Corporate Social Responsibility
M. van den Oever Nurseries is a forerunner when it comes to sustainability. We have a role to play as pioneers and ambassadors in the sustainable cultivation of greenery. We call this approach the ‘cultivation’ of ‘Natural Growing Power™’ for our customers, our company and our people. That is why we present ourselves as ‘Living Environment Enhancers’ and give substance to this by demonstrating our efforts in climatological, economical, socially responsible and environmental areas on the basis of our four ‘Ps’, with corresponding quality and certification systems.
People
People who improve our living environment
Your access to 12,000 varieties
Planet
People who at the same time protect mother earth
Environmentally friendly cultivation
M. van den Oever Nurseries attaches great value to the environmentally-friendly cultivation of trees and plants. For this reason, the whole nursery is PlanetProof certified (international Dutch environmental quality label). This PlanetProof has strict requirements for the use of fertilisers and pesticides. But as an ambassador of sustainable cultivation, we do more than what is required of us.Trees that have the PlanetProof label satisfy the sustainability criteria that have been drawn up by the government. For further information seewww.planetproof-international.eu.
Biodiversity on the nursery
On the nursery, we encourage biodiversity in order to reduce our dependence on fertilisers and pesticides. For instance, we have hung up nesting boxes for birds. Birds eat harmful insects that would otherwise damage the trees. We also sow wild flower mixtures on empty strips in the nursery. The flowers attract many useful insects, such as hoverflies, bumble bees, ladybirds, bees and butterflies.
Compost tea for stronger trees
The use of compost tea (Fytaforce) instead of pesticides encourages great biodiversity in the nursery. The compost tea is a mixture of organisms that protect the plant against harmful fungi and bacteria, which results in more resilient plants.
Optimal soil conditions
The trees we cultivate grow in optimal soil conditions. The use of natural fertilisers instead of chemical ones, made-to-measure compost with the necessary nutrients and the minimum amount of soil preparation preserves soil organisms and we grow trees with ‘Natural Growing Power™’. This means a better start and less replacements at the tree’s final destination.
CO2 Performance Ladder
We are the first large Dutch nursery to be certified for the CO2 performance ladder. Every tree that is planted is an oxygen factory and annually reduces, for example, the entire CO2 burden of driving an average of 250 kilometres!
Profit
People who create the value of greenery together with you
Green LifeTM Environments
Pleasure
Giving people who live & work together pleasure
Working together
Our certification systems
We consciously opted for a few certification systems that reinforce one another and that support our role as pioneers and ambassador’s role in the most sustainable cultivation of trees. These are:PlanetProofNL-Greenlabel with A statusISO 9001CO2 performance ladderPSO (CSR performance ladder)Naktuinbouw Select Plant
CO2 performance ladder
We obtained the CO2 performance ladder certificate. This certificate is even more proof of the way in which our sustainable and CO2-conscious way of working is used, among other things, in tenders and commercial commissions. Varying from the reduction of the effects on the climate by making the right choices in greenery and how to reduce the emission of CO2 together, to mapping in- and external communication on this and our participation in supply chain initiatives.The ladder is managed and developed by Stichting Klimaatvriendelijke Aanbesteden en Ondernemen (SKAO) (Foundation for Climate-Friendly Tendering & Entrepreneurship). We also participate in this. Our company information can be found on SKAO.
Footprint
M. van den Oever & Sons’ company objective is to reduce the emission of CO2 and to become more and more sustainable. For M. van den Oever Nurseries, the CO2 footprint is an environmental gauge to make it known how much CO2 is emitted each year and this is determined according to the ‘Greenhouse Gas Protocol’ method.The CO2 footprint gives insight into where reduction that can lead to savings is possible. Reduction is possible, for instance, on transport, energy, waste, water and paper. We are aware of this and also communicate it within and outside our organisation. The 2016 CO2 footprint can be found here. De CO2 footprint of 2016 you find here.De CO2 footprint of 2017 you find here.De CO2 footprint of 2018 you find here.
Documentation
To achieve our objectives, it is important to lay down agreements we have made together in an action plan. In the energy management action plan, the ‘plan-do-check-act’ cycle is described which should ensure a continual improvement of energy efficiency.In addition to this, M. van den Oever is a transparent organisation with an open vision, which has given itself the objective to increase support for the reduction of CO2 by openly communicating with as many internal and external parties as possible. We are not afraid of engaging in a dialogue with employees, customers, suppliers and other supply chain partners to bring to attention the necessity for the reduction of CO2. Below you will find the related documentation.Management announcement of the start of certification CO2 performance ladder2-prestatieladderCommunication plan CO2 performance ladder2-prestatieladderProgress report and energy action planCO2 progress report and energy action plan 2016CO2 progress report and energy action plan 2017-S1CO2 progress report and energy action plan 2018-S2CO2 progress report and energy action plan 2019-S1CO2 Performance Ladder NewslettersCO2 Performance Ladder Newsletter 2017-1CO2 Performance Ladder Newsletter 2017-2CO2 Performance Ladder Newsletter 2018-1CO2 Performance Ladder Newsletter 2018-2CO2 Performance Ladder Newsletter 2019-1CO2 Performance Ladder Newsletter 2019-2
Reduction measures
End of 2016
For 2017, M. van den Oever wants to achieve a CO2 reduction of 4% of the reference year, 2016. To realise this, M. van den Oever will invest, among other things, in electrical equipment, economical and electric vehicles, training of employees and our own buildings.
End of 2017
The stated reduction target for 2017 was amply achieved by M. van den Oever with a reduction of more than 9%. The reduction target for 2017 was 4%. The measures taken to reduce total CO2 emissions are effective and we expect this trend to continue in 2018.
End of 2018
Despite substantial increase in activities, we have succeeded in reducing CO2 emissions this year. We see a total decrease of 15 tonnes. The set reduction target for 2018 of Scope 1 of -2% has almost been achieved by M. van den Oever despite the increased activities: -1.76%. For scope 2, the reduction target was -50%. We have achieved -70%. The measures taken to reduce total CO2 emissions are effective.
Supply chain initiatives
In the framework of the CO2 performance ladder, together with composter Van Iersel and the Municipality of Haaren, M. van den Oever has taken the initiative to research how more CO2 can be buffered in soil for cultivation by increasing organic material in the humus. Exceptional results have already been achieved in Austria using this method. Further information about our supply chain initiative can be found in the document below.Supply chain initiative CO2 humus | Soil- carbon credits
In the context of the CO2 performance ladder, M. van den Oever has taken a second initiative to increase the load factor of trucks. This is achieved by putting together combi-loads for a specific region and delivering them on set days. This allows us to save fuel on internal and external logistics. You will find more information about this second chain initiative in the document below.Chain initiative Fixed delivery days Netherlands | CO2 reduction logistics