183partIcIpants’ shEEt: dEscrIptIons oF thE laBEls/InItIatIVEs
Description number 1
This is an independent product certification label guaranteeing that cotton farmers who meet international social and
environmental standards are getting a better deal. Farmers involved receive a fair and stable price for their cotton, as well as a
financial premium for investment in their community, receiving pre-financing where requested and benefiting from longer-term,
more direct trading relationships. The label is applicable so far only to cotton production, and not to the other stages of textile
and garment manufacture, although there is a requirement for documentary evidence of efforts to ensure worker rights within
the rest of the supply. The focus is on addressing the imbalances of global trade for farmers in the developing world.
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Description number 2
This organisation brings together companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and trade union organisations. The
organisation exists to promote and improve the implementation of corporate codes of conduct in company supply chains. To
join the organisation, companies make a public commitment to adopting international labour standards and implementing them
in their supply chains, but membership does not mean the standards are being met. Companies must make an annual report
to the organisation. These company reports are not publicly available but they are summarised in this organisation’s own annual
report.
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Description number 3
This is a global network of organisations that seeks to enable producers to improve their livelihoods and communities through
fairer trade. Members of the network can include producer cooperatives, export companies, importers, retailers and individuals.
Members’ trading practices are monitored through self-assessment every two years against the organisation’s principles, that
relate to fair prices, working conditions, child labour and the environment. The logo applies to Fair Trade organisations, but not
their products.
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Description number 4
In fashion, this label is applied to natural textile products to certify that they are grown and made using methods that cause the
least amount of harm to humans and the environment, replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent
pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Social justice and rights, and high standards of animal welfare
are an integral part of the principles of this manufacturing process. There is no place for genetically modified organisms or their
derivatives within this certification scheme.
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Description number 5
This is a standard that can be applied to business practices in all industrial sectors including fashion. The production facility, such
as a garment factory, is inspected by external auditors. The inspections, similar to many social audits, are largely based on a
snapshot of conditions on a particular day. Issues that need to be remedied may be highlighted and a plan of action put in place
to meet the standard. Once the production facility has made the necessary improvements, it will then be certified to show they
meet this standard.
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Description number 6
Workers gain representation through these organisations, which negotiate wages, hours of work and working conditions with
employers. They also intervene on matters such as health and safety, complaints or grievances made by workers on unfair
treatment etc. These organisations negotiate collective agreements, and often join together across different sectors to form
national centres which represent their interests to governments and the public. They also join international organisations in their
sector, and the national centres join an international confederation, to deal with issues at the regional, international and global
levels. The logos are of the international organisation for the sector, and the international confederation.
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IntEractIVE actIVItIEs