What is On the way to PlanetProof?
On the way to PlanetProof is an independent quality label which proves that you are buying a product that has been produced more sustainably and is therefore a better choice for nature, climate and animals.
With the label, farmers, horticulturalists and other businesses are working towards agricultural production that is in balance with the carrying capacity of our planet. They are trying to place less and less of a burden on the earth and are gradually making their sector more sustainable. The quality label is available for eggs, dairy products, potatoes, vegetables and fruit, flowers, plants, trees and flower bulbs.
A comprehensive approach
Products with the label meet more than 100 requirements in the areas of:
- Energy and climate
- Crop protection
- Soil
- Fertilization
- Animal welfare and health
- Biodiversity
- Waste and material use
- Water
Why the quality label?
What we do now has consequences for later. By setting strict requirements for various themes, certificate holders of On the way to PlanetProof contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Worldwide, several countries have made agreements about making our way of life more sustainable in order to save our planet.
Moreover, certificate holders are working on the sustainability goals of the Climate Agreement, with the aim to emit 49% less greenhouse gases in 2030 than we did in 1990, and the goals as stated in the European Green Deal. This proposes that we reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990.
Curious how the requirements are established?
Growing sustainability label
We are well on our way. By now, the label is available for 6 sectors and is active both nationally and internationally. Whereas in 2017 some 300 farmers, horticulturalists, and other businesses still had a certificate, by 2021 there will already be over 2.800 participating businesses.
On the way to PlanetProof is growing at a rapid pace. For example, 5.6% of poultry farmers in the Netherlands are certified. Furthermore, 58% of the table potatoes and 53% of the herbs and vegetables (open cultivation) in the Netherlands are certified with On the way to PlanetProof. For fruit, the figure is 38%. And did you know that 10% of the Dutch tree nursery and 6% of the covered ornamental plant cultivation has the On the way to PlanetProof certificate? That’s a lot.
Photo: The Greenery
Who may use the quality label?
Only farmers and growers who meet the requirements may use the label On the Way to PlanetProof. Their products only receive certification when an independent certification body verifies that they meet all the criteria. This also applies to traders, packers and processors of these products.
The certificate for the product is the proof that it has been produced in a more sustainable manner. It meets strict requirements that go beyond the law. By tightening the requirements each year and through proper monitoring, we are working step by step to make the entire sector more sustainable.
International
On the Way to PlanetProof is also active internationally. You want to be able to eat your favorite fruits and vegetables all year round. That is why Dutch supermarkets also buy these products from abroad if they have to, for example during the Dutch winter season. Of course, these products are just as sustainable as you are used to. This is because many foreign farmers and growers are also certified with On the Way to PlanetProof. These can be found in Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain and Italy), but also in Belgium, Germany, France and Poland.
“Know that a lot of thought and passion has gone into producing this product. Even if you were to pay a few cents more, the money has been used to ensure that your food has been produced in a more sustainable way. By choosing On the way to PlanetProof products, you are really contributing something.” – Dionisio, Polimnia Italia
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