Comments on: Looking Behind the Labels http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/ Just another WordPress site Sun, 01 Apr 2012 05:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carnival of the Green 172 - Go Green - SustainLane http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/#comment-406 Carnival of the Green 172 - Go Green - SustainLane Sun, 17 May 2009 09:38:56 +0000 http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/?p=1600#comment-406 [...] of the usual corporate suspects products.A similar suggestion from Ethical Superstore’s blog: Look behind the labels. Rainforest Alliance Wendy looks at social labelling organisations and what they mean for the [...] [...] of the usual corporate suspects products.A similar suggestion from Ethical Superstore’s blog: Look behind the labels. Rainforest Alliance Wendy looks at social labelling organisations and what they mean for the [...]

]]> By: wendy http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/#comment-386 wendy Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:39:50 +0000 http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/?p=1600#comment-386 Hi Bob, The fees that retailers pay to the certification company, ie. Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade Foundation, vary. With Rainforest Alliance there are NO licensing fees. However, those businesses using the seal 'may' choose to enter into an agreement with Rainforest Alliance and the proceeds will go towards further origin development (enabling more Rainforest Alliance farms). So, retailers are not obliged to pay a fee at all (as I mentioned in the case of McDonald's). The Fairtrade Foundation charge a license fee that ranges from 1.7 to 0.1 per cent of the wholesale price - it is less if you are a 100 per cent Fairtrade company and selling more products. So, in answer to your question, the additional cost to the retailer, in the case of Rainforest Alliance, will be left to the discretion of the individual retailer - but can be as low as zero. With the Fairtrade Foundation it is a fixed fee and depends on both the type and scale of company. Hope that helps. Hi Bob, The fees that retailers pay to the certification company, ie. Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade Foundation, vary. With Rainforest Alliance there are NO licensing fees. However, those businesses using the seal ‘may’ choose to enter into an agreement with Rainforest Alliance and the proceeds will go towards further origin development (enabling more Rainforest Alliance farms). So, retailers are not obliged to pay a fee at all (as I mentioned in the case of McDonald’s). The Fairtrade Foundation charge a license fee that ranges from 1.7 to 0.1 per cent of the wholesale price – it is less if you are a 100 per cent Fairtrade company and selling more products. So, in answer to your question, the additional cost to the retailer, in the case of Rainforest Alliance, will be left to the discretion of the individual retailer – but can be as low as zero. With the Fairtrade Foundation it is a fixed fee and depends on both the type and scale of company. Hope that helps.

]]> By: Stephen Butler http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/#comment-384 Stephen Butler Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:25:09 +0000 http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/?p=1600#comment-384 I have often been asked this question recently, this will really help to explain the main differences. I have often been asked this question recently, this will really help to explain the main differences.

]]> By: Bob Gunn http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/#comment-378 Bob Gunn Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:50:51 +0000 http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/?p=1600#comment-378 Informative article and discussion. Where similar products are considered (eg coffee, tea) is it possible to say whether the additional cost to a retailer of using the Rainforest Alliance seal is greater or less than using the Fairtrade seal? Informative article and discussion. Where similar products are considered (eg coffee, tea) is it possible to say whether the additional cost to a retailer of using the Rainforest Alliance seal is greater or less than using the Fairtrade seal?

]]> By: wendy http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/#comment-376 wendy Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:50:56 +0000 http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/?p=1600#comment-376 Hi Dan, as you rightly say, it's up to the consumer to make as informed a choice as possible - which is what we're helping to do here, by providing information beyond what you'd expect to find on the product itself. Could, or should, PG Tips be stocked next to Teadirect? That to a large degree is controlled by consumer demand too - so, you could say, it's up to us to decide. Hi Dan, as you rightly say, it’s up to the consumer to make as informed a choice as possible – which is what we’re helping to do here, by providing information beyond what you’d expect to find on the product itself. Could, or should, PG Tips be stocked next to Teadirect? That to a large degree is controlled by consumer demand too – so, you could say, it’s up to us to decide.

