Driven partly by a growing social trend to corporate responsibility and partly through marketplace demand, many European nurseries have embraced ISO and other certification programs as a means of proving their accountability in areas ranging from the environment to labor management.  These certifications generally help the nursery management to verify that they are meeting high standards relating to plants, people and all facets of the production cycle.

Labor management requirements, for instance, will look at a company’s hiring policies:  do they use a proportionate amount of local laborers in relationship to lower cost imported labor?  Periodic audits ensure illegal immigrant labor is not being used.  Companies must also show a commitment to making positions available to disabled persons.  Is there an ongoing commitment to employee training and of course, all-important safety programs?

A company’s responsibilities to their neighbors are also taken into account.  This is especially important in areas where urban sprawl has grown out to meet or be near to distribution or production facilities.

Environmental certifications are many and becoming more stringent with each passing year.  In all areas ranging from pesticide use, fertilizer use and water run-offs, a company must be able to prove they are using the most current technologies and meeting or exceeding the most current environmental guidelines and regulations.  Water usage and quality is extremely important and audits are conducted on a regular basis.

Phytosanitary certifications are also important to ensure that the nursery is not inadvertently or otherwise responsible for the movement of insects and diseases.

While European nursery managers generally agree that these many certifications help them to be recognized as among the best in their field, they also acknowledge that there are many associated costs as well.  The question then becomes:  Is it worthwhile?

The answer is yes, thanks in large part to institutional purchasing and tendering policies that stipulate compliance with all or some of these certifications.  While the details may vary from institution to institution and from one government agency to another, in general the awarding of contracts is based on point systems that place a priority on certification status as well as the price.

Only those that are certified need apply!