Two tools are now included in the new FSI-Basket of FloriPEFCR tools

The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) congratulated the developers of the HortiFootprint Calculator from MPS | LetsGrow.com and the FloriFootprint Tool from Greenhouse Sustainability. Both tools have successfully passed independent benchmarking and are now officially included in the new FSI-Basket of FloriPEFCR tools for use within the floriculture sector. "This approval marks a significant milestone in the application of FloriPEFCR (Floriculture Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules) and provides the sector with accessible, comparable, and reliable environmental information at the product level."

Aiming to ensure uniformity and reliability within the sector, FSI sets specific requirements for independent expert benchmarking. Tools that are tested must adhere to the FloriPEFCR methodology and use verified and validated data. "This allows companies to calculate the environmental impact of their products in a consistent and substantiated manner. Another important aspect of the benchmark is that the tools use standard reporting protocols, developed to facilitate the exchange of footprint data transparently and efficiently, saving time and costs and promoting collaboration."

According to FSI, with the approval of FloriPEFCR, which was granted earlier this year by the European Commission, cut flowers and potted plants can now be assessed uniformly for their environmental impact. "Thanks to the first two approved footprint tools, the floriculture sector can now reduce its environmental footprint in a data-driven manner."

Jeroen Oudheusden, Executive Officer of FSI said: "This calculation methodology provides us with a scientifically substantiated method to strengthen our sustainability efforts. With reliable data, we can effectively work on reducing our footprint and demonstrate that our sector is taking steps towards positive impact."

FSI also encouraged other developers to join this benchmarking initiative, so that methods can complement each other and outcomes can be compared. "The joint pursuit of transparency and the sharing of best practices offers opportunities to address hotspots and make the sector more sustainable."