Certification responds to increasing demand for sustainability
Sustainability in the horticultural sector is essential to be able to continue producing and trading flowers and plants in a responsible manner.
Growers must ensure their international horticultural chain is more sustainable and has a concrete objective to ensure flowers and plants produced and sold are sustainable. The horticultural sector has no future without sustainable products, and the Kenyan flower sector is obliged to take the initiative as a global player.
Sustainable cultivation means that growers meet the requirements for producing with the future in mind. Sustainability is a precondition for a healthy future. Growers should work to achieve a future-proof horticultural sector, in which flowers and plants are grown and marketed with respect for people and the environment.
The demand from consumers and customers for sustainably produced flowers and plants continues to increase. To address the complex challenges for growers, a clear chain approach is required. In this way, they will improve the reputation of flowers and plants. In this chain growers and their customers are key.
Growers must work together on solutions for matters threatening the image of the products and the sector’s reputation. The result is a clear approach to sustainability and communication about it. International market parties and advocacy organisations should also join hands for a healthy, vital and sustainable horticultural sector.
The key to unlocking a move towards a mainstream sustainable floriculture sector is the development of a shared vision, reverse the fragmentation of standards, and to create a structure where current and future sustainability issues can be tackled on a sector level. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals all stakeholders must join forces to accelerate sustainable volumes and create impact on key sustainability topics.
Strengthening the capacity of the sector to take action at farm level is a key aspect to improve social conditions and enhance the sustainability of supply chains. Initiatives towards decent wages, gender equality, and health & safety have proven to benefit workers and improve results for the business.
Responsible use and management of agrochemicals is critical to protect the safety and health of workers, the environment, and security in the supply chain.
Improvements towards responsible use of natural resources and the reduction of CO2 emissions are necessary not only for the environment but also for our economies and communities. Scalable solutions within the supply chain should be put in place to soften impacts of energy use, water, transport and waste among others.
Increased transparency and traceability in the supply chain is critical to support social and environmental improvements of the sector. This includes topics such as health, safety, working hours, wages, as well as the use of chemicals, substrates, water management, and many more.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals form an important guideline for making business operations more sustainable. We should actively work on improving our own CO2 footprint, and by reducing the effects on the environment. Purchasing activities play a strategic role, and should encourage sustainability among chain and sector partners.
If we want to continue giving a flourishing future with our beautiful flowers and plants, sustainability is paramount for the international consumer. And hence expects a sustainable product. Sustainability is then defined as a flower or plant where on both social and environmental-technical aspects, according to international standards, cultivation are met. And those standards are embedded in certifications, which growers achieve and which are regularly checked by independent auditors.
Sustainability affects everyone on the supply chain and concerns ways of residing, working and living. Ornamental growers must, according to the initiators, realize that without sustainable products they have no future. In addition to words and deeds.