FAQ

What is Fair Flowers Fair Plants?
FFP is a multi-stakeholder initiative to stimulate the production of sustainable cutflowers and potted plants, to minimize environmental impact of cutflower production on the natural environment and surrounding communities, and to establish good social conditions for workers on flower and plant farms.

Who supports Fair Flowers Fair Plants?
FFP is supported by Union Fleurs and most producer associations in the main flower producing countries. On behalf of the civil society organizations FFP is supported by the IUF – international trade union federation – and a network of international NGO's in the main flower producing countries.

What is the FFP label?
FFP is not just another consumer label on the market. FFP acts as an umbrella label. Producers who carry the  FFP standard have proved the compliance of the company processes with the internationally recognized standards of the ICC (code of conduct) for the floricultural industry and with MPS-A or comparable standards. This guarantees consumers a high quality product that is produced with respect for people and nature.

What does the FFP office do?
Apart from registering producers as FFP participants and informing producers on the standards of FFP and on auditing procedures, the FFP office also runs the logistical processes and coordinates the marketing and tracing of the FFP label. The FFP office organizes the information flow for producers, traders, retailers and consumers, with press releases, trade fairs, special events and the news bulletin on the FFP website. On this website certified producers as well as traders and shops that carry FFP products are listed. Further information about the structure of the organization can also be obtained from the website.

Are FFP flowers already available on the market?
Yes! Well over 4500 participants joined FFP since FFP was introduced in November 2005 (producers, traders and shops)! They supply FFP products to 10 countries in Europe alone: in Sweden, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Denmark, France, Norway, England, Belgium and the Netherlands FFP flowers and plants are available to the consumer at florists and supermarket and garden centre chains. And the number of shops is still increasing.

Which kind of FFP flowers or plants are available?
The producer has the option to list his products and his company profile on the FFP website for wholesalers and retailers to find. Consumers may also want to know if a certain producer, trader or retailer is supporting the sustainable production of flowers and plants and is actively stimulating sustainable production in the way they have arranged their company processes.

Are consumers interested in FFP products?
From pilot projects in different European countries it appears that more and more consumers want to buy FFP flowers and plants. Although consumers generally do not have much knowledge of the commercial floricultural production, they expect a product like flowers or ornamental plants to be produced in a sustainable manner, meaning with decent labor conditions and environmentally friendly.

Are fairly produced flowers more expensive?
No; as often is the case with fair trade products there is no additional charge that raises the price of FFP products. FFP flowers and plants are priced at a comparable level to regularly produced flowers and plants, making them equally accessible for the consumer. Producers, traders and shops benefit from the larger market access: it has been proved that fairly produced flowers and plants find a market more easily! Consumer awareness is rising and consumers simply  demand and expect sustainably produced products. 

What are the costs for participating in FFP?
FFP is open on a voluntary basis for producers, traders and shops. Apart from the certification costs and a compensation for daily expenses of observers attending audits, every participant pays a membership fee. More information about this yearly contribution is available on the pages for producers, traders and retailers. 

How does the tracing and tracking of FFP flowers work?
For consumers it is important to know for sure that the FFP products they buy have been produced in a sustainable way. They want to have a guarantee. All FFP participants are therefore provided with a unique number. Producers are held to mark their products with their FFP number. Eventually, at the shop, each product is labeled with an individual number as well. With the label number, that is registered to the shop, products can be traced back to their origine by the FFP organisation. Independent auditors check the whole chain on compliance with these conditions.

How to ensure credibility of the FFP flowers?
To ensure the credibility of the FFP label to the consumers, an active cooperation between producers’ associations and civil society organizations is called for. A high quality product and transparency are equally important issues.

How does the audit procedure of ICC take place?
A FFP accepted farm has to be audited every year by an accredited, independent certification body. At each audit the independent certification body is accompanied by one observer on behalf of the local IUF affiliated trade union and one observer of a local NGO accepted by the international network of NGO's. A producer can not deny observers access to his premises. More information about the ICC and IFC can be found on the website: www.flowercampaign.org

Why are observers necessary, do we not trust our auditors?
Of course we trust the independent auditor, otherwise the Review Committee would not accept the auditing body. Nevertheless, it has been proved by previous audits that local observers serve as an important intermediate between the auditor, the workers and local NGO’s and trade unions.  While the auditor looks for compliance of the written social and environmental standards, the observers report more general issues and/or problems. Whereas auditors can not solve problems, local trade unions and NGO’s may be able to advise and assist a producer in finding a solution for a problem.