When we think of recycling, things like cans, glass and cardboard come to mind, and how we can allow them to be reused in a similar way they were the first time. What about a case where materials or products are creatively reused for a new purpose with added value? It’s called “upcycling”.

For a spectacular example, look no further than some of the bright and festive floats seen at the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California. Many people think that it’s only the flowers on these floats that are freshly harvested, but in fact there’s much more to the process of float-building for this beloved 132-year-old event.

According to the parade’s entry rules, “every inch of every float must be covered with flowers or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds or bark." That means a lot of flowers, leaves and other botanicals, some of which come from Sensient Natural Ingredients. From seed development to harvesting to processing, Sensient Natural Ingredients continues to find new ways to maximize product utilization as a part of our never-ending sustainability efforts. When we learned that float-makers were in need of natural materials for their artistic creations, it was a perfect match!

At Sensient Natural Ingredients, we believe that sustainable farming and agriculture can help the planet in many ways. First and foremost, it generates the highest-quality produce for our all-natural products. That cuts down on waste at every step of the process. And second, what we’re not able to use can be recycled and upcycled in many ways: by composting and eventual return to the earth to nourish the next season’s crops, or perhaps these all-natural products will wind up ornamenting other innovative works of art, such as a future parade float featuring fanciful creatures, a popular musical act or even a Rose Queen’s throne!