Green is the foundation. And so is the path toward it.

Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in the floriculture industry. Customers want to know where products come from, under what conditions they are produced, and what impact the journey from producer to end customer has.

For WBE, sustainability is not an end goal, but a process. We are not necessarily the pioneers in this area, nor do we have direct influence over every step in our international supply chain. Our fresh-cut greens come from various parts of the world, and that is precisely why sustainability can sometimes be complex. But that is no reason for us to stand still.

That is why we are focusing on the areas where we can make a difference. By reducing waste, using energy and transportation more thoughtfully, investing in our employees, and collaborating with suppliers and other stakeholders in the floriculture sector.

We're not there yet. But we're always looking for ways to improve and work every day to make things even better. 

Because greenery isn't just the foundation of a bouquet. As far as we're concerned, it's also the foundation of the journey toward it.

We're working on this.

Becoming more sustainable doesn’t happen overnight. To gain a better understanding of our impact and take targeted steps, we at WBE work with various initiatives and systems. They help us analyze data, better understand our supply chain, and identify areas for improvement.

More Sustainable in Our Own Business Operations

Sustainability doesn’t start only with our suppliers or the journey our products take. Within our own organization, we also look for ways to operate more intelligently and sustainably. Sometimes this involves major investments; other times, it’s small adjustments that, when combined, make a difference.

Future Fit – Where Can We Still Improve?

In addition to the steps we’re already taking, we want to gain a better understanding of where opportunities still lie for WBE. That’s why we’re participating in Rabobank’s Future Fit program.

As part of this initiative, we are taking a critical look at various aspects of our business operations and assessing where we currently stand—from energy and waste to our employees and the supply chain in which we operate.

The goal is not to be able to say that everything is already sustainable. It is precisely by gaining clarity on where we stand that we can determine where we can take further steps in the coming years.

In this way, we continue to look for improvements that are a good fit for WBE: feasible, practical, and forward-looking.

Committed to People and the Environment

For us, sustainable business goes beyond just the products we sell and the impact of our operations. We also believe it is important to be involved with the people and the community around us.

WBE has strong ties to the regions where we operate. That’s why we support various local sports clubs, including MVV’27 and Rijnsburgse Boys, and contribute to events that bring people together. For example, we’re involved in the Varend Corso, the Rijnsburg Flower Parade, and local activities surrounding King’s Day.

Contributing wherever possible

We’re also passionate about community initiatives and charities. Sometimes this support comes directly from WBE, but often it’s because a colleague, client, or other business contact is personally committed to a particular cause.

For example, in recent years, our logo has appeared at ALS Swim Westland, the Daniel den Hoed Family House, the Jade Foundation, and various other initiatives. We also support projects further afield, such as those in Guatemala and Curaçao.

These initiatives may be very different, but to us they have one thing in common: the ability to make a difference in the lives of the people around us—locally, through our colleagues and business contacts, and sometimes even far beyond.

Continuous Improvement

For WBE, sustainability is not a project with an end date. New insights, technologies, and requirements continue to evolve, and we evolve with them. By providing ever-greater transparency into our impact, we aim to set concrete goals in the coming years and continue to seek improvements that are appropriate for both WBE and our supply chain.

You can't do everything at once. But every step counts.