FAQ's:
- Who monitors that the criteria are really complied with?
- How does Fair Trade work?
- Child labour and environmental impact: What is the current situation?
Who monitors that the criteria are really complied with?
The monitoring of Fair Trade criteria in the production of sports balls and cotton garments is conducted by the international umbrella association of the Fair Trade labelling initiatives called FLO International. Martin Kunz, one of the partners in FairDeal Trading, was the first executive secretary of TransFair/FLO International, and at the time he established the criteria and monitoring for Fair Trade labelled tea, and later for sports balls.
For rubber and sneakers FLO so far has not defined criteria, and hence there is no indepentent monitoring either. FairDeal Trading relies on its own experience and contacts. And the rubber criteria agreed upon with the producer are closely modelled along FLO criteria. The Fair Trade premium is EUR 0,50/kg rubber.
Regarding the sustainability of the rubber production, the monitoring system of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) comes into play: All those involved in the supply chain of our rubber are FSC certified, from the plantation to ourselves. Annual audits are standard, and our FSC Chain-of-custody number on all relevant product packaging guarantees compliance.
At the end of the day, however, the beneficiaries of Fair Trade themselves are the best monitors: They know the benefits of Fair Trade, and there is a complaints system in order to prevent misuse of the system.