It was supposed to cement the status and increase the use of ecologically sustainable and fairly traded flowers, but as of this month the Flower Label Program certification will likely cease to exist, German media are reporting.
The FLP trade label for sustainably cut flowers used to signify that the flowers were produced in an environment-friendly and sustainable manner. A number of the founding Non-Governmental Organizations questioned that standard in recent times, warning that the promise is in fact not controllable. This led them to cancel their affiliation with the FLP program, which in turn resulted in the certification lacking the (financial) support it requires to remain effective.
"The Flower Label Program is no longer economically viable", Joachim Vorneweg of the human rights organization FIAN states. A low turnout and lack of enthusiasm among associated florists to aggressively campaign for the certification; a lack of awareness among consumers, and thereby limited advertising effectiveness, all contributed to the downfall, he suggests.
An increasing number of flower farm owners had begun to turn their backs on the initiative in recent times. As of right now, just 19 farms still make use of the label. An attempted merger with the Transfair Association fair trade label to spark renewed interest subsequently also allegedly failed.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Florint