Cattleya provides dignified jobs to over 200 rural women.
Located in the region of Cundinamarca in Colombia, flower producer Cattleya manages 18 hectares of land to grow and sell roses for export to the US.
Cattleya currently employs 350 individuals, primarily from the nearby rural towns of Suesca and Sesquilé, providing them with a stable source of income, fair wages, well-being services, and professional development opportunities. Over 50% of Cattleya’s workforce are women who are the primary earners of their families.
NESsT’s revolving investment will provide Cattleya with working capital on an as-needed basis, supporting it to increase the number of individuals it employs from rural communities and ensure a constant, reliable supply of flowers to its main client.
In Cundinamarca, Colombia, where approximately 25% of the local population live below the poverty line, the flower production market stands as a vital pillar of the region's economy. It provides about 67,000 jobs, with over half of these held by rural women.
In a region where poverty is high, Cattleya improves the livelihoods of hundreds of rural workers and has successfully implemented sustainable practices in one of Colombia’s most important industries.
Cattleya is a Rainforest certified flower producer
In addition to providing stable, fair wages to its rural workforce, Cattleya strives to support their wellbeing and that of the local community. Its various programs for employees and their families include health and education initiatives, and community engagement and conservation projects. The company also covers its employees’ food and transport costs, offers incentives for productivity and performance, and runs weekly training sessions for staff, supporting the professional development of its employees.
Cattleya closely adheres to government regulations and industry certifications, including the Rainforest Alliance certification, and prioritizes the use of environmentally friendly pest control methods throughout its greenhouses.
“Forming a strategic alliance with NESsT has allowed us to ensure a constant flow of working capital and guarantee stable income for our suppliers, all while reinforcing our commitment to sustainability across our operations.”
Cattleya has implemented various procedures to make its operations more sustainable and reduce its environmental footprint. To cut down on overall water consumption, the company built its own reservoir with a closed-loop system, which recycles nutrients and prevents water from being discarded. The Cattleya team also established a waste management program to ensure that any waste generated in its operations is disposed of responsibly. Additionally, the company’s compost facility allows workers to reuse organic flower waste as a soil enricher.
NESsT will also support Cattleya to reduce its water consumption per hectare and adopt eco-friendly pest control methods.