Carbon footprint management in floriculture: data, methodology and strategic decisions

Carbon footprint management has become a strategic pillar for the competitiveness of Ecuadorian floriculture in international markets. During the conference “Carbon Footprint Management in the Floriculture Sector,” Dalton Vasco, together with Carlos Villavicencio and Marco León, presented a technical and managerial analysis of the quantification, reduction, and offsetting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with emphasis on measurable data, international standards, and a case study applied to rose production in Ecuador.

Technical definition and scope

A carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases generated directly or indirectly by an activity, organization, or product, expressed in tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e).

In the floriculture sector, two main approaches are distinguished:

• Organizational carbon footprint, which quantifies emissions associated with the entire farm operation.

• Product carbon footprint, which evaluates environmental impact throughout the product’s life cycle, from inputs to final delivery.

Measurement is structured under three clearly defined scopes (Scopes 1, 2, and 3).

Regulatory framework and international market requirements

Carbon footprint management must be supported by internationally recognized methodologies:

• ISO 14064-1: organizational carbon footprint quantification

• ISO 14067: product carbon footprint with life cycle approach

• GHG Protocol: globally recognized methodological framework

• PAS 2050 and PAS 2060: complementary standards for measurement and carbon neutrality

From a commercial standpoint:

• The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), in force since January 2026, establishes mandatory emissions reporting requirements.

• The Ecuador Carbon Zero Program, which sets sector-wide carbon neutrality goals by 2030.

• Increasing requirements in markets such as the United States, Canada, and Japan, moving toward carbon taxation and mandatory sustainability reporting.

The strategic process: measure, reduce and offset

From a managerial perspective, climate management follows a clear technical cycle: measure emissions under recognized standards, implement reduction strategies, and offset residual emissions where necessary.

Sustainability should not be viewed as a cost but as a strategic investment that enables market access and protects commercial relationships—provided communication is backed by verifiable data and avoids greenwashing practices.

Case study: carbon footprint of Ecuadorian roses

The first commercial product carbon footprint calculation for roses in Ecuador was conducted on farms totaling 106 hectares, with an average productivity of 107 stems per square meter per year.

Results showed:

• 53.7 tCO₂e per hectare per year

• 58 gCO₂e per stem as the product carbon footprint

Impact breakdown per stem:

• 61% corresponding to Scopes 1 and 2 (on-farm operations and energy use)

• 32% associated with Scope 3, mainly raw materials

• 8% corresponding to post-harvest transport

Fertilizers: the main reduction hotspot

Technical analysis revealed that fertilizers are a key contributor to the product footprint:

• Considering production and application, fertilizers account for 30% of the total rose carbon footprint.

• 58% of Scope 3 emissions originate from fertilizer manufacturing.

• Calcium nitrate represents 70% of fertilizer-related impact within Scope 3.

From a chemical-industrial perspective, nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing generates CO₂ and nitrous oxide (N₂O), the latter having a global warming potential nearly 300 times higher than CO₂.

Low-carbon fertilizer technologies

• Grey fertilizers: incorporate catalysts that reduce up to 90% of N₂O emissions during production.

• Blue fertilizers: combine N₂O abatement with carbon capture and storage (CCS).

• Green fertilizers: produced using renewable energy, eliminating CO₂ emissions and reducing N₂O; they represent the long-term solution.

A technical simulation showed that replacing conventional calcium nitrate with a low-carbon alternative reduces the product footprint from 58 to 53 gCO₂e per stem, equivalent to a 20% reduction in emissions associated with this input, and up to 28% compared to coal-based fertilizers.

Technical conclusions

Carbon footprint management in floriculture is no longer theoretical—it is a concrete competitiveness tool. The evidence demonstrates that the greatest reduction opportunity lies in input management, particularly fertilizers, and that technological alternatives are already available in the Ecuadorian market.

Measuring with recognized methodologies, reducing through data-driven technical decisions, and communicating with verifiable backing are the pillars for maintaining access to demanding markets and achieving sectoral 2030 goals.030.