The demand for sustainable products is increasing. Both among consumers and professionals, not in the least within ornamental horticulture.

This week the FloraPodium has organised an environmental week together with Barendsen, with the focus on sustainable working methods. In the production department we have focused on separating waste and packing our products using sustainable material. In addition, we want to provide our customers with information about the quality brands used in the floriculture industry and what they entail. This week's FloraPodium features only products with an MPS seal of approval.

 

·         Antirrhinum ‘Legend Yellow’	Grower Jan v/d Voort (MPS A)
·         Dicentra Spectabilis	Grower Aert Flowers (MPS A)
·         Ranunculus ‘Ponpon Malva’	Grower Peter Olsthoorn (MPS A)
·         Pieris ‘Purity’	Grower Nibo Sierteelt (MPS A+)
·         Rosa ‘Chiffon’	Grower Vip Sassen (MPS A+)
·         Rosa sprau ‘Lovely Yoyo’	Grower De Opstal (MPS A)
·         Celosia ‘Reprise Roze’	Grower Feiko Sonneveld Celosia (MPS A)
·         Tulip double ‘Crystal’	Grower Triflor (MPS A)
·         Eustoma ‘Alissa Light Apricot’	Grower Lugt Lysianthus (MPS A)

 

 

FloraPodium, 15 April 2021

A sustainable or organic product is often characterized by a quality mark or certificate. New quality marks are regularly launched. Each quality mark has its own requirements that must be met as a company before this quality mark can be carried.

 

MPS A + / MPS C

This quality mark is the most common quality mark in the Netherlands in the floriculture sector. MPS indicates how the grower scores when compared to others on the aspects of fertilizer, pesticides, energy, water and waste. MPS A + is of the MPS ABC series the highest possible score. There are points to be achieved per theme. Based on the total number of points, a company is awarded an MPS qualification: A +, A, B or C, where A + is the highest attainable qualification.

 

MPS GAP

Requirements have been formulated for MPS GAP for production in the areas of traceability, environment, safety and hygiene. If you are MPS GAP certified, you must, for example, keep a record of your crop protection product consumption every day and also how employees handle crop protection products and fertilizers.

 

Rainforest Alliance

Rainforest Alliance is a quality mark for working conditions, the environment and nature conservation for products from areas where rainforest grows. An important criterion is protection of the rainforest and the well-being of workers.

 

Biological

"Organic" is a protected name. Every Dutch company that wants to produce, trade or store organic products must be in possession of the EU organic quality mark. A company does not easily receive this certificate. The company must meet very high environmental requirements before it is eligible for this. These requirements are determined by the Dutch government, and these are checked by the independent body Skal. In short, organic cultivation is: “growing as naturally as possible”. For example, in the horticultural sector, it is absolutely prohibited to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

 

MPS-ProductProof

MPS-ProductProof can determine that certain active ingredients are not present in floriculture products. This is done with the help of registration of crop protection and independent sample collection. Within 24 hours it can be proven that certain active substances have not been used in the cultivation.

 

MPS Quality

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

 

MPS Socially Qualified

This quality mark stands for good working conditions. This certificate is based on universal human rights and the codes of conduct of representative local organizations. But the agreements of the International Labor Organization (ILO) are also included in this.