From 27 September 2026, new rules on sustainability claims made to consumers will apply throughout the European Union. These rules are laid down in the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (EmpCo) Directive and are intended to better protect consumers against greenwashing and misleading sustainability claims. Companies must communicate sustainability information in a clear, reliable and well-substantiated manner.

MPS supports this objective. For more than 30 years, we have been helping ornamental horticulture growers make their sustainability efforts transparent through certification standards and data-driven solutions. This provides them with objective and independently verified information on, among other things, environmental, social and operational performance.

Our certification standards are primarily designed for use within the ornamental horticulture supply chain. The MPS-Vignette makes certification information transparent and traceable for consumers. It is intended as an information and traceability tool rather than a stand-alone sustainability claim about a product.

MPS certification standards are based on transparent criteria, independent audits and, where applicable, accredited certification processes. In addition, several MPS certification standards and tools are aligned with internationally recognised initiatives and standards, such as FSI, GLOBALG.A.P., SSCI and IWAY.

Data-driven tools, such as the HortiFootprint Calculator, enable companies to measure their environmental impact in a consistent and measurable way. The results are intended to substantiate specific sustainability information and not to support general claims about the sustainability of a company or product.

MPS provides reliable data, certification structures and verification processes that support transparent and substantiated sustainability communication. However, responsibility for the use of sustainability claims towards consumers always remains with the organisation using those claims.

A more detailed statement is available upon request.