New Version of Veriflora® Sustainably Grown Standard Published

Emeryville, Calif., October 27, 2023

SCS Standards today announced the publication of an updated version of the Certification Standard for Veriflora® Sustainably Grown Cut Flowers and Potted Plants (SCS-001-2 Version 4).  Third-party certification under this internationally recognized standard ensures that producers are working diligently to provide a safe and healthy work environment, support farm workers and communities, and protect vital environmental resources such as clean air, clean water, and wildlife habitat while reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions, and waste. The standard, first introduced in 2005, has been streamlined and updated in several important ways, and certification to the new standard is also recognized by large retailers such as Walmart as meeting requirements for pollinator health and integrated pest management. 

The Standard is now aligned with the Sustainably Grown Standard for Agricultural Crops (SCS-001-1), meaning that producers certified under the newest version will be qualified to make complementary claims in conjunction with the Veriflora® Sustainably Grown claim, either immediately or over a defined phase-in period, including:  

• Farmworker Protection 
• Water Conservation 
• Soil Conservation 
• Biodiversity Protection 
• Pollinator Friendly 
• Climate Neutral 

Moreover, Producers can take their commitment to sustainability even further, opting to meet additional requirements that allow them to achieve recognition under one or more of the following cutting-edge “Trailblazer” categories: 

• Living Wage  
• Regenerative Agriculture 
• Farmworker/Community Empowerment 
• Biodiversity Champion 

“We’re very excited about the important new developments in Version 4 of the Standard,” said Victoria Norman, Executive Director of SCS Standards. “These innovations come on top of the ways in which the standard is already unique in the marketplace, providing a unified framework for assessing cut flowers and potted plants in countries around the world.”  

To download a copy of the standard, please visit https://www.scsstandards.org/standards/certification-standard-veriflorar-sustainably-grown-cut-flowers-and-potted-plants   

To request more information about certification, please visit https://www.scsglobalservices.com/services/veriflora-certified-sustainably-grown  

About SCS Standards 

SCS Standards is a non-profit organization committed to the development of standards that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Standards are developed in alignment with best practices and guidelines provided by internationally recognized bodies to ensure a robust, transparent and collaborative approach. SCS Standards is the official standards development body for Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. doing business as SCS Global Services.