Harmonising Product Environmental Footprints (PEF)

Two Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs) have been developed for horticulture: FloriPEFCR, for cut flowers and potted plants, and FreshProducePEFCR, for fruits and vegetables. Our Category Rules are integrated and aligned, as much as possible, with the European Commission’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) framework and deliver consistent, reliable, comparable and verifiable results.  

Both provide a standardised method to calculate the environmental footprint. Unlike certification schemes, it is not a new label but a harmonised LCA methodology, using sixteen impact indicators (e.g. carbon footprint, water use) and covering the entire product life cycle: from production and processing to distribution, retail and waste treatment. This method enhances transparency across the supply chain, enabling companies and their partners to generate comparable results, identify sustainability hotspots, and target areas for improvement. It also addresses the growing demand for reliable data from retailers, financial institutions, governments, consumers and NGOs, while paving the way for integration into upcoming EU policies and reporting requirements.