Fairtrade International

Fairtrade International is a fair trade certification scheme owned by producers and licensing organizations, such as the Fairtrade Foundation. It is almost exclusively primary product focused, but with no requirements for an entire organization to be a fair-trade company. (e.g., Cadburys).

This is the only Fairtrade mark that assures producers a guaranteed price for their products, usually above the world market price, ironing out the peaks and troughs of market fluctuations. The logo also indicates that a “premium” has been allocated to farmer cooperatives to devote in their businesses, as well as devote funds to social and community projects of their choice. Sustainable production methods and environmental awareness are also implied.

The Small Producers Symbol

The Small Producers Symbol or (SPP) is based in Mexico City and is particularly strong in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This is the only Fairtrade Certification system written, owned, and developed exclusively by the small producers and farmers themselves in developing countries. Rules and norms, such as granted minimum prices or products’ composition rules, are determined by SPP bodies, composed of fair-trade cooperatives. The Small Producers’ Symbol, (SPP), is a label that represents an alliance among organized small producers to build a local and global market that values the identity and the economic, social, cultural, and ecological contributions of products from Small Producers’ Organizations. This alliance is based on a relationship of collaboration, trust and co-responsibility among women and men who are small producers, with buyers and consumers. The SPP is backed by an independent certification system.

The SPP represents the identity of organized small fair trade producers, to distinguish it in local and global markets with its specific products and values.

The SPP is backed by an independent certification system, guaranteeing consumers that products come from authentic, democratic, self-managing organizations of small producers, and that they have been produced in line with criteria for economic, social, cultural and ecological sustainability, and produced under fair conditions.

The SPP is more than a label. It is a particular way of improving prospects for life and well-being through collective, co-responsible work among small producers, consumers, and other stakeholders in the market and in society.

The World Fair Trade Organization

The WFTO was founded in 1987 as a Fair-Trade Certification body. Traidcraft was certified as a WFTO Guaranteed Fair Trade Organization in 2017. The WFTO is a producer and trader owned international system, which brings growers, suppliers, and buyers of fair-trade products together.

A Community of Fair Trade Enterprises

The WFTO is the global community and verifier of social enterprises that fully practice Fair Trade. Spread across 76 countries, WFTO members all exist to serve marginalised communities. To be a WFTO member, an enterprise or organisation must demonstrate they put people and planet first in everything they do. The WFTO is democratically run by its members, who are part of a broader community of over 1,000 social enterprises and 1,500 shops. We are their global community. 

The WFTO focuses on both social enterprise and Fair Trade. Its Guarantee System is the only international verification model focused on social enterprises that put the interests of workers, farmers, and artisans first. Through peer-reviews and independent audits, WFTO verifies members are mission-led enterprises fully practicing the 10 Principles of Fair Trade across their business and supply chains. Once verified, all members have free use of the WFTO Guaranteed Fair Trade product label. (see above)

The WFTO subscribes to 10 core principles of Fair Trade

• Create Opportunities for Economically Disadvantaged Producers.
• Transparency and Accountability.
• Fair Trading Practices.
• Payment of a Fair Price.
• Ensuring no Child Labour and Forced Labour. …
• Commitment to Non-Discrimination, Gender Equality, Freedom of Association.
• Ensuring Good Working Conditions.
• Provide capacity building
• Promoting Fair Trade as the norm.
• Respect for the Environment

Impact

Fair Trade Enterprises across the world are producing and trading, campaigning, and educating for a better world. The WFTO is their global community. Their direct impact includes 965,700 livelihoods supported through the operations and supply chains of these enterprises. 74% of these workers, farmers and artisans are women and women made up much of the leadership. They pioneer upcycling and social enterprise, refugee livelihoods and women’s leadership. These enterprises show a better world is possible and we support them through a range of initiatives and projects. As of May 2018, there were 326 certified WFTO Fair Trade Enterprises throughout the world.

Naturland Fair

Naturland Fair combines organic agriculture, social responsibility, and fair trade, both locally and globally. Naturland Fair is strongly represented in mainland Europe and adds the organic component to this economic aspect of sustainability. It is now one of the most prestigious certification bodies combining Fairtrade and Organic in one label.

This certification system is owned by organic farmers that ensures that both the product and the organization that produced it are rooted in doing things fairly. The Naturland association campaigns for organic farmers, wherever they are in the world, to have a future. This is only possible if they can live by what they grow. Fair prices, reliable trading relationships, and social responsibility are the cornerstones of this policy. They are the mainstay of certification to the Naturland Fair standards, which since 2010 now has provided businesses with a visible symbol of their commitment to a spirit of co-operation with their partners in their economic relationships and in society in general. A wide variety of products, ranging from milk and bread to olives and spices, besides the typical fair-trade products such as coffee and chocolate, illustrates the global scope of certification to Naturland Fair standards.

Fair for Life

Fair for Life is a certification programme for fair trade in agriculture, manufacturing, and trade. It was created in 2006 by the Swiss Bio-Foundation in cooperation with the IMO Group, then taken over by the Ecocert Group in 2014 to meet a specific demand from organic farming stakeholders. It is basically a certification process of Fair Trade within responsible supply chains and businesses with corporate social responsibility.

The label encourages a supply chain business model that aims at the resilience of each link. Fair for Life certification is a tool that enables the fixing of prices and protection of exemplary supply chains, where stakeholders have chosen to act responsibly by implementing good economic, social, and environmental practices. By following the framework defined by Fair for Life certification, producers, processors, and brand owners can secure their sales and supplies, thanks to tools such as long-term contracts that include fixed prices and volumes, and by establishing a real partnership between them.

Today, Fair for Life brings together a community of more than 700 certified companies and organisations in over 70 countries. Their commitment in Fair for Life directly impacts 235,000 producers and workers and generates nearly €1 billion in certified products sales. An example “Fair For All” certified company is “Alter Ego” based in San Francisco which markets and supplies socially and ethically produced quinoa.