Sustainability

The growing global population places increasing demands on our natural resources

Sustainability is fundamental to the mission of AIPH: to build a balanced and prosperous future for all, sustaining the planet for this generation and the next. This has been central to our purpose for many years, and we believe that now is the time to formalise and publicise this commitment.

In early 2021, we decided to carry out an internal review of what we do and how this relates to sustainability. This served to identify areas where our decisions and activities have an impact on people and the environment and highlight opportunities where we could drive positive change.

The first outcome of this exercise was the development of our Sustainability Policy, which the AIPH Board approved in March 2021. The AIPH Sustainability Strategy builds on our policy and sets out how we intend to achieve our objectives in this field.

For ornamental production, the accepted definition of sustainability refers to processes and activities that meet the present generation’s needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their needs.

In this context, sustainability reflects three concepts: economic, environmental, and social—sometimes referred to a people, planet and profits. AIPH is committed to support and assist ornamental producers to operate sustainable businesses that perform to the highest standard in all three of these measures.

UN Sustainable Development Goals


We understand the importance of sustainability across the supply chain for the production of flowers and plants. Through our activities we are supportive of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI)


The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) is a market-driven initiative that brings together members of the international floriculture supply-chain. FSI members are
collaborating to improve practices and drive positive change towards the sustainable production and trade of flowers and plants.

Environmental Benchmarking

Currently the FSI Basket of Standards includes a set of 14 benchmarked social and agricultural sustainability compliance standards. It is used as an instrument to identify, measure and promote responsible sources of flowers & plants.

Learn more

Sustainability Monitoring Protocol

This Monitoring Protocol is designed to allow for a transparent reporting process for the Floricultural sector as well as the FSI members; to establish a common understanding of the definitions that are to be used when reporting and to provide guidance on establishing a minimum level of data quality.

Learn more

Ornamentals Home Sustainability Strategy Sustainability Survey AIPH Sustainability Conference 2019 AIPH Sustainability Conference 2021

Contact


T: +44 (0) 1235 776230

E: info@aiph.org

Latest in Ornamentals

16 January 2024 - , 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Central European Time, Online Zoom Event

Novelty Protection Webinar 2024

Korea’s floriculture industry: why has it declined and what is being done to turn things around?

Over the past twenty years, the ornamental horticulture industry in the Republic of Korea has been in decline. Korean industry…

Blooming violets grown in modern greenhouse
How is the horticultural industry addressing its environmental footprint?

Environmental footprinting in horticulture was the topic of discussion in the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH)’s Horticultural Industry Conference,…

“With the help of the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) and its members, sustainability can no longer be ignored, in fact, for the good of the whole industry, it is becoming the licence you need to trade. That certificate on the wall is no longer an added benefit but a core feature of the business.”

Leonardo Capitanio, President, AIPH

AIPH International Grower of the Year Sustainability Award


Businesses that enter the AIPH International Grower of the Year Award (IGOTY) are be invited to put their business forward for the AIPH Sustainability Award. This award recognises best practice and innovation in improving sustainability in areas including water use, chemical use, climate change, energy use, transportation, labour management and social standards.

AIPH celebrates recent winners of the Sustainability Award:

2024 Winner

Greenwood Plants, UK

Greenwood Plants is a landscape supply nursery which specialises in the new build property, commercial, and infrastructure sectors. With over 100 acres of production capacity, it produces around six million plants a year across its six nursery sites in the UK, and employs more than 120 people. Greenwood aims to become the best in the horticultural industry through the consistent delivery of an effortless client experience.

It is an award-winning sustainability leader, fully peat-free and working towards becoming net zero.. With a loyal and growing client base, Greenwood prides itself on its fast and flexible national deliveries, its client-first approach, and its international supply chain.

Greenwood’s culture is based on its ‘Every Plant Matters’ philosophy, which encourages excellence, teamwork, and transparency. The Company recognises that its employees (the ‘G Team’) are its most valuable asset, and places great importance on employee safety, training, engagement, and wellbeing.

2023 Winner

Allensmore Nurseries, UK

Allensmore Nurseries is a family-owned grower supplier and trader of ornamental plants to supermarkets, DIY/Box stores, garden centre chains and independent garden centres in the UK.

With over 50 years of trading experience the business operates on 140 acres of Herefordshire land and has built an enviable reputation for exceptional product and service quality across a broad product range supplied to a diverse customer base. Business strategy is aligned to four Pillars of Growth, for environment, people, community and customers.

Sustainable production is at the heart of the everything the business undertakes. Not only reducing environmental impact but having a positive impact on the local environment and support for the local community is key to how the business operates.

2022 Winner

Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Limited, Canada

Brookdale Treeland Nurseries is one of the largest and most respected growers of garden plants in Canada specializing in trees, flowering shrubs, evergreens, perennials and tropicals. They are also the largest provider of holiday greenery in Canada and one of the top 5 in North America.

Established in 1983 as a combined entity, Brookdale Kingsway dates back to the 1920’s while Treeland Nurseries was founded by Paul Olsen in 1977. The newly formed company grew by leaps and bounds throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s focused on Landscape Supply eventually turning focus to Retailers in the mid 90’s.

Today they operate from 5 locations in Canada with over 500 acres in production. They service over 2,400 retail stores throughout Canada and the US and peak at nearly 600 employees. They have a loyal, long serving team of professionals along with many new, young people learning the trade in our wonderful industry.

2020 Winner

Anthura BV, The Netherlands

Anthura is a worldwide specialist in anthuriums and orchids. As a breeder and propagator, Anthura is constantly working to develop new techniques, stimulate entrepreneurship and make the chain more sustainable.

Anthura reached a unique milestone for horticulture when its research and development department sequenced and mapped the DNA of orchids and Anthriums. The company has since invested in infrastructure, technology and people to translate this breakthrough into a more sustainable production of anthuriums and orchids. Years of innovation and sustainable product development have resulted in an unlimited assortment of colourful varieties. Due to Anthura’s knowledge of genetics and its expert selection process, it offers customers strong plants in amazing colours with long flowering periods. Anthura stands for innovation, expertise, pragmatism and entrepreneurship which are encompassed in its motto: “Unlimited in Varieties, offering unlimited possibilities”

2019 Winner

Inner Mongolia M•Grass Ecological Environment (Group) Co. Ltd. China

Inner Mongolia M•Grass Ecological Environment (Group) Co. is an innovative business working throughout the entire chain from plant production to application.

This ranges from domesticating wild plants to the propagation of domesticated plants, from seed/bulbs and young plants to finished plants and applying them in ecological restoration and urban greening projects. The company produces over 1 million lily bulbs, 10 million finished plants and trees and 1,000 tons of seeds a year to be used in their projects. The company was listed in 2012.