Here you will find general and specific information on FAIR TRADE.
Papoose Toys prides itself on transparency and clarity, and has done so from the beginning of our business, in 1991.
What is FAIR TRADE?
Actually, I think the question needs to be: What is the purpose of FAIR TRADE.
1. Fair Wages & Better Working Conditions
✅ Ensures workers and producers receive fair wages for their labor.
✅ Promotes safe, healthy, and dignified working conditions.
✅ Prohibits child labor and forced labor.
2. Empowering Communities & Producers
✅ Provides stable, long-term trading relationships.
✅ Ensures producers receive a Fair trade Premium to invest in community projects (e.g., education, healthcare, infrastructure).
✅ Encourages self-sufficiency and empowerment rather than exploitation.
3. Ethical & Transparent Business Practices
✅ Requires traceability and transparency in the supply chain.
✅ Eliminates unethical middlemen who exploit small producers.
✅ Ensures equitable pricing and contracts for suppliers.
4. Environmental Sustainability
✅ Encourages sustainable farming, production, and resource use.
✅ Prohibits the use of toxic chemicals and unsustainable materials.
✅ Supports climate adaptation efforts for farmers and producers.
5. Consumer Awareness & Ethical Shopping
✅ Helps consumers make informed, ethical purchasing decisions.
✅ Creates a market for responsibly made products.
✅ Encourages businesses to commit to sustainability and fair trade practices.
Bottom Line: Fair Trade exists to protect workers, promote ethical business, ensure fair pricing, and support environmental sustainability in global trade.
The next question should be: What is the difference between certified Fair Trade at COMPANY level and at PRODUCT level?
Fair Trade at Company Level vs. Product Level
Fair Trade at Company Level
✅ The company as a whole is Fair Trade Certified™.
✅ Focuses on the business’s ethical policies and supply chain practices.
✅ Does NOT mean products are individually Fair Trade Certified.
✅ The company may sell both Fair Trade and non-Fair Trade products.
✅ Certification is based on overall commitment to fair wages, sustainability, and ethical sourcing.
Fair Trade at Product Level
✅ Each product is independently Fair Trade Certified™.
✅ The product must meet Fair Trade standards from sourcing to final production.
✅ Includes traceability checks, fair wages, and sustainable materials for that specific product.
✅ Ensures that specific product directly supports Fair Trade farmers, artisans, and producers.
Key Takeaway
? Company-level Fair Trade certification means the business follows Fair Trade principles, but products may not meet Fair Trade criteria.
? Product-level Fair Trade certification guarantees that a specific product is made under Fair Trade conditions
Where does Papoose Toys sit in all this?
As a company, we looked at getting Fair Trade registration. However, after lots of research I decided it was a difficult road to travel: I have never ONLY sold Fair Trade products, it has always been a mixture. I did not want to look like we were "Fair Trade Washing", pretending to be a fully Fair Trade company.
However, ALL our FELT products are certified Fair Trade, ALL our COTTON products are certified Fair Trade.
Our wooden items from Indonesia are not certified Fair Trade, but, we have worked with the artisans for many years, and pay fair prices, set by them, for the products we buy. We call this Fair Trading.