The European fruit and vegetable sector presented the new FreshProducePEFCR (Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules) at Freshfel Europe's annual event. This standard method for measuring environmental impact in the fruit and vegetable sector offers a solution to the proliferation of sustainability labels, initiatives, and legislation currently overwhelming the industry.
The FreshProducePEFCR is the sector-specific application of the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology developed by the European Commission. "With this PEFCR, we put an end to the confusion and administrative burden caused by the many different sustainability requirements," said Richard Schouten, general manager at GroentenFruit Huis, during the presentation. "We now offer one uniform method that includes all relevant environmental aspects in the assessment."
The new standard was developed with broad support from the sector through Freshfel Europe and GroentenFruit Huis, in collaboration with knowledge partners Wageningen University & Research, PRé Sustainability, and Merieux Nutrisciences | Blonk Sustainability. The project was established by a broad consortium of partners, including Greenyard and Dole, as well as organisations such as Glastuinbouw Nederland, Rabobank, ABN AMRO, Royal Floraholland, and AQS. It was co-funded by the Dutch government through the Top Sector initiative.
Unlike existing certification schemes, the FreshProducePEFCR is not a new label, but a standardised Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology that measures and quantifies the environmental footprint of fresh produce. The methodology covers the full life cycle of products and assesses 16 indicators representing environmental impact.
This harmonised approach allows supply chain partners to generate reliable and comparable results, identify impact hotspots, and focus on areas with the greatest potential for improvement. It not only increases transparency throughout the chain but also meets the growing information needs of retailers, financial institutions, governments, consumers, and NGOs.
The launch of the FreshProducePEFCR marks a significant step toward a system based on measurable impact. The industry aims to further integrate the PEFCR into policies (such as CSRD, CSDD, and Green Claims), certification schemes, and tools to eliminate duplication in sustainability requirements and promote harmonisation.
Click here for more information, including an animation and infographic explaining the methodology.
Source: GroentenFruit Huis