fair trade jewelry

This Jewelry from India is from several special Fair Trade Jewelry organizations and reflects the beautiful cultural style of Asian jewelry.

The first fair trade jewelry organisation is part of a group of South Indian social organizations connecting particularly deprived women. The fair trade jewelry organisation was found by social workers who are determined to improve the livelihood of isolated women and their children from the Chennai slum.

The fair trade jewelry organisation provides these women with capital and training to develop the necessary skills to boat these beautiful pieces of India jewelry. Built-in in the fair trade jewelry are a colorful collection of hand lacquered and painted wood jewelry using natural vegetable dyes resultant in beautiful India bangles and India necklace styles.

Another of the fair trade jewelry organizations is an organisation in Moradabad, India. This organization’s assignment is to modify the lives of artisans through teaching and skill building so that they may become self enough, aware of fair working conditions and the surroundings as well as observe their jewelry craft.

Fair Trade Cookson Gold

Fairtrade - Background

The UK is one of the world’s leading Fairtrade markets, with other products and more awareness of Fairtrade than someplace else in the world.

Sales of Fairtrade products soar by 40% in 2010 to a predictable retail value of £1170 million compared with £836 million in 2009.

UK shoppers are continuing to hold Fairtrade, showing their promise to ethical values in spite of the tough economic times.

In 2011, Cookson Precious Metals became a FLO-CERT register dealer of certified Fairtrade and Fair-minded gold.

Fairtrade and Fair-minded Gold Offer

With jewelers it's the thought that counts. Research reveals that people buying jewelers for a special event hold greater value and implication if it carries the Fairtrade and Fair-minded Marks.

Consumer concerns about gold have been linked to the growing trend for fairly traded or morally sourced products. Reports show that a 3rd of consumers would choose to shop at stores that were worried about how their gold is shaped; while a quarter said they buy Fairtrade and Fair-minded gold even if it meant paying more.

The Fairtrade and Fair-minded dual stamp on products gives pledge to retailers and consumers that miners in the developing world are getting a fair deal for their work.

Gold product available from Cookson Precious Metals

Fairtrade and Fair-minded certified gold, is the world's 1st self-sufficient ethical certification system for gold, which will offer you the assurance of a product which has been sensibly mined.

In 2011 Cookson Precious Metals became a certified dealer of Fairtrade and Fair-minded Gold.

Grain - Fine Gold Grain, 18ct Yellow Gold Grain, 18ct White Gold Grain

Sheet - 18ct Yellow Gold Sheet 2mm, 18ct White Gold Sheet 2mm

Round Wire - 18ct Yellow Gold 1.5mm Round Wire, 18ct White Gold 2.5mm Round Wire

Square Wire - 18ct Yellow Gold 3mm & 6mm Square Wire, 18ct White Gold 3mm & 6mm open place Wire

As demand from our customer’s increase so wills our range, check back for normal range updates.

Fairtrade and Fair-minded gold

However, if managed responsibly, ASM mining can provide a great chance for poverty reduction and sustainable development for millions of people.

This is why Fairtrade International and the Alliance for in charge Mining combined their expertise to create Fairtrade and Fair-minded gold certification. This groundbreaking initiative enables ASM miners to improve their livelihood and it assures concerned consumers that gold jewelry they buy is sensibly sourced.

Through an extensive consultation process the two organizations have developed a set of standards for responsible taking out, which the miners have to complete in order to get certified. Achieve the certification means that the miners:

> receive a guaranteed Fairtrade Minimum Price set at 95% of the London Bullion Market Association fixing at the FOB export point;

> Receive a Fairtrade premium payment, which is democratically reinvested in community projects and developed miners´ operations. This is calculate as 10% of the applicable LBMA fixing;

> for Ecological Gold is the Fairtrade premium is calculated as 15% of the applicable LBMA fixing;

> develop long term business relations with their commercial partners;

>have developed democratic and answerable organizations and formalized all their operations;

> are using safe working practices including the management of toxic chemical, such as mercury and cyanide, used in the gold recovery process;

> are deferential with their setting;

> recognize the rights of women miners;

> Do not allow child labour in there.

Organizations are audit by the independent, international certification body FLO-CERT to ensure they are complying with the standards.

Ecological Fairtrade and Fair-minded certified Gold is also accessible. This is gold which has been extract without the use of chemicals, with strict natural restoration requirements.

Fair Trade Diamonds

Open Source Minerals ltd is a trading stage for diamonds, precious metals and gems with known origin and sourcing practices. Sense third party verification and full revelation.

