In early May, FM Group CSR Officers Koen and Dionne attended a meeting of substrate knowledge center RHP. The aim of the meeting was to gather input, expertise and views from a broad group of stakeholders on the responsible production of coir and how this could be demonstrated through certification. The focus here was on establishing the right definition of responsible production and naming relevant sustainability issues in the coconut production chain.
The husk of coir is a residual product in the coir industry, is widely used in substrate mixtures. The meeting explained the coconut production chain, debunking myths such as the use of monkeys in coconut harvesting.
Several speakers, including representatives from Dutch Plantin, Royal Lemkes, Ikea, Growers United and Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI), shared insights on production chains, sustainability in substrate and responsible production.
The presentations were followed by a brainstorming session and discussion, involving all attendees. This included the first outlines for the Responsibly Produced Coir certification scheme. The shared views on the need for a sustainability certification scheme and different approaches to this will serve as a basis for further development which will be facilitated by RHP. The event provided a platform for bringing together various perspectives to promote sustainability in the coir industry.
