Floral packaging formed of oxo-biodegradable polymeric materials and methods of producing and using same

Abstract

A method for forming floral packaging materials from oxo-biodegradable polymeric materials is provided. Methods of utilizing such floral packaging materials are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing a decorative covering for a floral grouping and/or a flower pot, the method comprising the step of:
 disposing a decorative covering about at least a portion of a floral grouping and/or a flower pot, wherein at least a portion of the decorative covering is an oxo-biodegradable polymeric material.   
     
     
         2 . A method for providing a decorative covering for a floral grouping, the method comprising the step of:
 disposing a decorative covering about at least a portion of a floral grouping, wherein at least a portion of the decorative covering is an oxo-biodegradable polymeric material.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the floral grouping has at least one of a bloom portion and a stem portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of securing the decorative covering about the floral grouping. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the decorative covering comprises a sheet of material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the sheet of material is further characterized as having a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof for bondingly holding the decorative covering about the floral grouping. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the decorative covering comprises a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, and an inner retaining space, and wherein at least a portion of the floral grouping is disposed in at least a portion of the inner retaining space of the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is further characterized as having a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof for bondingly holding the decorative covering about the floral grouping. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the lower end of the sleeve is open. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the decorative covering is provided with at least one of a color, a design, a portion of a design, a decorative pattern, and a portion of a decorative pattern disposed on at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of:
 (a) the color, design, and/or decorative pattern or portion thereof is provided by at least one of printing, etching, embossing, texturing, flocking, coating, and lacquering;   (b) wherein the color(s), design(s), and/or decorative pattern(s) simulate the texture and/or appearance of cloth; and   (c) wherein the color(s), design(s), and/or decorative pattern(s) simulate the texture and/or appearance of paper.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the decorative covering is further defined as being formed from a laminated material, and wherein at least a portion of at least one layer of the laminated material is an oxo-biodegradable polymer material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the decorative covering is oxo-biodegradable and at least a portion of the decorative covering is biodegradable. 
     
     
         14 . A method for providing a decorative covering for a flower pot, the method comprising the step of:
 disposing a decorative covering about at least a portion of a flower pot, wherein at least a portion of the decorative covering is formed of an oxo-biodegradable polymeric material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of securing the decorative covering about the flower pot. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the decorative covering comprises a sheet of material, and wherein a lower end of the flower pot is disposed on an upper surface of the sheet of material, and the sheet of material is formed about at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide the decorative covering. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sheet of material is further characterized as having a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof for bondingly holding the decorative covering about the flower pot. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the decorative covering comprises a preformed flower pot cover having an open upper end, a closed lower end, an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner retaining space, and wherein at least a portion of the flower pot is disposed into at least a portion of an inner retaining space of the preformed flower pot cover. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the preformed flower pot cover is further characterized as having a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof for bondingly holding the preformed flower pot cover about the flower pot. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the decorative covering comprises a sleeve having an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, and an inner retaining space, and wherein at least a portion of the flower pot is disposed into at least a portion of the inner retaining space of the sleeve. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the lower end of the sleeve is open. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the sleeve is further defined as comprising a lower portion and an upper portion detachable therefrom. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the sleeve is further characterized as having a bonding material disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface thereof for bondingly holding the decorative covering about the flower pot. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the decorative covering is provided with at least one of a color, a design, a portion of a design, a decorative pattern, and a portion of a decorative pattern disposed on at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of:
 (a) the color, design, and/or decorative pattern or portion thereof is provided by at least one of printing, etching, embossing, texturing, flocking, coating, and lacquering;   (b) wherein the color(s), design(s), and/or decorative pattern(s) simulate the texture and/or appearance of cloth; and   (c) wherein the color(s), design(s), and/or decorative pattern(s) simulate the texture and/or appearance of paper.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the decorative covering is further defined as being formed from a laminated material, and wherein at least a portion of at least one layer of the laminated material is an oxo-biodegradable polymer material. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the decorative covering is oxo-biodegradable and at least a portion of the decorative covering is biodegradable.