Fairtrade Cotton Program

The FAIRTRADE Mark is an internationally recognized ethical label and the symbol of the global Fairtrade system. When consumers purchase products with any of the FAIRTRADE Marks, they support farmers and workers as they improve their lives and communities. The Fairtrade system promotes sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers by setting social, environmental, and economic Fairtrade Standards, which are verified by independent certification bodies. The FAIRTRADE Marks are registered certification marks and trademarks owned and licensed by Fairtrade International. The Fairtrade Sourcing Program, introduced in 2014, was the first step in providing an additional way for businesses to commit to sourcing one or more Fairtrade certified ingredients across their product ranges or even their entire business. This sourcing model was only available for cocoa, sugar, and cotton. The Fairtrade Sourcing Program allowed businesses to purchase a minimum volume of Fairtrade certified ingredients and use them across their entire product range. This model provided flexibility for businesses as the Fairtrade certified ingredients did not need to be kept separate, enabling them to scale up their commitment to Fairtrade. The Fairtrade Cocoa Program Mark is used on chocolate products that have all of their cocoa ingredients sourced from Fairtrade certified producers, but other ingredients such as sugar or vanilla may not be Fairtrade certified. Similarly, the Fairtrade Cotton Program Mark indicates that a business has committed to sourcing an agreed amount of raw cotton on Fairtrade terms to use across their product ranges. This Mark allows businesses to scale up their commitment to Fairtrade, and the amount or percentage of cotton purchased is communicated clearly. In 2021, the Fairtrade Sourcing Program was replaced by the Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark, which applies to all Fairtrade certified ingredients, including cocoa, sugar, and cotton. This Mark is intended to make it easier for consumers to identify products that are made with Fairtrade certified ingredients. The Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark guarantees that all of the ingredients sourced from Fairtrade certified producers meet the rigorous Fairtrade Standards for social, environmental, and economic sustainability. In conclusion, the FAIRTRADE Mark is an internationally recognized ethical label that assures consumers that the products they purchase are made with Fairtrade certified ingredients and support sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers. The Fairtrade Sourcing Program, now replaced by the Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark, enabled businesses to scale up their commitment to Fairtrade by sourcing an agreed amount of Fairtrade certified ingredients to use across their product ranges.