This week we have organised the ‘FloraPodium Goes Green’ week especially for you. During this week, we put nine entrepreneurs and their companies into the spotlight. These nine enthusiastic entrepreneurs all have their own reason to work as sustainably as possible. They shared their story with FloraPodium!

FloraPodium is there to connect, inspire and surprise professionals by showcasing exclusive and special floricultural products. By making a selection of exclusive and special products we hope to prompt professionals to meet each other on the FloraPodium both digitally and personally. This podium serves as a showcase for the many specialties of the ornamental horticulture.

The demand for sustainable products is ever-increasing, both with consumers and on the business market, but also within ornamental horticulture. We therefore gladly put a number of sustainable and organic companies into the spotlight, to inspire you and inform you on this great and important subject!

We consciously make a distinction between sustainable and organic, as this tends to cause confusion. These two notions are often erroneously used as each other’s synonyms. In sustainable business the balance between People, Planet and Profit is important. In the conduct of the business, the effects on employees, the environment and society are taken into account, but making a profit is just as important for the company’s survival. This does not mean that the company is organic. An organic nursery, for instance, must meet a number of strict environmental requirements. For instance, no chemical pesticides or fertiliser may be used to enhance growth. Within the EU, organic products are characterised by the organic label which is checked by Skal. Organic is a protected name; products not carrying this label may not be sold as organic.

You will find next all information on the various labels connected to the stories that the entrepreneurs shared with us.

A sustainable or organic product is often characterised by a label or certificate. New labels are launched regularly. Each label has its own standards that must be met by a company before this label may be used.

This week various labels are described. We therefore give a brief explanation of the labels connected with these entrepreneurs.

Organic
‘Organic’ is a protected name. Each Dutch firm that wants to produce, trade or store organic products, must possess the EU organic label. This certificate is not given to an enterprise just like that. The company must meet very high environmental standards to qualify for it. These standards are determined by the Dutch government, and are checked by the independent body Skal. Organic growth is, in brief: ‘cultivate as naturally as possible’. In horticulture, for instance, no use at all may be made of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

Benefits of nature
Benefits of Nature calculates and improves the footprint of companies and their products in international agriculture and horticulture. A footprint is a way to determine what the impact of something is on the environment. Benefits of Nature calculates the environmental impact in no less than thirty-three different ways.

MPS A +
There are no absolute requirements within this label. The label indicates how the growers score compared to others, in the aspects of fertiliser, pesticides, energy and waste. MPS A+ is of the MPS ABC series, the highest possible score.

MPS-ProductProof
MPS-ProductProof shows that certain active substances are absent in ornamental horticulture products. This is done through registration of crop protection and independent sample collection. Within 24 hours it can be shown that certain active substances have not been used for cultivation.

MPS GAP
For MPS GAP requirements have been formulated for the production as to traceability, the environment, safety and hygiene. When you are MPS GAP certified, you must keep a daily record of your use of pesticides, including the way employees work with pesticides and fertilisers.

MPS Quality
MPS Quality provides clear and reliable product information. As a result, customers and consumers know that the products meet strict quality standards.

MPS Socially Qualified
This label stands for good labour conditions. This certificate is based on universal human rights and the codes of conduct of representative local organisations. But the agreements of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have also been included.