aaff and Greenhouse Sustainability are joining forces to actively help horticultural companies with their sustainable ambitions. This involves not only calculating the footprint of the companies, but also drawing up a ‘roadmap’ to gradually reduce that footprint. After a successful first pilot and the start of a second project, this approach is now ready for wider rollout.

aaff was formed last year following a merger between Alfa Accountants and Adviseurs and ABAB. The company is considered one of the most sustainable accountancy and advisory firms in the Netherlands, with strong representation in horticulture. As such, aaff and Greenhouse Sustainability have known each other for quite some time. Together, the companies now want to take the next step.

From Epiic, a subsidiary of aaff that focuses on advising innovative companies, a sustainability pilot has been set up at two horticultural companies in vegetable and ornamental cultivation. “The Dutch horticultural sector wants to be climate neutral by 2040,” says Boudewijn Zuijderhoudt, senior sustainability consultant at Epiic. “Specifically, this means zero emissions of CO2 and crop protection products, complete reuse of water and exclusively biological control.” To make these ambitions measurable, the company is aligned with new European calculation methods, such as the FloriPEFCR for ornamentals (recognized in 2024) and the FreshProducePEFCR for fruits and vegetables (expected recognition in 2026). Zuijderhoudt: “How do you approach that as a company? And what choices do you make to future-proof your business?”

Concrete measures
Zuijderhoudt actively supports entrepreneurs to become more sustainable. In doing so, he works closely with colleagues within aaff. One of those growers is KP Holland. The process consisted of several steps. First, with the help of Greenhouse Sustainability's Flori Footprint Tool, the company's environmental impact was mapped and scenarios were calculated to reduce that impact. Next, the market was mapped out: what sustainability requirements does the entrepreneur face and what geopolitical factors play a role? The next step was to determine the right strategy: what product-market combinations should you focus on, what sustainability requirements must your products meet, and what subsidies and financing opportunities are available? Finally, a feasible roadmap toward 2040 was drawn up. “This sets out how and when you will meet the sustainability goals, which concrete measures will be put on the timeline and how you will work step by step toward CO2-neutral operations,” Zuijderhoudt said.

He believes that a small step toward sustainability at horticultural companies can make a huge impact at the bottom line. Eric Flinterman, relationship manager at aaff, agrees. “Sustainability policies lead to a different strategy within companies. Entrepreneurs have to make choices to actually reduce their footprint. We see growers struggling tremendously with this. We therefore want to look with them and help them determine a well-considered strategy. The cooperation with Greenhouse Sustainability is a logical consequence of this.”

Getting started as a grower?
“The first of the two projects has now been successfully completed,” Zuijderhoudt said. “The results are promising and we look forward to rolling this out further.” The methodology for getting started with the footprint is well established. Now the task is to actively involve and enthuse more growers. More information on this will follow soon. As a grower, don't want to wait any longer? “Especially contact aaff. We would love to see together what this new approach can mean for your business.”

Curious to learn more about this project? You can find it here: In 3 steps to a climate-neutral and profitable greenhouse | aaff.

Photo: from left to right: Pim van der Knaap, commercial director KP Holland - Boudewijn Zuijderhoudt, senior sustainability consultant Epiic - Philip Meijer, sustainability consultant Epiic - Henri Potze, founder & director of Greenhouse Sustainability - Chris Boers, business advisor greenhouse horticulture aaff - John Vreugdenhil, financial director at KP Holland.