International Guide to Fair Trade Labels

A reference tool to better understand the guarantees of fair trade labels, standards, monitoring measures and how they differ from sustainability labels

By the French Fair Trade Platform

View the Updated Guide (2020 Edition)

Why are labels necessary to guarantee fair trade practices? How are the ten basic fair trade principles integrated into fair trade programs? With which requirements must traders and processors in northern countries comply? How is the compliance with fair trade requirements monitored by the certification schemes? Are the certification processes relevant enough to ensure that the basic fair trade principles have been fulfilled? What are the distinctive features of fair trade labels? What do we know about the impact of fair trade?

These are some of the questions addressed by the International Guide to Fair Trade Labels, the result of an international collaboration between four partners: French Fair Trade Platform, Fair World Project, FairNESS France and FairNESS UK. Published in early 2015, the guide is a useful tool for professional purchasers, public and local authorities, and consumers’ associations needing updated information on fair trade labels.

A growing need for updated information on fair trade labels

The guide project was initiated due to significant changes within the fair trade sector, including:

Evolution of the label landscape
New labels have emerged such as: SPP, for which only organized, small-scale producers are eligible, and which attempts to reclaim the values of the movement; and Fair Trade USA which attempts to open it up to unorganized producers and more plantations.  Others have merged: ECOCERT and Fair for Life. One label changed long-standing policies to open its certification scheme up to new actors: Fairtrade International with the launch of its Fairtrade Sourcing Programs.  Another strengthened its monitoring measures: WFTO.

Changes to the legislative landscape
Regulations on fair trade have recently evolved and now allow purchasers to demand a private sustainable development label as proof or evidence of compliance with their social and environmental requirements (European Directive on public procurement, January, 2014).

Proliferation of sustainable development labels
The proliferation of sustainability labels and the lack of visibility regarding their requirements have caused confusion among consumers and professionals, which has in turn increased the demand for concrete proof of fair trade impact.

A guide to better understand the guarantees of fair trade labels

The guide studies eight labels/guarantee systems claiming to be fair trade: ECOCERT Fair Trade, Fair for Life (IMO), Fairtrade International (FLO), Fair Trade USA, Forest Garden Products, Naturland Fair, Small Producer Symbol (SPP) and World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).

Along with an analysis of the content of the various fair trade standards, the guide focuses on the monitoring measures implemented by these schemes to control compliance with their requirements.

In order to clarify the specifics of assorted fair trade label demands, the guide also compares them with other initiatives which are sometimes confused with fair trade labels, particularly because they certify the same kinds of commodities (such as sugar, cocoa and tea) and because brand marketing often intentionally associates them with fair trade. The comparison includes the following five sustainable development labels: 4C Association, Bonsucro, ProTerra Foundation, Rainforest Alliance and UTZ Certified.

Finally, the guide summarizes the main aspects of academic research regarding the identified impacts of the different fair trade labels and sustainable development labels.

To find out how to purchase The International Guide to Fair Trade Labels send an inquiry email to [email protected].

View the Updated Guide (2020 Edition)