Ecuador, recognized worldwide for its high-quality flowers, continues to strengthen its leadership thanks to the innovative certification Flor Ecuador Certified® V 4.0Promoted by Expoflores, this model was consolidated in 2005 and, since April 6, 2022, version 4.0 of its regulatory documents has been applied, including sustainability indicators such as the carbon footprint, good agricultural practices, and the promotion of formality in the sector. .

1. What is Flor Ecuador Certified® V 4.0?

It is a socio-environmental certification scheme designed for companies engaged in the production, export, and marketing of flowers in Ecuador. It is valid for:

2. Main improvements in version 4.0

  • Sustainability indicators, especially the measurement of the carbon footprint.

  • Incorporation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and promotion of labor formality .

  • Quality of Life Program, which assesses working conditions as part of the path towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) certificationfec.com+9ecuadorysusflores.com+9asocolflores.org+9.

3. Sector research and adoption

Since 2022, 108 companies on more than 3,000 hectares have been certified, with annual audits and online process monitoring. ecuadorysusflores.com. In addition, 102 farms joined the Ecuador Carbon Zero Program, positioning the sector as a pioneer in carbon neutrality in the country. .

4. Strategic alliances

The alliance with Florverde Sustainable Flowers It allows you to obtain both certifications (Flor Ecuador and Florverde) in a single audit, optimizing efforts and improving recognition in demanding markets. .

5. Projections and benefits for Ecuador

  • The sector aspires to double exports up to USD 2 billion by 2035; today around USD 1 billion and with 53,000 direct jobs swissinfo.ch+3larepublica.ec+3swissinfo.ch+3.

  • ExpoFlor (Quito) grew from 6,000 m² in 2022 to 11,000 m² in 2024, with 125 brands and 2,600 visitors from 47 countries. eldiario.es+2larepublica.ec+2swissinfo.ch+2.

  • Caring for small farmers, technological development, and formalizing labor are key to opening new markets and adding value. .