Framework for sustainability assessment of the value chain of flowering potted plants for the German market

The value chain of flowering potted plants (FPP) is associated with environmental, social and economic sus-
tainability challenges. Indicator-based assessment methods can provide insights into sustainability performance
of agricultural value chains. The FPP value chain is not comparable to other agricultural systems and therefore
cannot be assessed with existing indicator-based tools. In this study, a framework was developed for sustain-
ability assessment of the FPP value chain, from breeding to distribution. The development of the framework
involved defining sustainability themes and subthemes based on the characterization of the value chain and the
investigation of social, environmental and economic sustainability challenges. The generic sustainability
assessment tools, Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) and Response-Inducing
Sustainability Evaluation (RISE), provided the foundation for indicator selection and development. The cur-
rent study emphasized the need for a system-specific view, especially in unique systems such as the FPP value
chain, because generic assessment tools, such as SAFA and RISE, do not cover all sustainability subthemes. Most
of the indicators missing from generic assessment tools were environmental indicators. Environmental assess-
ment is closely related to value chain stages and product-specific processes, therefore indicators were allocated
according to the value chain stages, breeding, production and distribution. Social sustainability themes are
influenced by national and regional socio-economic conditions, such as government provision of healthcare and a
social safety net. Therefore, indicators are allocated based on geographical regions and stakeholder groups. The
economic subthemes are determined by industry structure and sector-specific conditions. The ornamental sector
is characterized by low margins and high uncertainty, related to profitability and vulnerability. Despite the initial
evaluation performed in the current study, in the next step, industry actors need to determine the feasibility of
the indicators. The implementation of the framework developed in the current study will provide further insights
into the value chain, which will guide actors in taking actions for performance improvement and provide
guidance for policy-makers in setting sustainability targets.