" The summit was not so much about gaining commercially , but about pass around the elbow room we work . It underline that the flower industry is undergoing transmutation , " says Eduardo Letort , General Manager at Hoja Verde . Hoja Verde is an Ecuadorian rose producing company that is ground on the rationale of Fairtrade .
Letort enter in the Ecuadorian delegation that attended the ' B for Good Leaders Summit ' in Amsterdam , the Netherlands . The summit , which look at place on May 23 and May 24 , gathered 1,500 business to promote a more just and regenerative economy . For this occasion , the venue of the peak , the Beurs van Berlage , was decorated with 1,000 rosiness from the Ecuadorian company Hoja Verde .
An impression of the flower decorations at the superlative venue
In this article , Letort and Ignacio Morejón tell us more about what is entailed in being part of this ' B Corp Movement ' .
The ' B Corp Movement’Ignacio Morejón complicate on how the ' vitamin B for Good Leaders Summit ' bring to promoting the ' B Corp Movement ' , say : " At Sistema B Ecuador we believe that corp can have a positive impact . For this grounds , we are supporting business loss leader to carry in a different way , to have a strain of stakeholder governance . We are confident that leaders around the humankind want to do commodity . That creates a movement of multitude .
The ' B for Good Leaders Summit ' is part of the evolution of this cosmopolitan ' B Corp Movement ' . It is one of the first international initiatives that connects loss leader . It shows that there are leaders whom are not only interested in managing their company , but also in being an ambassador of stakeholder governance . "
Although most companies that participate in the Ecuadorian deputation were B Corps , Ignacio Morejón highlights that it is not a demand for participation : " We select the companionship that can participate in the delegation . We realize that the B Corp Certification is difficult to achieve , it ’s a golden criterion . Moreover , we also require to integrate other occupation leaders that do n’t yet have the B Corp Certification , but that are willing to promote creditworthy and sustainable governance .
We do n’t ' want to be single , but we have these three touchstone : player of the mission ask to have mensurable encroachment under external standard ; Their impact should be verified by an independent collaborator ; and they have to show transparence . If you are bid , and your lotion is okay , you are part of our community that is built on trustingness . From this point on , you have a huge societal responsibility , as you have to be gauze-like under societal examination . “The social aspectLocated in the northwest of Latin America , the country ’s geographics , varied clime , and fertile ground offer favorable term for flower growth . Today , Ecuador is one of Latin America ’s largest bloom exporters . The USA and the Netherlands being the independent destinations of the Ecuadorian bloom transports . According to statistic provided by Pro Ecuador , in 2023 exportation to the USA had a economic value of 352.6 million US Dollar . And exportation to the Netherlands accomplish a phonograph recording of 104 million US Dollar .
Letort target out that Hoja Verde was the only flower company that was allowed to enter in the Ecuadorian corporation : " We were the only heyday fellowship that met the Sistema B Ecuador requirements . Also , we are the only flower B - Corp in Ecuador , and one of the few in the world . We obtained the B Corp Certification in 2018 . This indicates that we ’re not yet there in the efflorescence manufacture , but also that it is potential to be a B Corp in this industry . “Both Letort and Ignacio Morejón highlight that the societal aspect of sustainable and responsible leadership is equally important as the environmental panorama . Ignacio Morejón states : " We think that reduced carbon - footprint is really important , however , focus on foot - print is quite narrow - given . We should have more tending for the social aspect .
It ’s interesting to see is that the societal element is more prioritized in Ecuador , and the whole of Latin - America . Latin - America shinny with social constancy and geomorphologic inequality . Think of the fact that Ecuadorians have to migrate to other persona of the country to find jobs . Migration also comes with a step . besides , the nation abide from the phenomenon of drugs traffic in Ecuadorian ports . These egress bear upon home , democracy , trade , and the costs of production . We should address these issues and discuss them on a global level . "
Letort adds : " Hoja Verda , is located in the Cayambe region , near the capital of Ecuador . In this part individual companies regularly have to provide health care and education in rural areas . At Hoja Verda we are also pursue in these kinds of initiative . Aside from using sustainable cultivation method , we are implicated with improving working precondition , living accommodations for workers , and 10 % of the sales via our FairTrade line is go to education .
We believe that this approach not only benefits our business enterprise , but also the residential area in the region . Some of our employees mold here for twenty - five years , some of their children now go to university . Also , 50 % of the jobs are carry out by women . In Cayambe , indigenous women incline to be community leadership .
To keep these opening move on-going , we have high social costs , and thus high flower prices than other companies . It would be great if more retail merchant and customers would also realize that the outcome justifies these supererogatory price . For representative , in Europe , theCorporate Sustainability Due Diligence directivewill come in effect , we already accomplish all the requirement . Importers , retailers , and supermarkets can avoid reputational damage if they know their supplier . "
Inspiration and transformationBoth men are affirmative about the future and the flower industriousness , and they have a bun in the oven that the ' B Corp Movement ' is about to expand . Letort say : " This twelvemonth we were the only flower company that participated in the Ecuadorian delegation , hopefully there will be more companionship shortly . By participate this year , and grace the Beurs van Berlage locus with our flowers , we could inspire other fellowship and overspread the word that sustainable governance is possible in the flower industriousness .
Of of course , we still necessitate morphological change in the diligence , but we see progress . For example , when it comes to the transport of flower . today , airline give more attention to CO2 and fuel emissions . Moreover , I think that sea freight will become increasingly important in the future , we see that the sector is transform in this field . "
" It ’s amazing to see how generous , inspiring , and serious the leader at the tiptop are . Also , Pro Ecuador ( Ecuador ’s main bedchamber of export peak ) , and the Ecuadorian embassy have been key allies . We shared a hatful of entropy ; the government examine it as an opportunity for Ecuador . Being a small commonwealth , Ecuador tends to be comparatively less competitive when it comes to commodity . Ecuador can distinguish itself by the value behind their product , rather than the award .
We retrieve this is the future for Ecuador , and also for other rose exporter . We do n’t want it to be public insurance . We believe that the ' B Corp Movement ' only make as a part of the spare securities industry . Yet we want to be an ally of authorities , regulators , and corporation to advance sustainability , and to show that there is an alternate direction of doing business , " Ignacio Morejón concludes .
From October 9 – 10 , the Ecuadorian flower sector is organize Expo Flor Ecuador 2024 . This issue gathers all the Ecuadorian sphere in one place and receive buyers and partners from all over the world . In November , there will be an Ecuadorian marquee at the IFTF 2024 , where 12 flower growers will exhibit with the support of theImport Promotion Desk ( IPD ) .
For more info : Sistema B Ecuadorwww.sistemab.org
Hoja Verdewww.hojaverde.com
ProEcuadorwww.proecuador.gob.ec
