Now 100% FSI compliant
With our partner farm in Zimbabwe recently obtaining its final certification, all Marginpar flowers now meet the requirements of the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI). This means that every stem we grow, at our own farms and at our partner farms, comes from a place that's certified according to internationally recognised environmental and social standards.
What is FSI?
The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) is a global sector initiative that aims to make sustainable floriculture the norm. It brings together growers, traders, retailers and industry organisations to improve transparency and sustainability throughout the flower supply chain.
It uses a "basket of standards" consisting of 16 sustainability standards. These focus on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), environmental and social responsibilities, or a combination of these areas.
Marginpar joined FSI in its early years, embracing sustainability as a core value.
Our flower farms and certifications
Marginpar has 16 farms across four countries: Kenya, Ethiopia (own farms), Tanzania, and Zimbabwe (partner farms). To ensure FSI compliance and sustainable practices, all our farms are certified across three areas: Environmental, Social, and GAP. We use the term ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) to refer to the different aspects of sustainability.
Not all certifications are the same. For example, the MPS label is divided into three parts. MPS-ABC for the Environment component (where A+ is the highest attainable); MPS SQ for the social component and MPS GAP for sustainable and safe farming practices. In comparison, the Kenya Flower Council label (KFC) has combined all three of these components into one certificate.
- Kenya: 7 flower farms – KFC Gold & Silver Label
- Ethiopia: 3 flower farms – MPS-ABC & MPS-SQ & GlobalG.A.P.
- Tanzania: 3 partner farms – MPS-ABC, MPS-GAP & MPS-SQ
- Zimbabwe: 3 partner farms – MPS-ABC, MPS-GAP & MPS-SQ
What this means for Marginpar
At Marginpar, sustainability is not a separate project. It is part of how we grow flowers every day.
Across our farms in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, we work with internationally recognised certification programmes that verify our practices and continuously push us to improve.
Reaching 100% FSI compliance means that all our farms and partner farms are certified under schemes recognised by FSI. These certifications cover both environmental and social standards and are independently audited.
For our teams on the farms, this reflects the ongoing efforts to:
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create safe and fair working environments
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invest in employee well being and community development
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protect natural resources such as water and soil
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grow flowers with care for biodiversity and ecosystems
Why this matters for florists
For florists, transparency and responsible sourcing are becoming increasingly important. Customers want to know where flowers come from and how they are grown.
Being fully FSI compliant means that when you work with Marginpar flowers, you can be confident that they come from responsibly certified farms.
It also supports the broader transition of the floriculture sector towards more sustainable practices.Something we believe benefits everyone involved in the chain, from grower to florist to consumer.
Continuous improvement
While reaching 100% FSI compliance is an important milestone, we see it as another step in an ongoing journey.
We continue to work on improving our environmental impact, strengthening social programmes on and around our farms, and keep sharing about how our flowers are grown.
Because sustainability is something you continue to build every day.
