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The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI)

The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) is an international, multi-stakeholder organization that works towards making the floriculture sector more sustainable. The FSI was founded in 2013 by a group of leading retailers, growers, and traders. The initiative aims to promote sustainable practices in the floriculture sector, and to ensure that the industry’s social, environmental, and economic impacts are considered. 

The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative’s Mission and Objectives 

The FSI’s mission is to bring together stakeholders from across the floriculture sector to work collaboratively on sustainability issues. The initiative’s main objective is to create a common approach to sustainability that is relevant and applicable to all stakeholders.  

In recent years, FSI has made significant progress towards achieving its objectives. In 2020, the  new 2025 strategy was launched, it outlines the initiative’s goals for the next five years. The strategy focuses on six key areas: strengthening the sustainability standard, increasing stakeholder engagement, enhancing data collection and analysis, developing new tools and resources, fostering innovation, and driving sector-wide change.  

Living Wages and Footprinting for the Future

The initiative aims at having 90% of the trading volumes responsibly produced by 2025 as well as decreasing the gap in living wages for workers at farm level. To achieve this objective, FSI plans to collaborate with stakeholders throughout the supply chain and leverage standardized methodologies and data to reduce the living wage disparity among farm workers. 

FSI has also created and piloted an environmental footprinting tool that adheres to the EU HortiPEF classification standards, and has compared other methodologies used by its members with it. Using the tool, members were able to measure their product-level carbon footprint and establish a target for reducing carbon emissions for specific products. 

FSI Membership 

To join FSI, an organization must submit a completed application form, a description of their organization and its relationship to the floriculture sector, and a motivation for joining. The FSI Secretariat presents the application to the FSI Board, which then votes on whether or not to approve membership. The Board may request additional information before making a decision. If the applicant is approved, they will be informed by the FSI Secretariat and provided with a membership fee, which must be paid to finalize the membership. Once payment is received, the organization can communicate about their FSI membership and will be added to the FSI members’ directory on the FSI website. Members will also be given the FSI logo to display on their website. It should be noted that the FSI Board has the authority to reject an application if the applicant does not demonstrate a commitment to a sustainable floriculture sector, lacks a valid stakeholder interest in FSI’s objectives, or has any social, environmental, or legal grievances. 

FSI 2025 Basket of Standards

The FSI 2025 basket of standards is based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which provide a framework for sustainable development. The FSI 2025 Basket of Standards consists of 3 requirement groups: GAP, Environmental and
Social. At least one of the certifications and standards in each group are required for all sourcing countries:

GAP (Good Agricultural Practice)

• EHPEA Silver & Gold – Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association Code of Practice for Sustainable Flower Production
• Florverde Sustainable Flowers Standard
• GLOBALG.A.P. Floriculture (Flowers & Ornamentals)
• KFC FOSS Silver & Gold – Kenya Flower Council Flowers and Ornamental Sustainability Standard
• MPS-GAP
• OHAS – Ornamental Horticulture Assurance Scheme
• USDA National Organic Program
• EU Organic Farming

Environmental

• Florverde Sustainable Flowers Standard
• GLOBALG.A.P.IDA Module / Add-on
• KFC FOSS Silver & Gold – Kenya Flower Council Flowers and Ornamental Sustainability Standard
• MPS-GAP
• MPS-ABC
• MPS-SQ
• SIZA Environmental Standard

Social

At least one of the following social standards is required for sourcing countries
categorized as “risk countries” according to Amfori BSCI list.
• Amfori BSCI Code of Conduct
• EHPEA Silver & Gold – Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association Code of Practice for Sustainable Flower Production
• ETI Base Code / SMETA Standard
• Fair Trade Hired Labour Standard
• Florverde Sustainable Flowers Standard
• KFC FOSS Silver & Gold – Kenya Flower Council Flowers and Ornamental Sustainability Standard
• MPS-SQ
• Rainforest Alliance Certificate
• SIZA Social Standard
• SA8000 Standard

Each of these requirement groups has a set of indicators and targets that companies in the floriculture industry must meet to be certified as sustainable. The FSI 2025 basket is a comprehensive and holistic standard that covers all aspects of sustainability in the floriculture industry.

To be certified under the FSI 2025 basket, companies must meet the following criteria:

  1. Implement a sustainability management system.
  2. Meet the required indicators and targets for each sustainability standard.
  3. Submit to regular independent audits to ensure ongoing compliance with the standard.

    The FSI 2025 basket is a voluntary standard, but it has been widely adopted by the floriculture industry. Companies that are certified under the FSI 2025 basket can use the FSI logo to promote their sustainability credentials to customers and stakeholders.

    The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative in Conclusion 

    The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) is an important initiative that is working towards making the floriculture sector more sustainable. FSI’s recent developments, such as the launch of its 2025 strategy, updates to the sustainability standard, collaboration with other initiatives, and increased stakeholder engagement, demonstrate the initiative’s commitment to achieving its objectives. By working collaboratively and sharing best practices, FSI and its stakeholders can make meaningful progress towards a more sustainable floriculture sector. 

     

    Find out more: FSI2025

     

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