On 30 January, The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) held its first Ordinary General Assembly at the IPM Trade Fair in Essen, Germany. FSI brings key industry players together to focus on the developments towards mainstream sustainability in the floriculture sector. Their aim is that 90% of the flowers and pot plants will be sustainably produced and traded by the members by 2020.
More than 40 industry leaders, a strong and unique group of members, were present at the meeting looking upon cooperation throughout the supply chain.
Looking back at 2013, FSI introduced the Equivalency tool, designed to deliver transparency and comparability of standards, existing projects and initiatives. FSI Executive Officer Jeroen Oudheusden shares the ambition of the unique group of traders, growers and retailers present, as well as standards and civil society organizations: “By combining unique and valuable information on both market demand and performance of certification schemes, FSI members will have a clearer outlook on the market, share information and join forces towards increasing the level of sustainability in the sector.”
In 2014, the FSI group of members will engage in concrete initiatives and projects on key environmental and social sustainability topics with the financial support through co-funding of FSI partner IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative.
Convinced of the added value of FSI, Marcel Zandvliet, Director Marketing at Dutch Flower Group expressed his enthusiasm: "By working together within FSI with all chain parties, we can deliver a clear sustainability programme for the floriculture sector. Partnership on the main topics this year therefore is key."
Source: Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI)