]]> By: Wendy http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/#comment-375 Wendy Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:23:43 +0000 http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/?p=1600#comment-375 Hi Lindsey, and thanks for your question. With regards to RA certified farms - no, they do not have to be organic. However, as you would expect, all those agrochemicals globally accepted as banned and as defined by UNEP, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency in the US), the European Commission, and the Pesticide Action Network's 'Dirty Dozen' are not permitted on Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Should farmers use them, then their certification will be instantly removed. Hi Lindsey, and thanks for your question. With regards to RA certified farms – no, they do not have to be organic. However, as you would expect, all those agrochemicals globally accepted as banned and as defined by UNEP, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency in the US), the European Commission, and the Pesticide Action Network’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ are not permitted on Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Should farmers use them, then their certification will be instantly removed.

]]> By: Dan http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/#comment-374 Dan Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:50:36 +0000 http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/?p=1600#comment-374 I have often thought about this topic before, and I have found this article informative. What was interesting is finding out about the Rainforest Alliance, as I have had perceived them to be something else, some sort of poor imitation. I think this was perhaps due to their association with corporate global brands such as Starbucks and McDonalds, so I always felt there was something exceptionally dubious behind it. A question for the chaps at ESS though, can we expect to see the likes of major mainstream brands such as PG Tips and Mars Bars being offered for sale next to Teadirect and Geobars? Is the Rainforest Alliance credential strong enough to warrant such lines being stocked, or does it devalue somewhat the brands already being sold? After all, surely it's down to the consumer to make an informed decision, and ESS should offer as many alternatives as possible. I have often thought about this topic before, and I have found this article informative. What was interesting is finding out about the Rainforest Alliance, as I have had perceived them to be something else, some sort of poor imitation. I think this was perhaps due to their association with corporate global brands such as Starbucks and McDonalds, so I always felt there was something exceptionally dubious behind it.

A question for the chaps at ESS though, can we expect to see the likes of major mainstream brands such as PG Tips and Mars Bars being offered for sale next to Teadirect and Geobars? Is the Rainforest Alliance credential strong enough to warrant such lines being stocked, or does it devalue somewhat the brands already being sold?

After all, surely it’s down to the consumer to make an informed decision, and ESS should offer as many alternatives as possible.

]]> By: Barbara Crowther http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/#comment-373 Barbara Crowther Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:29:39 +0000 http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/?p=1600#comment-373 Good and useful summary! On who sets the standards, representatives of Fairtrade producer groups sit on the Board, standards committee and certification committee of FLO - it isn't just the labelling initiatives - and the process includes a wider stakeholder consultation, including producers, traders and NGO partners. Producer ownership, and the philosophy of empowerment of small scale producers, or workers on larger farms, is a key element of the Fairtrade model. Good and useful summary! On who sets the standards, representatives of Fairtrade producer groups sit on the Board, standards committee and certification committee of FLO – it isn’t just the labelling initiatives – and the process includes a wider stakeholder consultation, including producers, traders and NGO partners. Producer ownership, and the philosophy of empowerment of small scale producers, or workers on larger farms, is a key element of the Fairtrade model.

]]> By: Lindsey Hedges http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/#comment-372 Lindsey Hedges Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:11:37 +0000 http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/?p=1600#comment-372 Thanks for addressing this, I have been asking the same question for ages. So if environmental conservation is priority for RA certification...does this have a positive impact on farming methods used to grow coffee...ie. do they following organic principles? or are they conventionally farmed? Thanks for addressing this, I have been asking the same question for ages.
So if environmental conservation is priority for RA certification…does this have a positive impact on farming methods used to grow coffee…ie. do they following organic principles? or are they conventionally farmed?

]]> By: Vineeta Greenwood http://blog.ethicalsuperstore.com/food-drink/looking-behind-the-labels/#comment-371 Vineeta Greenwood Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:18:34 +0000 http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/?p=1600#comment-371 Thanks for this article. Very well explained. :) Thanks for this article. Very well explained. :)

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