As a florist, you may have heard of the Mileu Programma Sierteelt (MPS), an institution that is responsible for making the global horticulture sector more sustainable. As a breeder, grower, or wholesaler, you must have already heard of it. MPS is committed to enhancing the sustainability of the horticulture sector, achieving this by putting in place all the sustainability efforts and making horticultural companies transparent and measurable.
For that purpose, this institution develops and manages a range of certificates and on and offline tools. Do MPS-ABC, MPS-GAP, MPS-ProductProof, or MPS-Socially Qualified ring a bell? And how does this serve you? Here's how.
Ensuring Sustainability and Social Responsibility
In its mission of making the horticulture industry more sustainable, MPS — a movement founded by growers — supports growers in their sustainability efforts, making their performances transparent, measurable, and demonstrable. Its essential tools provide the participating growers with data insights that allow them to analyze their own business practices and usage.
The MPS certificates it issues ensure that sustainability and social responsibility in the horticulture sector become an integral part of day-to-day business activities. Plus, its standards are internationally recognized and at the cutting edge of the horticulture industry.
These standards not only concern the environment however; MPS also promotes sustainability with certificates for quality assurance and social aspects, and in doing so, offers the floriculture sector the right tools for the effective implementation of corporate sustainability.
Tools to Ensure the Horticulture Sector Is Transparent, Measurable, and Demonstrable
The MPS Group supports horticultural entrepreneurs worldwide in their efforts to operate more sustainably. It offers them a complete package to make their quality and sustainability transparent, measurable, and demonstrable. To this end, the organization develops innovative certification schemes and on and offline tools.
MPS-ECAS Certification
MPS-ECAS is the independent certification body within the MPS Group. It performs independent audits with a focus on sustainability and food safety and certifies sustainable entrepreneurs operating at the various links within the chain. It is these audits that MPS-ECAS carries out that guide its assignment of the certificates.
MPS-ABC
MPS-ABC is more than just a certificate. It is a monitoring tool that helps companies make the necessary adjustments to reduce their environmental impact. By recording usage, measurements can be made to determine how sustainable a company’s production is. This leads to a more conscious use of resources, and growers can use the data to keep making their company even more sustainable.
The MPS-ABS certification focuses on five environmental topics: crop protection, energy, fertilizers, water, and waste. As of 2021 MPS-ABC standards change through the use of the methodology of risk-based auditing, based on the reliability index.
Features
- Guaranteed environmental registration
- Meets FSI and MPS-GAP registration requirements
- User-friendly
- Digital overviews
- Qualification displayed on the auction clock
- Profiling as a sustainable and responsible company
Here's more information about MPS-ABC
Photo by Decorum Plants & Flowers
MPS-GAP
MPS-GAP is an entry certificate that allows deliveries to be made to international retailers. With this certificate, you comply with requirements in areas such as traceability, environment, crop protection products, and recall procedures.
The MPS-GAP is benchmarked against GLOBALG.A.P. and meets the FSI requirements of the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI). To obtain the MPS-GAP certificate you must be an MPS-ABC participant and you need a valid MPS-ABC qualification.
Features
- Visibility in the MPS Trade Portal
- Strengthening the company's image
- Meets international retail requirements
- Expanding sales opportunities
- Meets legal requirements
- Part of FSI 'Social Basket'
Here's more to know about MPS-GAP
MPS-ProductProof
MPS-ProductProof demonstrates at the product level that certain active substances are not present and have not been used in cultivation. It is a system whereby the recording of crop protection products (within 48 hours) and independent sampling can demonstrate that certain active substances have not been used in cultivation. MPS-ProductProof (product reliability) is an ‘add-on’ to MPS-ABC (business reliability).
Features
- An add-on to MPS-ABC
- Strengthening the company image and distinctive to other growers
- Responds to society's demand for sustainable and safe products
- Visibility in the MPS Trade Portal
- First steppingstone towards MPS-Natural Protected MPS-Socially Qualified
Here's more that you'd want to know about the MPS-ProductProof
MPS-Socially Qualified (MPS-SQ)
Good working conditions play an important role for many traders and consumers. With the MPS-Socially Qualified (SQ) certificate, you demonstrate that your company meets the national and international requirements in the field of health and safety.
This is even more important especially now that international supermarket chains are increasingly focusing on both the social aspects and the environmental requirements of your business. The MPS-SQ is, therefore, a useful addition to MPS-ABC.
Features
- Monitoring of good working conditions
- Meets social and other retail requirements
- Responds to societal demand for socially responsible products
- Visibility in MPS-Trade Portal
- Based on the guidelines of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)
- Consistent with FSI requirements
Read more about MPS-Socially Qualified
HortiFootprint Calculator
MPS also has the HortiFootprint Calculator, an innovative software it developed in partnership with LetsGrow.com to maximize the sustainability impact. The tool measures the carbon footprint of horticultural production and helps growers to make more sustainable choices.
With this tool, the horticultural growers are able to:
- Gain valuable insights into the sustainability of your production.
- Explore the best ways to reduce your footprint.
- Meet the demand for more sustainable products.
- Make use of an easy-to-use platform with a clear dashboard overview
You can learn more about the HortiFootprint Calculator
Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are courtesy of mps_sustainability.
