Ethical trade
The Trust, together with the Fynsa packshed and three fynbos suppliers, has pioneered ethical trade accreditation for wild fynbos with the Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA). After following a three-year improvement plan the Flower Valley group now meets WIETA's social and labour standards and recently received their certificates.
The Trust chose to embark on the ethical trade route to take responsibility for improving the working conditions of people involved in the harvesting of fynbos. Ethical trade practices focus on worker issues such as wages, hours of work, health and safety and housing conditions. This step was taken for the difference it can make in the lives of workers and to respond to the consumer to whom ethical issues are becoming increasingly important in their choice of product.
Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) Director Dan Rees recently called on the growing number of ethical consumers in the UK to look beyond their shopping baskets and demand that companies embed ethical trade into their mainstream business practices.
The steps toward accreditation are:
- | A pre-audit phase allowing the suppliers to prepare their documents and information |
| - | The audit inspection; |
| - | Verification of information on conditions at work covering private interviews, reviewing documentation and inspecting the workplace and worker housing; |
| - | Report back by the auditor to the supplier on findings with suggested improvements to be made; |
| - | Implementing suggested improvements; |
| - | Submission of report for final accreditation. |
Three more fynbos suppliers will be put through the processes as soon as possible.