Fair Trade - Why Different Designations? And Our Policy

Yes It’s Organic makes it easy for you to understand the Fair Trade labels in our store. We only use the terms “Fair Trade” and “Certified Fair Trade.”

First, here’s a quick definition of Fair Trade. Fair trade is a term used to indicate that the conditions and wages of the workers making the products are up to a level that is considered safe, sweatshop free, humane, environmentally friendly, creates gender equality, protects children, and provides a fair wage.

Certified Fair Trade: There are a few organizations and member associations that certify “fair trade” products. These organizations are independent of any companies involved in any part of the processes for growing crops or manufacturing products. They’ve developed guidelines for working conditions and wages by which they certify products as being “Fair Trade.”

Fair Trade Certified™: When these words are used in this order, it is a trademark term specific to one organization, the Fair Trade Federation. It indicates that this organization has issued the Fair Trade designation to the products that show it.

At Yes It’s Organic we use the single term “Certified Fair Trade” to represent either 1) any of the certifying organizations for Fair Trade or 2) the Fair Trade Certified™ designation.

Fair Trade: Yes It's Organic manufacturers either own their manufacturing facilities or use contract manufacturing companies to conduct the actual manufactring processes. In either situation, they may use independent fair trade certifying organizations or use their own fair trade guidelines and inspections that are similar to those used by the independent certifying organizations.

We make it easy for you so you only have to understand that on Yes It’s Organic
1) the term “Fair Trade” means that the products have been verified by the manufacturer through their own internal standards and processes
2) the term "Certified Fair Trade" means that the products are certified by an independent organization separate from the manufacturer.

The primary reason a manufacturer may not show “Certified Fair Trade” on their products is that the certifying organizations only certify in certain countries and only for certain products which are often food and handicraft products. Therefore, products produced in other countries require a different process for identifying fair trade. This means the manufacturer must use their own standards and processes for adhering to fair trade standards.