Two FloriPEFCR footprinting tools approved for use
November 5, 2024
Following the European Commission’s official recognition of the FloriPEFCR on 14 February 2024, the FloriPEFCR is now the new standard methodology for environmental footprint calculations for cut flowers and potted plants. This methodology is a response to increasing demand from consumers and trading parties in Europe for demonstrably sustainably grown plants and flowers. Following publication, the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) set to work on benchmarking footprinting tools based wholly on the FloriPEFCR. The MPS and Greenhouse Sustainability tools passed this review and are now approved for use.
Armed with these two footprinting tools, the whole floriculture sector can now start working to achieve FloriPEFCR’s ultimate goal: to calculate a floriculture product’s environmental impact in a reliable and uniform way. As a result of this, it will be possible to compare floriculture products and reduce their environmental impact.
FSI develops benchmark
To ensure uniformity and transparency, the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) has developed a benchmark that provides clarity on the methodology to be applied, data verification and data sharing. Jeroen Oudheusden (FSI Executive Officer) explains: "A footprint calculation is an investment in the future for both one's own business and the industry, which is why it is so important that we start clarifying the biggest hotspots and most meaningful reductions. So, it does not help if footprint tools start using competing methodologies. They should actually reinforce each other in terms of the content and quality of the solutions. It is also a prerequisite that accepted tools enable data sharing and do so using a standard messaging protocol developed by Floricode. This saves on costs and time, and promotes cooperation. "
Approval of footprinting tools
The HortiFootprint Calculator from MPS and the Flori Footprint Tool from Greenhouse Sustainability are both based entirely on the latest FloriPEFCR, which means the results of footprint calculations can now be compared with one another. Both tools have been independently tested and approved for use.
Next step
As chair of the Technical Secretariat, Albert Haasnoot was closely involved in the establishment of the FloriPEFCR. He states: "We spent a considerable number of years preparing the FloriPEFCR and gaining final approval from the European Commission. It is really wonderful to see how this is being embraced and that we now have two approved FloriPEFCR footprinting tools this autumn. The approval of these two tools is a great step forward and we’re actually going to start putting the standard methodology into practice now! The FloriPEFCR is gaining traction. We expect the first environmental impact calculations for flowers and plants using the FloriPEFCR methodology in the near future. The results of these (the so-called ‘single scores’) are primarily intended to provide insights, identify opportunities and stimulate improvements. A large number of scores are needed for each flower or plant before we can really speak of a classification system, which is necessary for clear communication about the footprint. We are holding discussions about this with industry partners and more will follow later."
Read more
> Approval of FloriPEFCR by European Commission
Armed with these two footprinting tools, the whole floriculture sector can now start working to achieve FloriPEFCR’s ultimate goal: to calculate a floriculture product’s environmental impact in a reliable and uniform way. As a result of this, it will be possible to compare floriculture products and reduce their environmental impact.
FSI develops benchmark
To ensure uniformity and transparency, the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) has developed a benchmark that provides clarity on the methodology to be applied, data verification and data sharing. Jeroen Oudheusden (FSI Executive Officer) explains: "A footprint calculation is an investment in the future for both one's own business and the industry, which is why it is so important that we start clarifying the biggest hotspots and most meaningful reductions. So, it does not help if footprint tools start using competing methodologies. They should actually reinforce each other in terms of the content and quality of the solutions. It is also a prerequisite that accepted tools enable data sharing and do so using a standard messaging protocol developed by Floricode. This saves on costs and time, and promotes cooperation. "
Approval of footprinting tools
The HortiFootprint Calculator from MPS and the Flori Footprint Tool from Greenhouse Sustainability are both based entirely on the latest FloriPEFCR, which means the results of footprint calculations can now be compared with one another. Both tools have been independently tested and approved for use.
Next step
As chair of the Technical Secretariat, Albert Haasnoot was closely involved in the establishment of the FloriPEFCR. He states: "We spent a considerable number of years preparing the FloriPEFCR and gaining final approval from the European Commission. It is really wonderful to see how this is being embraced and that we now have two approved FloriPEFCR footprinting tools this autumn. The approval of these two tools is a great step forward and we’re actually going to start putting the standard methodology into practice now! The FloriPEFCR is gaining traction. We expect the first environmental impact calculations for flowers and plants using the FloriPEFCR methodology in the near future. The results of these (the so-called ‘single scores’) are primarily intended to provide insights, identify opportunities and stimulate improvements. A large number of scores are needed for each flower or plant before we can really speak of a classification system, which is necessary for clear communication about the footprint. We are holding discussions about this with industry partners and more will follow later."
Read more
> Approval of FloriPEFCR by European Commission
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