What ’s the environmental impingement of mature flora and flowers ? It ’s something consumer and retailers want to know today .

At the moment , there ’s no standard method by which to work out it . But that ’s about to change . Royal FloraHolland excuse HortiFootprint in five questions .

1 . A standard method by which to figure the environmental impact of our plants and flowers . Why is that necessary?It ’s what the market want . Buyers and consumers increasingly desire to know what the environmental core are of ornamental plant and flower . presently , you are not obliged to present your environmental shock , but we do require the EU to follow up regulations in this regard presently . In prevision of these , we ’re making a kickoff ourselves .

Piet Briët ( Royal FloraHolland ): " It wo n’t be long before retail merchant pass up to betray products of which the environmental wallop is unsung . Flowers and plant will be no exception . The floriculture industry , therefore , will want to put its well base forward .

2 . Are there benefits or opportunity for us as growers?Absolutely . HortiFootprint is a with child way to audit your company . For often , mellow environmental impingement pass deal in mitt with unnecessarily high price . Experience has already show that a lot of money can be saved on accelerator and electricity . well for the environment , but also advantageously for your bank equipoise .

On top of that , it ’s a bang-up way to support out in the market place . Bygrowing roses with a downhearted environmental impact , for instance , your product will be more attractive to certain buyers .

Karolien Tesselaar ( Tesselaar Alstroemeria ): " I use HortiFootprint as a direction pecker . It give you a good estimate about where the highest cost are being made . That ’s valuable information that we take into account when taking conclusion . A class later , we do the calculations again and that way , we always know very well where we stand . ''

3 . How does HortiFootprint work?We calculate environmental shock using our own operational data point . We already tape our plant food , pesticide and crop - security agents but HortiFootprint is far more comprehensive than that . In all , the method comprises 16 indicators covering aspects such as CO2 emission , the use of harmful substances , the reuse of residual ware , state utilisation and water defilement .

There are already package packages on the market with which you may bet your environmental impact but the calculation rules they use vary . When HortiFootprint becomes the accept standard , everybody will be on the same page . So if you prefer Software Package A , it will bear the same result as Software Package B.

Piet Briët ( Royal FloraHolland ): " A received method of figuring that ’s internationally recognised will enable us to good anticipate future market demands . "

4 . Does HortiFootprint take our suppliers and customers into account?Yes , it does . The environmental impact of our production is affected by more than agriculturist alone . Are your efflorescence germinated in Africa and then fly to the Netherlands ? That has an environmental impact . HortiFootprint demand the integral lifecycle of plant and flowers into score .

With everybody presently using the same calculation method acting , we ’ll be able to really psychoanalyze and liken pattern with a view to devising wise solution that ensue in less severe environmental impingement . The whole chain needs to be necessitate and HortiFootprint will enable us to really get to the spirit of matters . Together , we ’ll be able to machinate solutions that work for us all . What more could you want ?

Karolien Tesselaar ( Tesselaar Alstroemeria ): " The continuous effort to reduce our footprint lead us to think outside the corner . The Benefits of Nature internet , for instance , put us onto a testing mate . We ’re now working with them to see if we can extract fertiliser from Alstroemeria green waste product . profits - winnings : fertilizer for us and at the same time less waste . "

5 . What ’s the plan?HortiFootprint is being developed in conjunction with GroentenFruit Huis , Wageningen Economic Research , Rabobank , ABN AMRO , benefit of Nature , Glastuinbouw Nederland and a number of other parties . We will portray a drawing methodology during Q1 of 2020 and by the last of 2021 , the European standard will be in stead . This will enable us to meet the needs and requirement of the sector , government and retailers . And , of course of study , growers will have a detailed answer quick when asked how sustainable their product are .

Source : Royal FloraHolland