Chrysal has released its very first sustainability report—a true milestone, according to Sustainability & People Director Nora Meijerink. More than anything, though, she sees it as the next step toward greater transparency and measurable progress. "It's the first time we've shared, in detail and publicly, our vision for the floral industry and what our sustainability strategy really means," Meijerink explains.
© ChrysalNora Meijerink
The sustainability report marks the beginning of Chrysal's so-called "reporting journey." Since 2022, the company has been working to comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the European framework that requires companies to be more transparent about their sustainability policies and performance.
Transparency
"We want to be more transparent about our approach and progress on sustainability," says Nora Meijerink. "This report shows where we currently stand. It includes our Double Materiality Assessment, our value chain and stakeholder analysis, and the actions and targets we've set. From now on, we'll be updating and publishing this report every year."
By collecting data from all its global operations, Chrysal has gained a clearer picture of its overall impact. "We're measuring CO₂ emissions across all our sites and products. This helps us see exactly where we are and what's still needed to reach our goals," Nora explains.
Four pillars
Chrysal's sustainability strategy is built around four main pillars: combating climate change, contributing to a sustainable economy, caring for people, and striving for a positive environmental impact.
"For each pillar, we outline our specific approach and the efforts we're making," says Nora. "For example, under 'combating climate change,' we highlight our sea freight service, which allows customers to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions compared to air transport. And under 'contributing to a sustainable economy,' we include our initiatives to reduce plastic waste, such as the development of recyclable sachets."
Product development
Sustainability also plays a central role in Chrysal's R&D department. "Our research focuses heavily on sustainable innovation, from creating fully circular packaging solutions to improving the environmental profile of our ingredients," Nora adds. "We're continuously developing products and solutions that reduce our footprint, without compromising on the quality our customers expect."
© ChrysalSustainable sachets
Collaboration
Because Chrysal operates worldwide, its sustainability approach is being woven into every part of the business. "Sustainability is at the heart of our overall strategy, and we actively involve all employees," says Nora Meijerink. "This collective effort ensures that every department contributes to our sustainability goals. Together with our customers and partners, we're always looking for ways to create meaningful, shared impact."
According to Nora, growers, traders, and retailers are already noticing the results of these efforts. "You can see our sustainability focus not only in our product innovations but also in how we collaborate with our customers. We aim to build long-term partnerships where we can make a real difference together."
Clear goals
To guide its sustainability strategy, Chrysal has developed three main roadmaps: CO₂ reduction, circularity and packaging, and ingredients. "Some of our key goals include using 30% recycled material in our plastic packaging by 2027, and following a CO₂ reduction pathway aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative," explains Nora. "For 2025, we set the target of converting all our sachets to recyclable packaging, and that transition is now well underway."
Beyond that, Chrysal is also developing roadmaps for biodiversity, sustainable land and water use, and several 'people-focused' topics such as diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being.
Collectively promote
Finally, Nora highlights the importance of collaboration within the entire flower and plant industry. "The biggest opportunity, in my view, lies in working together to tackle sustainability challenges, and in sharing the positive progress we're already making," she says. "There are so many good developments happening across the sector, and by learning from each other, we can accelerate change even further."
Chrysal can be visited from November 4 to 6 at the Trade Fair, stands 1.48 and 1.49.
For more information:
Nora Meijerink
Chrysal International
[email protected]
www.chrysal.com