Consumers who want to buy ecologically and socially compatible items need reliable information about the products. The transparency of the production chain and an independent check are the basis for a trustworthy seal. In the scope of the certification, standards are set and the adherence to these standards is checked. More and more companies let their products be certified according to social and ecological criteria and bear a corresponding seal. Below we introduce seals that stand for the adherence to social and ecological standards. You can find further details about the standards of the seals on the relevant websites.

For the area of „special show textiles“ we furthermore would like to introduce two seals (GOTS and IVN-Best) as well as an organisation which stand for the adherence to ecological and/or social standards in textile production.

Since1992, TransFair has been working in Germany for the improvement of the living and working conditions for disadvantaged producer families in Africa, Asia and Latin America. By means of a fairer design of trade relationships with the producers in Southern countries, the domestic economy there should be strengthened and long term unfair world economic structures will be dismantled. TransFair gives the seal to fair trade products which are sold in Germany according to the criteria of the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation International (FLO-I).   The most important criteria include direct trade with the producer groups and excluding intermediaries, paying certain minimum prices which are above the world market level, paying premiums, pre-financing and long term delivery relationships. Additionally, the companies should work in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
TransFair Germany is responsible for marketing and PR work in this country. The sales of fair trade goods with the Fairtrade seal has almost doubled in the last few years: in 2005 it was almost €70 million but in 2007 TransFair was able to look back on sales of almost €140 million. Goods with the Fairtrade seal are available in around 30,000 supermarkets and 800 world shops in Germany.
TransFair e.V. is a member of the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation International (FLO-I) alongside 17 other national seal organisation. FLO International develops the Fairtrade standards for individual products. FLO-CERT GmbH then checks that producers are adhering to these standards. In 2008 the sales of Fairtrade products were  €2.9 billion worldwide.

» www.transfair.org
» www.fairtrade.net

The World Fair Trade Organization was founded in 1989 as a merger of the fair trade organisations under the name of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT). In February 2009 it was renamed as the World Fair Trade Organisation. The 270 members worldwide are producer groups or traders from so called developing countries, traders from the North and aid organisations who are active in fair trade. The aim of the WFTO is to improve the market chances for disadvantaged producers, political exertion of influence in world trade and ensuring the trustworthiness of fair trade organisations. The members commit to adhering to a code of conduct which guarantees the participation of the workers, forbids exploitative child labour and ensures appropriate working hours and fair wages. Apart from the social norms the code of conduct also contains specifications about environmental protection and sustainable handling of natural resources.

» www.wfto.com

Exploitative child labour is one of the largest social problems in the so called developing countries. Many children work in the carpet industry in India or Nepal under the worst conditions. In order to end this social injustice, RugMark International e.V. was founded in 1995. Since autumn 2009 the society has been giving the GoodWeave seal to carpet exporters who commit themselves to adhering to environmental and social standards and do not employ child workers. The exporters pay licence fees which are also used for social projects: former child workers receive school education and return to their families.

» www.goodweave.de

The label for fair trade carpets was brought into life in 1995 by five developmental organisations and the community of interests for clean oriental carpet trade (Interessensgemeinschaft Sauberer Orientteppichhandel (IGOT) ) in Switzerland. Carpets with the STEP certificate are manufactured under humane working conditions and without child labour. Additionally environmentally compatibility is respected and the producers receive an appropriate price for their work. Since 2007, STEP has been an independent business area within the Max Havelaar foundation Switzerland, which on its part is a member of the Fairtrade Labelling Organization International.

» www.label-step.org

Ecocert is the largest organic certifier in France: 80% of the French organic market and 30% worldwide is controlled by Ecocert. Products that are labelled with Ecocert ESR/Ecocert fair trade are not only manufactured in an environmentally friendly way, but also produced and traded under socially fair conditions. The development of the criteria included the „definition of fair trade” by the Fairtrade network FINE, the key work norms of the ILO (International Labour Organisation) and was based on the specifications of the Association Française de Normalisation (merger of the French certification organisations). Since 2007 the Ecocert EST standard has been recognised as a fair trade standard by the “Plate-Forme pour le Commerce Équitable” (Platform for fair trade).

