HORTICERT Awards First Certificates at the 7th Stakeholder Workshop

On October 10, 2024, we hosted the 7th HORTICERT Stakeholder Workshop – the first time the event was held in a hybrid format, allowing participation both virtually and on site in Berlin at the Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft. Around 80 participants from industry, research, NGOs, and the public sector gathered to network, exchange knowledge, and discuss the certification of sustainable peat alternatives. 

Celebrating Achievements

The highlight of the day was the awarding of the first seven HORTICERT certificates. Recognized were Gebrüder Mayer, the growing media producer of the German DIY store toom Baumarkt, as well as the growing media producer Gramoflor GmbH & Co. KG. The entire supply chain of Eifel-Holz AG was also certified, which includes the Belgian wood fiber producer EMZ-Werke Manderfeld, the German sawmill I.B.H., and the company’s own production of growing media, compost and bark humus. Additionally, the coconut importer Copertiz BV received the certificate, and its first Indian supplier of sustainable coconut-based peat alternatives has now also been certified. As early adopters, these companies were the first to successfully complete the rigorous certification process. HORTICERT congratulates the partner companies on reaching this significant milestone and for their dedication to advancing sustainable solutions. 

Shaping the Future Together

The workshop served as a valuable platform for sharing updates on HORTICERT’s progress. The newly certified companies offered firsthand accounts of their certification journeys and shared insights into how they implemented their sustainability strategies. Representatives from the partner NGOs Welthungerhilfe, Global Nature Fund, and the Bodensee-Stiftung contributed presentations on ecological and social sustainability requirements and how these are being addressed by HORTICERT. 

A key part of the event were the engaging panel discussions that explored the future of the substrate industry. The discussions focused on several topics, including the challenges of determining greenhouse gas emissions from composting, increasing the international reach of HORTICERT, and ensuring alignment with upcoming EU regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), or the Green Claims Directive. Additionally, there was a strong call for integrating more peat substitutes into the HORTICERT certification framework and aligning the system with other certification schemes where possible.  

Looking Ahead

With the issuance of the first certificates, HORTICERT has officially launched but the system will be further developed in close collaboration with stakeholders and partner companies. A strong focus is also placed on establishing connections with new partners who support the shared vision. Companies interested in learning more about the HORTICERT system are welcome to reach out via the contact form on this website, by email, or through the HORTICERT LinkedIn profile. 

Title picture (from left): Jonas Velz (Eifel-Holz), Theresa Heering (WHH), Philipp Testroet (IVG), Nadine Depuis (Eifel-Holz), Dr. Norbert Schmitz (Meo Carbon Solutions), Ribanna Jansen (toom Baumarkt), Marc van Deal (Copertiz), Simon Busse (FNR), Prof. Dr. Carsten Cuhls (Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal), Steffen Kemper (GNF), Markus Bockholt (Meo Carbon Solutions), Benedikt Rilling (HOT Projekt), Lasse Brandt (FiniTo), Mathias Bröker (Reterra); lower row: Julia Ostrowski, Katrin Jäger (both Meo Carbon Solutions GmbH), Ramkumar Palanisamy (Kokosflora)