We focus on small scale mining projects in South Africa and South America and are presently working on establish sources for community mined diamonds and gold.

We believe in empowering people and assist them in advertising their products in a free market via our Auctions platform or otherwise. Via our brand Wishes Jewels we endorse high end handmade jewelers with known origin of materials and manufacturing.

Products are available via our authorized resellers. Open Source raw materials ltd is a Jewel tree Foundation License Holder.

Fair Trade Diamonds

Fair trade diamonds from society mining with Community benefits and known polishing centre practice.

• Liqhobong Womens Mining helpful Lesotho

The Liqhobong Women Mining Cooperative was one of the 1st successful diamond mining cooperative in Africa. The Women Miners who worked there where all near departure age and received an extra fair trade premium for their diamonds. The diamonds are refined in a diamond polishing cooperative in Surat which was set up particularly for this reason.

• We can also get Fair Mined diamonds with society benefits from South Africa. All shapes and sizes.

Fair Trade Organic Cotton

We are a small, family run business. We've been selling fabric for 30 years but it was only in the last 5 years that we became aware of the damage we do people in third world countries that grow cotton and have to rely on pesticide. 1000 die each year. They live miserable lives.

Imagine working with no defensive gear, having to spray incessantly with lethal poison that causes horrible illness, depression and death. We cannot expect people to die in order for us to have a new cotton T-shirt.

Most of these farmers have 4 or 5 acres. By allowing them to farm in nature, they and their families can live a more wealthy and healthy life that allows crop regular change and non-reliance on insect killer and fertilizer sellers. 

Organic means that the cotton is full-grown without the use of pesticides, using pheromone traps, crop rotation, and hand pick of bugs and natural repellents.

This allows farmers to grow food and keep animals instead of being reliant on costly chemicals and fertilizers. They take delivery of more for their crop and the put in costs are lower.

Certification

All our cotton is certified by SKAL. Nederland’s based Union Control -the major cotton certifier. 

Most of our cotton yarn comes from Agrocel and is Fair Trade

Some is also OEKOTEX or GOTS or Soil Association certified.

Please ask if you would like to see present certificates - we really don't mind and believe that we should all be aware of the option that people may jump on the 'organic' bandwagon without being true to its ideals.

Fairtrade Price and Premium

The Fairtrade minimum price for traditional basmati rice from India is €243 a ton plus €30 Fairtrade social premium and €20 organic premium. The social premium can be invested in business, social or green projects agreed by a committee of selected council. The farmers have already received Fairtrade premium payments for sales to Switzerland and France and all of the village clubs has submitted proposals for community projects. Funds have been granted and distributed to a number of projects which are now up and running.

Infrastructure improvements for schools and roads

Repair the broken boundary wall of a village primary school.

Five groups plan to construct move toward roads from their villages to the farming fields in the vicinity which become inaccessible during the rainy season.

Raising the level of a school playground which is not viable during the monsoon season because of standing water.

Construction of a bus shelter outside one village to protect waiting passenger from rain and sun.

Construction of a number of small bridges over drains which overflow and make some villages out-of-the-way during rainy season.

Proposed Loan fund

Most of the farmers depend on one rice crop, and therefore one annual payment at collect time, for 80-90% of their cash income. They have to take out loans during the year to buy seed and inputs, to pay for various functions such as weddings and festivals and pay for health care and education. Usually they are at the mercy of local agents who charge a very high rate of interest and to whom they are in large debt. A revolving soft loans fund would allow members to reduce their debt and the capital fund would grow through the interest payments.

Future projects

the farmers’ villages classically have a primary school but very few children from farming families go on to higher education and the villages lack primary health care amenities. The farmers want to look into how they can improve the chances of their children going on to university and the potential of funding village clinics or a local hospital.

Members also want to set up family planning and green protection programmers and provide training for income generating schemes for women such as fruit and vegetable preserving and handicrafts.

Fair trade hand bags

Feel good hand bags is an animal friendly company, committed to bringing about an awareness of non-animal manipulative products by providing charming and stylish alternatives to leather.

If you are looking for something new and exciting feel good hand bags has that to offer the discerning purchaser.

We had been looking for alternatives to leather for quite some time, when we came across many beautiful bags that were not currently on sale in the UK. There has been an absence of excellence and fashionable alternatives to leather in the past but we now expect to bring fresh and inventive products to the current market.

Our main focal point is on animal-friendly, but we also incorporate eco-friendly/recycled and Fairtrade in the choices we make. There is a growing awareness of the import of the ethical treatment of animals. These bags are available to those who desire to make certain lifestyle choices.

