Our Criteria

Our Fair Trade criteria for rubber are very similar to those developed by one of our co-owners for Fairtrade labelled tea: Martin Kunz was in charge of the tea register of the Fair Trade labelling initiatives in 1994 and pioneered, and was, among other tasks, responsible for the expansion of Fair Trade labelling to tea.

One key principle is that the producers themselves decide on the use of the Fair Trade premium: In the case of plantations (and the sneaker and ball manufacturers) workers elect representatives into a so called 'Joint Body' (with some management representation, too). Fair Trade premiums can only be spent on projects that will help improve the living and working conditions of the workers. In the case of small farmers it usually is the board of their association that takes decisions.

FairDeal Trading pays a Fair Trade premium of EUR 0.50/kg DRC (Dry Rubber Content) on top of the market price, for all rubber sourced by itself, or its marketing partners.