CSR at Verdel

Corporate responsibility at Verdel: Environment-friendly chain

In 2016, 197 countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement. This agreement is aimed at minimising global warming to 2 degrees centigrade. The Dutch government has set itself several targets to meet the Paris Climate Agreement. For instance, the government wants to reduce 1990 CO2 emissions by 49% by 2030. In 2050, CO2 emissions should be 95% less than the 1990 levels. The government also wants at least 27% of energy generated in 2030 to consist of sustainable energy. As Verdel sets great store by sustainability, we joined The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) in 2017, which has the ambition of purchasing 90% of flowers and plants sustainably in 2025. Additionally, the FSI has the ambition of reducing CO2 emissions of floriculture, narrowing the gap between rich and poor and making the chain more transparent. For growers to be considered sustainable, the FSI developed a so-called basket, which includes the certificates required to be regarded as sustainable. Non-risk countries are held to have a certificate from the GAP and Environment pillars. For risk countries (according to the Amfori list) a certificate from the Social pillar is also compulsory.


As from 2023, non-risk countries will also be held to have a certificate from the Social pillar. We are pulling our weight when it comes to working in an environment-friendly way, for instance by trading part of our flowers on the basis of the Fairtrade principles, by transporting our flowers and plants in trucks with low CO2 emissions (Euro 6 standard), by catching rainwater, by managing waste responsibly and by economising on electricity consumption. This is in line with the eight Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the United Nations has set to promote global sustainable development.

Verdel’s sustainability policy in line with the following SDGs:

Verdel has a Fairtrade certificate. With this certificate Verdel promotes a ‘fair’ price for the growers of flowers and plants. Especially in developing countries like Kenya and Ethiopia, a fair product price means a huge difference to growers and workers. In this way, Verdel is doing its bit to reduce poverty in the world.

As an FSI member Verdel has the aim of making 90% of its trade and production sustainable by 2025. Verdel wants to safeguard this by purchasing flowers and planters from certified growers in particular. Additionally, Verdel encourages non-certified growers to be certified. Sustainable production is promoted with the encouragement of the trade in certified flowers and plants. This also includes that less (or no) harmful herbicides and pesticides are used and that cleaner energy is used in the production of these flowers and plants for the benefit of land, animals and humans.

Verdel has invested in green energy. For instance, it has installed solar panels for generating energy, and rainwater is collected. This is how Verdel promotes the use of green energy – energy from natural, renewable sources. Besides, Verdel trucks have low CO2 emissions (Euro 6 standard).