» www.ecocert.com

The first fair trade standard for cut flowers was brought onto the market by the Flower Label Programme (FLP). The certified flowers must be produced under environmentally friendly and socially acceptable conditions. The criteria for giving the seal correspond to the fair trade standards of the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation International (FLO-I). The organisation was founded by human rights organisations, trade unions, flower producers and flower traders. Currently the „fair“ flowers are being grown in 10 countries in Africa, Asia and South America and sold by 25 importers in seven European countries and the USA.

» www.fairflowers.de

GOTS is a standard for ecological and socially acceptably manufactured textiles. Apart from the key work norms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) it also contains rules about the treatment of bio fibres and the environmentally friendly production of textiles. GOTS certified textiles consist of at least 90% natural fibre and come from at least 70% controlled biological growing. This standard distinctly focuses on the ecological compatibility of the production and further processing of textiles. The labour law related protection of workers and employees must be guaranteed, however a fixed minimum price is not part of the criteria. Payment should either be oriented towards the relevant national minimum wage or the wage standards of the industry. Whichever is higher should be paid.
The four member organisations IVN (Germany), Soil Association (Great Britain), Organic Trade Association (USA) and Japan Organic Cotton Association (Joca) issue the certificate. GOTS is to be seen as a minimum standard. The members of the GOTS initiative can also further develop their own seals building on this.

» www.global-standard.org

IVN Best is a quality sign of the international association of the natural textile economy. IVN Best certified textiles are made of 100% organically grown natural fibres. In addition to the criteria which regulate organic growing and the compatible processing of materials, the companies are also committed to adhering to defined social standards. These are oriented towards the key work norms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and include among other things the payment of a wage sufficient to secure a livelihood. In contrast to fair trade, however, there are no surcharges to finance development measures and social insurance. The adherence to criteria in every production stage is checked on location by the independent certification authority.

» www.naturtextil.com

The aim of the Fair Wear Foundation is to achieve humane working conditions in the world wide clothing industry. The FWF was founded in1999 in the Netherlands by business associations in the clothing industry, trade unions and some non governmental organisations. In contrast to the Fairtrade seal which always relates to individual products, the code of conduct of the Fair Wear Foundation is aimed at the whole company and the whole value added chain – from growing to coat hanger.
With membership in the FWF, clothing companies are agreeing to the „work code of conduct of the FWF“. The code of conduct was compiled on the basis of the declaration of human rights of the United Nations and the ILO key work norms.

» www.fairwear.nl

In the 800 world shops in Germany and the world shops of European neighbours all the products are from fair trade. Suppliers of world shops receive an “authorisation” by the relevant national umbrella association of world shops.

Approx. 500 world shops and action groups are organised into the world shop umbrella association. The association sees itself as a service provider and advocacy group for the groups of shops which for the most part work voluntarily.
The ATO (Alternative Trade Organisation)-TÜV [German supervisory association] is based on self disclosure of import organisations in fair trade. This is evaluated on the basis of the “convention of world shops”. The ATO TÜV is consistently being updated and published in the form of a loose leaf collection by the world shop umbrella organisation.

» www.weltlaeden.de

The work association of world shops in Austria was founded in 1982 by twelve world shops. They set themselves the goal of improving communication between the world shop groups and in this way strengthen their position on the market in the long term. Now 88 world shops and two world cafes throughout Austria are members of the work association.

» www.weltlaeden.at

The British world shop association BAFTS combines approx. 120 world shops as well as wholesalers and retailers throughout the country. In order to maintain membership the shops must be able to prove that 70% of their goods come from fair trade, otherwise they will be threatened with exclusion from the association. Consumers can therefore be certain: if a world shop is a member of BAFTS, they trade fair! BAFTS itself is a member of the European umbrella association of the world shops NEWS! and the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO).

» www.bafts.org.uk

In the Netherlands, approx. 400 world shops are organised into a national umbrella association -the Landelijke Vereniging van Wereldwinkels. The organisation promotes communication of world shops amongst each other and lobbies for fair trade on an international level.

» www.wereldwinkels.nl

The „platform for fair trade“ was founded in 1997 to bring all French agents in fair trade together. Today 39 importers, manufacturers, political organisation and certification organisations are members of the PFCE, which is itself represented in the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). The PFCE promotes fair trade and the interests of their members via campaigns and lobbying.

» www.commercequitable.org

You can find further information about fair trade in Germany at www.forum-fairer-handel.de.