The accent is on so-called “shade-grown� coffee, which is grown under a forest cover and less destructive than large monocultures.
Creation: 1986. Based at: New York. Origin/need: the sustainable agriculture programme was launched when intensive banana growing began to cause serious problems (deforestation, poisoning of workers). Sector: agriculture, tourism. In Belgium: bananas, tea, coffee and cocoa. What is guaranteed: conservation of ecosystems: healthy and decent working conditions, protection of biodiversity, conservation of water resources, integrated management of pesticides and waste materials, good relations with local communities, soil conservation. Stakeholders: NGOs, consumers, public authorities, experts, trade unions, businesses, etc. Beneficiaries: Independent producers, cooperatives, businesses/brand holders.
Rainforest Alliance is an international NGO that was created at the end of the 1980s in response to the growing awareness in Latin America that the very rapid growth in banana growing, especially in Costa Rica, was contributing to deforestation. Moreover, due to the agricultural practices employed (use of fertilisers and phytosanitary products), this growth was harming the health of plantation workers, degrading soils and damaging biodiversity. Since 1992, Rainforest Alliance has labelled various tropical products (coffee, tea, bananas, cocoa) with a historical emphasis on so-called "shade -grown" coffee, which is grown under a forest cover and less destructive than large monocultures. The label is granted to the produce of cooperatives or independent producers who meet criteria concerning working conditions, preservation of soils and the ecosystem, protection of species, and management of water and waste materials, etc. Rainforest Alliance does not rely on the principle of a guaranteed price to producers over the long term, nor on organic farming, but rather on integrated agricultural practices (minimising environmental impact).
Rainforest Alliance estimates it certifies 15% of the world production of bananas, 5% of tea and 2% of coffee. The NGO is forming partnerships with the giants in certain food processing sectors (Chiquita, Lipton, NestlĂŠ), while progressively making itself accessible to small producers. Since 2003, Rainforest Alliance has also used its logo for certain sustainable tourism initiatives. For more information: www.rainforest-alliance.org
Type of assessment: third party. Methods: analysis of the documentary system, pre-announced and random site visits, interviews with internal stakeholders. Sector activities concerned: production, import/export, processing. Requirements: The Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) standard is available on the website. A standard for groups is being prepared. The sustainable agriculture criteria are spread over 10 principles. Among the criteria, 14 are critical and must be met to obtain certification. In addition, a grading system requires that 80% of all the criteria must be met with a minimum of 50% for each principle. Corrective actions must be implemented if the minimum required is not achieved. Improvement procedure: The certified farm operation is completely re-audited each year and must show progress from one audit to the next.
The NGO collaborates as much with the large plantations as with traditional growers, essentially in Central and South America, but also in the Philippines, Kenya, Ethiopia, etc. In addition, the organisation provides the secretariat for the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), a worldwide network which attaches great importance to the management of farming and which is the source of the criteria and indicators to be met to obtain Rainforest Alliance certification. Finally, Rainforest Alliance makes use of local independent auditors trained in audit procedures in accordance with ISO 65, and it is a member of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance (ISEAL).
Beneficiaries: 247 827 small and large exploitations or 2.8 million people (producers/workers and their family) Range: 20 countries – 1 099 829 certified hectares Brands with products under the label: Côte d'Or, Innocent Drinks, Jacques Vabre, Kraft, Lipton, Nespresso, Subway, Mars...
HOW HOW DO I GET RAINFOREST ALLIANCE CERTIFIED?
When the manager considers his operation ready to undergo an inspection, a team of specialists from Rainforest Alliance will assess its conformity with the criteria. The team will produce a report that will be evaluated by a committee of independent, external volunteer experts. Relying on this form of peer group evaluation and the recommendations of the inspection teams, Rainforest Alliance will issue its certification decision. In the case of failure, improvements may be made before resubmitting the application. Once conformity with the standard has been certified, the label can be used. HOW MUCH DOES RAINFOREST ALLIANCE CERTIFICATION COST?
The producers pay the initial costs of certification plus annual expenses. Often foundations, exporters and buyers contribute to these charges. The costs are based on three factors: - Size and location of the farm. Certified farms pay annual costs of 7.5 USD/ha for large and medium-sized operations and 5 USD for groups (cooperatives, associations of producers). - Degree of conformity with the SAN standards
Farming must contribute to the protection and conservation of the natural resources of local communities, participate in local economic development and share the costs of community infrastructures and resources. A compensation mechanism must be set up at local and national level.
