FloriPEFCR brings clarity to a complex sector by translating environmental impact into a shared, harmonized framework. This makes it possible to compare, understand, and improve the sustainability of flowers and plants.

The development of the Floriculture Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (FloriPEFCR) marks an important step toward a harmonized approach to measuring environmental impact within the floriculture sector. The project, led within Wageningen University & Research and carried out in close collaboration with industry partners, aimed to create a scientifically robust and broadly supported methodology for assessing the environmental footprint of cut flowers and potted plants.

FloriPEFCR builds on the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) framework of the European Commission. While the PEF method provides general guidance, Category Rules are needed to ensure consistent application within specific product groups. The floriculture sector presents particular challenges in this regard, given the diversity of production systems, geographical spread, and supply chain complexity. The objective of FloriPEFCR was therefore not only to apply existing PEF principles, but also to tailor them to the realities of floriculture in a way that enables fair and meaningful comparisons.

A key aspect of the project was its multi-stakeholder nature. Growers, traders, certification schemes, and sector organizations were actively involved throughout the process, alongside scientific experts. This ensured that the methodology was both scientifically sound and practically applicable. Bringing together these different perspectives required careful facilitation and alignment, particularly in areas where methodological choices have significant implications for outcomes. The process resulted in a shared framework that reflects both scientific consensus and sector acceptance.

Methodologically, FloriPEFCR addresses several complex topics, including system boundaries, allocation rules, data requirements, and impact assessment. Special attention was given to ensuring comparability across production systems, for example between greenhouse and open-field cultivation, and across different countries. In addition, the project contributed to improving data availability and consistency, supporting more reliable environmental assessments within the sector.

The approval of FloriPEFCR by the European Commission represents an important milestone. It provides the floriculture sector with a harmonized methodology that can be used as a basis for environmental reporting, benchmarking, and potentially future labelling initiatives. More broadly, it contributes to ongoing efforts within the EU to create transparent and comparable sustainability information for products.

My role: As project lead, I was responsible for coordinating the development of FloriPEFCR from start to approval. This included managing the overall process, leading methodological discussions, and ensuring alignment between scientific requirements and stakeholder expectations. A central part of my role was facilitating collaboration between diverse partners, translating complex methodological considerations into clear decisions, and guiding the project toward a broadly supported outcome.