangular strips. This speeds up the process and ensures uniformity.
- Scissors – For making the fringe cuts along the folded strip of paper. While not pictured, you probably used scissors to snip the petals by hand.
Fresh Cut Flowers and the Climate Crisis
- Imports & Emissions: 80% of flowers sold in the U.S. are imported, mostly from Colombia and Ecuador. Long-distance transportation and refrigeration for freshness contribute to high carbon emissions.
- Refrigerants: Storage uses refrigeration systems that emit hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)—greenhouse gases thousands of times more potent than CO₂.
- Retail Impact: Retailers like Walmart contribute significantly to HFC emissions—comparable to powering an entire city.
Environmental and Health Hazards
- Pesticides: Flowers are treated with synthetic pesticides (e.g., glyphosate, methyl bromide), which are toxic, can contaminate water, and are linked to cancer.
- Worker Safety: Exposure to these chemicals poses serious health risks to workers.
- Pollinator Decline: Insecticides used in floriculture harm both pests and beneficial insects like pollinators.
- Regulatory Loopholes: Unlike food crops, flowers are not tightly regulated, allowing the use of more dangerous chemicals.
Using just paper, scissors, a paper trimmer, and glue, I can craft my flowers without contributing to pesticide use, air transport pollution, or landfill waste. Each step from cutting and folding to curling and assembling shows that sustainability and art can coexist.
But paper is just the beginning. This project has sparked a deeper exploration into sustainable floral alternatives, maybe with fabric flowers from recycled clothing, dried native blooms, wood flowers, and even recycled newspaper bouquets. Each method carries a unique story and style, yet they all share a common mission to reduce environmental harm and celebrate thoughtful, sustainable living.