We are hoping to expand, increasingly, the business by incorporating more animal friendly products. We aim to source from companies that are produce cruelty free materials, who are animal friendly and have a sympathetic understanding of the ethical action of animals in the modern world. Ethical developed is very important to us.

As the inception of Feel good hand bags in April 2008 we have added many new appearance and new designers.

Fairtrade labeling worldwide record

The concept of fair trade has been around for over 40 years according to FINE but a formal labeling scheme did not get off the ground until the late 1980s.

1988: launch of the first Fairtrade label, Max Havelaar, under the initiative of the Dutch improvement agency Solidaridad. The first Fairtrade coffee from Mexico was sold into Dutch supermarkets. It was recognized Max Havelaar, after a imaginary Dutch character who opposed the use of coffee pickers in Dutch colonies.

Late ‘80s and early ‘90s: The Max Havelaar initiative is replicated in several other markets across Europe and North America Max Havelaar Transfair (in Germany, Austria, the United States, Canada and Japan), Fairtrade Mark in the UK and Ireland, Rättvisemärkt in Sweden, and Reilu Kauppa in Finland.

1997: Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International was established in Bonn, Germany to unite the labeling initiative under one umbrella and establish international standards and certification.

2002: FLO launches a new International Fairtrade Certification Mark. The goals of the launch were to improve the visibility of the Mark on supermarket shelves, make easy cross border trade and simplify export procedures for both producers and exporters.

2004: FLO split into two independent organizations: FLO International, which sets Fairtrade standards and provides producer business support, and FLO-CERT, which inspect and certifies producer organization and audits traders.

2006: The Fairtrade Certification Mark harmonization process is still under way – today, all but three Labeling Initiatives (namely Transfair USA, TransFair Canada and Switzerland) have adopted the new International Fairtrade Certification Mark. Full transition to the new Fairtrade certification Mark should become reality as it steadily replaces the old certification marks at a variety of speeds in various countries.

2007: 21 labeling initiative are members of FLO International. New additions include Mexico and Australia/New Zealand.

THE FAIR TRADE CERTIFICATION PROCESS

(1) Application

The certification process starts with the completion of an application questionnaire followed by a scope-check to assess the verifiability of the applicant. The reason of this process is to establish whether the applicant falls within the scope of and to provide all the essential information as regards the certification process.

(2) Audit

once the application is approved, FLO-Cert will verify the compliance with Fairtrade Standards through a physical audit. Audit varies in length and complexity depending on the size of the organization, the difficulty of its structures and the number of products they want to certify. A full Fairtrade audit can last from a couple of days up to 6 or 7 days for large co-operatives. The cost of certification is dependent on the number of working days requisite to inspect the producer group or trader.

(3) Evaluation

following the inspection, the auditor sends a report to FLO-Cert for evaluation. The decision to confirm is taken by a specialized certifier, who is supervised by an independent certification committee. If non-conformities are found, FLO-Cert will revert to the candidate and decide on a timeframe within which the candidate must solve them.

(4) Certification

If the audit is successful, the company will receive its Fairtrade certificate. This allows the company to produce/trade products on Fairtrade terms. FLO-Cert will re-audit the certified company every year to ensure that Fairtrade Standards are always met.

the finest wines in the world

South Africa produces some of the finest wines in the world and contributes up to 5% of the international wine production. Over 120.000 hectares are planted with vines for wine production and over 900 million liters are produced all year by local wineries, this generation more than 1, 2 billion wine bottles.

South Africa hosts the first ever Fairtrade wine process in the world - Thandi Wines - which achieved Fairtrade certification in 2003. Since then wine has become one of the most important Fairtrade products in South Africa we currently have 16 Fairtrade certified wine grape producer organizations and over 40 companies complicated in Fairtrade wine-making and trading In 2010, over 18 million bottles of Fairtrade wine were drunk worldwide and two thirds of those were from South African farms.

Wine contributes significantly to the growth of the South African Fairtrade movement half of the predictable ZAR 18, 4 million spent on Fairtrade products in South Africa during 2010 were generated by locally produced Fairtrade wines. South Africans will be happy to discern that for every Fairtrade labeled bottle they buy, 50 cents goes back to the farm workers to use for social and economic money.

These investments are made into various projects some of which include backing of education and training programmed for the workers and their family or the improvement of services and infrastructures Fairtrade certification also ensure that the wine is shaped sustainably in agreement with Fairtrade Standards and that full traceability is in place.