Why a new footprint methodology?

Other methodologies for the calculation of environmental impacts of horticultural products such as PAS 2050-1:2012 are limited because they focus only on one impact category (climate change). To capture the full range of environmental impacts caused by the horticultural sector, it was necessary to develop a robust methodology which considered a wider range of impacts related to e.g. fertilizer use or pesticide use. A methodology which is comprehensive enough to allow whole sector alignment and easier communication of environmental impacts throughout the horticultural sector. The newly developed guidelines follow as much as possible the latest European Commission directive in the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR).

The HFCR project was initiated by Royal FloraHolland, GroentenFruit Huis (Fresh Produce Centre) and Wageningen Economic Research. Other consortium partners were MPS, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Rabobank, Glastuinbouw Nederland and Stichting Benefits of Nature. The project was co-funded by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality through the Topsector Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen (organization for Public Private Partnerships in the horticultural sector).

Our involvement in the expert team

Blonk Consultants was part of the team of experts developing the HFCR, together with Wageningen Economic Research and PRé Sustainability. From early screening stages to the finalization of the methodology, Blonk Consultants contributed with its expertise in the agri-food sector, and its particular methodological challenges, as well as experience in the development of pilot projects for the European PEFCR.