With almost 12% of global GDP and almost 200 million of workers, tourism is one of the most important sectors of the globalized economy. It is one of the sectors that have witnessed sustained growth. Yet, populations from Southern countries receive little of this manna, which first and foremost benefits the operators of the tourism industry (airline companies, tour operators, hotel chains…), whereas the activities on site are often to the detriment of the environment, of biodiversity and of the well-being of local communities (hyperconcentration of infrastructure, child labour, begging, prostitution…). Sustainable tourism is a response to such excess. Following the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) it can be said to be “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.” Also, in this domain, Rainforest Alliance has become a major player. The NGO works with organisations and experts from around the world to identify good practices and to support regional certification initiatives.
Rainforest Alliance also focuses on the sector’s professionals and raises awareness among them about the challenges to help them acquire and take advantage of sustainable tourism certification. Rainforest Alliance also runs the secretariat of the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas (to ensure the parties involved exchange their experiences) and has worked with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation to launch the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The GSTC is a global, multi-stakeholder membership organization dedicated to increasing the reach, awareness and recognition of sustainable tourism practices around the world.2
1. Source : South African Travellers - www.satravellers.com et http://satravellers.blogspot.com 2. http://new.gstcouncil.org/
As an emblem of sustainable trade, the Rainforest Alliance label is known for its demanding environmental and social criteria and for its strong coaching of farm and forestry entrepreneurs. From an economic point of view though the SAN (Sustainable Agriculture Network) standards are far less demanding. In fact, the Rainforest Alliance aims at improving the quality and appeal of labelled products to increase the revenues of entrepreneurs and their workers (as well as strengthening the negotiation, management and marketing capacities). So, the constraints for labelling international buyers exclusively focus on the producers, who do not receive any guaranteed minimum price. A contrario, this is a characteristic of most sustainable trade labels and makes them considerably more interesting for the multinationals as it gives them more room to negotiate their purchases of agricultural raw materials. Many of the giants of the agrofood business have often been questioned about environmental or social issues (especially about the living and working conditions with their suppliers) and now rely on the Rainforest Alliance to help them in the transition to a more sustainable production. The American company Mars, for instance, is committed to get supplied by 2020 exclusively by sustainable Rainforest Alliance and UTZ Certified suppliers and invests millions of dollars every year to support this transition of growers to a production that respects the environment and farmer communities. Nespresso also turned to the Rainforest Alliance to help with reducing the negative environmental impacts of its supplies and to increase the revenues of its suppliers. But the green frog label does not escape certain criticism, especially with regards to the share of certified ingredients required, which is 30%, in an end product for it to be labelled, which is considered really too low and turns out to be just a cheap way for the large agrofood companies to do something about their image.
Between 2009 and 2010 the amounts invested in actions by the Rainforest Alliance have gone from 30.8 to 35.2 million dollars. Even though priority is given to farm and agroforestry programmes, the NGO also intervenes in the tourism sector and supports educational and awarenessraising projects pertaining to global warming. Moreover, the Rainforest Alliance continuously invests in new areas, such as sugar cane, flowers or the launch of the new SAN standard for cattle breeding.
Rainforest Alliance 665 Broadway, Suite 500 New York, NY 10012 USA Phone: +1 (212) 677-1900 info@ra.org www.rainforest-alliance.org
1. Source : http://ong-entreprise.blogspot.com/2011/06/les-ecolabels-rainforest-alliance-et.html
* The remuneration guarantee varies according to the system. Some provide a “fair” wage, with a discretionary income (EFT, Fair for Life, Fairwild, FSC, GoodWeave, Max Havelaar (FLO), BSCI, ETI, Fair Wear, RSPO, SA8000, STEP, WFTO). Referred to as a “living wage”, it varies from one region to another and is calculated in relation to the cost of living (basket of household goods). Other systems simply guarantee compliance with legal indices, without examining their correlation with the “fairness” of the amount paid. ** Financial security sometimes takes the form of setting a guaranteed minimum price (essentially for raw materials), sometimes the payment of a premium over the market price (considered to reflect the superior quality of the product) and/or through contractual clauses relating to the duration of partnership (long-term), easy access to (pre)financing, etc. These factors have a strong correlation with the criterion of “remuneration”: A correct price implies “fair” remuneration.