Sustainability florist checklist

Certification for the Barometer Sustainable Florist. Where to start? Use this checklist!

This checklist is meant for florists who intend to make their purchase and their business operations more sustainable. The checklist can be used as a first step to certification for the Barometer Sustainable Florist. Purple coloured subjects have the highest priority: The Sustainable Florist Barometer is an international name and is therefore also available abroad. The criteria for Sustainable Florist are fully based on the existing Dutch certification scheme, developed and managed by SMK .

Purchase

Do:

• Acquisition of sustainable produced flowers and plants. Notice the next quality marks while purchasing:
  • Sustainable Flowers MPS-A (will be phased out)
  • MPS-A+
  • On the way to PlanetProof (pay extra attention!)
  • Biological / EKO (pay extra attention!)
  • In transition to biological (new)
  • Max Havelaar / Fair Trade
  • Kenya Flower Council (Silver and Gold Standard)
  • EPHEA (Silver and Gold Level)
  • Florverde
• When purchasing vases and plant pots: These should be biologically degradable.
• Use Fair Trade food for cut flowers
• Use floral foam that is biodegradable for at least 80%

 Don’t: Buy painted flowers

Packaging

Do:

• Use paper packaging that is bleached without chloral products.

Examples are:

• Brown kraft paper
  • Paper with one of the following labels:
    • EU Ecolabel
    • Nordic Swan
    • Blaue Engel
    • TCF (Totally Chlorine Free)

 Don’t: Use paper that is bleached with chloral products

Waste

Do:

• If possible in your municipality, separate waste materials into the next fractions:
  • Cardboard/paper
  • Green waste
  • Artificial materials (plastics, metals)
  • Glass
  • Other waste
• Separate dangerous waste materials (toxic, oxidizing, corrosive, radioactive), like:
  • Oils
  • Batteries
  • Resolvents
• Return once-used packaging (for example plant trays) for recycling purposes. The materials may be returned to:
  • The flower auction
  • The wholesale/cash and carry.
  • Other collection site for processing or recycling purposes

 Don’t: Put different types of waste materials together

Electricity, fossil energy (gas) and water

Do:

• To realize immediately (may only be possible for building owners):
  • Use of renewable electricity
  • Keep track of energy consumption every three months
  • Use of renewable gas or install a heat pump
  • Lower down thermostat during non-working hours
  • Seal cracks that drafts from windows and doors
  • Use isolation foils behind heat radiators
  • Cooling with a ventilator instead of an air conditioning system
  • Use energy saving lamps, for example:
    • Energy saving lamps with label A
    • HF-TL-tubes instead of Fluorescent tubes (TL)
    • LED-lights
  • Make sure that heating systems are not directed at cooled areas
  • Use a door closer and isolate the cooled storage
  • Replace rubber materials on cooled storage doors if necessary
  • Use as much closed refrigerators as possible
• Next step:
  • Install solar panels on the roof
  • Use waste heat of equipment
  • Isolate waterpipes
  • Install energy saving CV-boiler in case of replacement
  • Prevent drafts by using air curtains or an automatic door
  • Isolate florist shop building
  • Install blinds/sun retaining system
  • Install sensors for ventilation and lighting
  • Choose for a more sustainable option when refrigerator has to be renovated or replaced
  • Install a timer on the water heater

Install solar water heater

Transport

Do:

• Use only company owned vehicles with a clean motor (vehicles younger than 1 January 2011) or vehicles with an electric motor.
• Hire transport …
  • that has a Lean & Green award
  • work together with other florists
  • by bicycle courier

Make sure that all people who deliver flowers and plants are educated in economical driving.

Hygiene, Detergents and paintings

Do:

• Store detergents in locked spots
• Use detergents with EU Ecolabel or Nordic Swan Ecolabel
• Use a conditioner (food for cut-flowers in transport and store) to extend their shelf life

 Don’t:

• Use paintwork/glitters/waxes etc. on fresh products like flowers

• Use cleaning materials containing choral ingredients

Employment

Do:

• A collective agreement should be applicable for all labour contracts
• A printed copy of the collective agreement is available on site
• There are business rules and regulations in place
• Get recognised as educational company, with internships
• Employ employees with social distance to labour
• Arrange regular work meetings with all employees
• Arrange annual performance reviews for permanent employees
• Stimulate employees to use bicycle or public transport for daily journeys to work
• Stimulate employees to take part in educational activities for florists

Arrange a course on sustainable and safe work for all employees

The Barometer Sustainable Florist is a quality mark of SMK This checklist is offered in cooperation with AVV. The BFA thank Florint for their input to the checklist.

The complete information can be found on the website: www.barometerduurzamebloemist.nl. For now this information is only available in Dutch.

To download the whole document CLICK HERE

Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay

Photo by russn_fckr on Unsplash

Image by Esa Niemelä from Pixabay