ECO REPORT FAIR TRADING
FAIR TRADE AND BEYOND
Fair trade is a cornerstone of many ethical
certifications. So how are cosmetics companies going above and beyond for their suppliers?
F
air trade is a global movement made up of a diverse network of producers, companies, consumers, advocates and organisations putting people and planet first. That is how Kasi Martin, Senior Public Relations Manager at Fair Trade USA, the leading certifier of fair trade products in North America, defines the movement to Cosmetics Business. “Rather than creating dependency on aid, Fair
Trade USA’s model empowers farmers, workers and fishermen to fight poverty and earn additional money to improve their communities,” she adds. “It’s a transformative way of doing business – one that puts people back into the heart of our food and consumer products, and helps businesses put fairer and more sustainable practices in place.”
Eleanor Deans is Partnership Manager at the
UK’s Fairtrade Foundation. She notes: “The Fairtrade certification system is rigorous, independent and in line with best-in-class certification practice. Independent certifiers audit producers, traders and companies to check compliance with our economic, social and environmental standards, including that producers receive the Fairtrade Minimum Price and Premium.”
FAIR TRADE & BEAUTY
When it comes to the beauty industry, commonly used fair trade ingredients include virgin coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, honey and sugar. Deans flags up the cocoa sector as being an especially important one in which to expand the Fairtrade market share, due to high demand for cocoa butter in beauty products on top of the high demand for cocoa beans for chocolate.
22 January 2021 ECOREPORT
“But it’s not just in the cocoa sector where this expanded market is beneficial to farmers,” she adds. “Small-scale farmers in over 50 countries, including Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Dominican Republic, produce ingredients such as coconut, argan, apricot and brazil nut oils for beauty products. And when you choose Fairtrade, they get a fair price and support to invest in community projects of their choice.” Commenting on Fair Trade USA certification of finished beauty products, Martin explains: “Fair trade products that have our Fair Trade Certified ingredient(s) seals on pack contain at least 20% or higher fair trade ingredients by weight. “If a product’s fair trade ingredients make up less than 20% of its ingredient weight, brands can use text call-outs on pack, like ‘Fair Trade Certified Coconut Oil’.”
The certification parameters are a little different for Fairtrade Foundation, with Deans noting: “Cosmetics licensees must ensure that their products meet the minimum thresholds in terms of Fairtrade composition. The following thresholds apply: 2% minimum Fairtrade ingredient composition for wash-off products and 5% minimum Fairtrade ingredient composition for leave-on products.”
cosmeticsbusiness.com
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