Fair Trade Certification for Traders
Welcome to a more responsible, sustainable way of doing business. Learn how Fair Trade Certified™ can benefit you.
Buying and selling Fair Trade Certified goods
The way you do business has a huge impact on the world. When businesses choose to supply Fair Trade Certified™ products, they show their customers that they support positive change for the people who produce their goods. That’s because the Fair Trade Certified seal on a product signifies that it was made according to rigorous fair trade standards that promote sustainable livelihoods, safe working conditions, protection of the environment, and strong, transparent supply chains.
As a buyer and seller of Fair Trade Certified goods, you will be held to the Trade Standard, which is one of the ways we fulfill our mission and deliver benefits to your business such as:
How the Trade Standard works
Provides transparency
Transparency builds trust, leading to better business partnerships. Everything sold as Fair Trade Certified™ was purchased according to our standards. By verifying your supply chains and by reporting your fair trade transactions, we’re also able to measure and support your impact.
Strengthens supply chains
The Fair Trade Premium allows you to directly invest in your supply chain. The extra amount you pay on Fair Trade Certified products goes toward helping your producers build strong, thriving, sustainable businesses and communities, which ultimately leads to more resilient supply chains for you. You can read stories in our news section about these funds in action.
Protects your supply
Some Fair Trade Certified ingredients have a set Minimum Price, which serves as a safety net for producers when market prices dip too low, protecting supply chains. Minimum Prices are set through a rigorous process that includes extensive review of the market and stakeholder consultations.
How We Work
From certification to consumer purchase and reinvestment, our model is a virtuous cycle that ultimately improves the lives of workers, farmers, fishers, and their communities.
Fair Trade Certification Overview
1. Get in touch with our team
Fill out this quick form to learn more about what it takes to get certified.
2. Create your Certification Plan
We’ll work closely with your team to assess your business needs and identify a plan to achieve certification.
3. Begin the audit process
We’ll work with your team to formally begin the audit process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the standards I will be expected to meet?
We have specific standards for farms, fisheries, and apparel and home goods factories. Please see our list of our standards for more information.
Who can earn fair trade certification?
Fair Trade USA certifies producers and groups of producers of all sizes, including farms, fisheries, and factories.
What Fair Trade Certified goods are traders looking to source?
Apparel, body care, grains, herbs and spices, home goods, honey, cocoa, coconut, coffee, flowers, fresh produce, seafood, spirits, sugar, tea, wine, and more can be Fair Trade Certified. View sample fair trade products and brands here.
What if I want to source products from a new category?
Please contact us if you have questions about buying and selling fair trade products.
What is minimum price setting? Does it apply to me?
Fluctuations in world market prices hit workers and farmers the hardest, so some Fair Trade Certified products have a set Fair Trade Minimum Price (see Prices and Premiums Information on our standards page). This serves as a safety net for producers in particularly volatile markets when prices dip too low and creates real opportunity for improved livelihoods.
What is the Fair Trade Premium? Does it apply to me?
For every Fair Trade Certified product sold, the producer earns a premium on top of the fair trade price. This additional money goes into a Community Development Fund managed by a Fair Trade Committee, which consists of farmers, workers, and/or fishermen responsible for the product. The committee decides how to spend the funds to improve their lives and meet their unique individual and collective needs, as well as the needs of their communities and environments. To look up the premium amount for a particular product, see Prices and Premiums Information on our standards page.
Where can I get more information?
For a more in-depth picture of how fair trade works, click here. You can also contact us or fill out a short form to take the next step in your fair trade journey.
Resources
Overview of our Standards
Here’s what our certification scope and compliance criteria look like.
Reporting a complaint or issue
Do you need to report an issue or do you want to understand how we handle complaints? Click here.
Trade Standard Revisions
In accordance with ISEAL, the Trade Standard will be reviewed at least every five years. The Trade Standard 2.0.0 went into effect January 2020, and the next revision is planned for 2024
Ready to embark on your Fair Trade Certified journey?
Fill out this form to take the next step!