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Why Buy Rainforest Alliance Certified Products?Why buy Rainforest Alliance Certified bananas, coffee, chocolate, orange juice, flooring, decking, guitars, coffins, mouse traps, maple syrup, paper, picture frames, window frames, cabinets, cork, benches, tables, shingles or sheathing? Because goods bearing the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal are produced using farm and forestry methods that are good for people and the planet. How do these purchases help people and the planet? Rainforest Alliance Certified agricultural and wood products are derived from farms and forests where water, soil and wildlife habitat are conserved, where workers are treated well, where families have access to education and health care and where communities benefit. Where do I find Rainforest Alliance Certified products? Rainforest Alliance Certified food, ornamental greens, wood and paper products are available in tens of thousands of retail stores around the world and on hundreds of Web sites, giving legions of caring consumers the chance to directly help people and the planet. Does the Rainforest Alliance work exclusively in rainforests, as the name would suggest? While we started out focusing on rainforests, our work has expanded to include a wide range of landscapes in over 50 countries around the world. In collaboration with local, nonprofit partner groups, we ensure that the farms and forests we certify meet a rigorous host of standards that protect the environment and the rights and welfare of workers and communities. What do you mean by independent, third-party certification and why is it important? It's a voluntary way for companies to ensure that their practices are responsible, and it demonstrates to the public that a company's claims about itself are reliable and have been verified by an independent, outside party. In cooperation with locally-based NGOs and local stakeholders including government, businesses, scientists and academics, the Rainforest Alliance has worked to developed performance-based standards that balance environmental and social concerns with the economic, technical and cultural realities faced by loggers, farmers and tourism businesses. As an independent, third-party certifier, the Rainforest Alliance verifies compliance with these standards. Why is an NGO like the Rainforest Alliance in the certification business? Because we believe that certification is one of the most effective tools for conserving natural resources while maintaining the cultural identity and livelihoods of local populations. Certification offers land users and businesses guidance on producing goods and providing services according to practical, efficient practices that will not deplete resources or negatively impact the environment or local communities. And through the purchase of Rainforest Alliance Certified products, we give consumers the opportunity to "vote with their dollars" -- to influence corporate commitment to sustainability. Rainforest Alliance certification of course differs for farm, forest and tourism enterprises. What is the relationship between the Rainforest Alliance and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)? Based in Bonn, Germany, the FSC sets standards for responsible forestry and accredits certifiers. The Rainforest Alliance is the leading FSC certifier, and our seal indicates that our standards match the FSC standards. In addition to certifying large forestry companies, the Rainforest Alliance works with many small communities and cooperatives. We help community-based foresters employ sustainable methods and derive economic benefits from doing so, to meet the FSC standards, to add value to their harvested timber by producing furniture and other forest goods, and to market their Rainforest Alliance Certified products to interested buyers. Is Rainforest Alliance Certified the same as organic certification? No. The Rainforest Alliance's standards are based on an internationally recognized integrated pest management (IPM) model, which allows for some limited, strictly controlled uses of agrochemicals. Sustainable Agriculture Network standards go beyond organic in two critical sectors: wildlife conservation and worker welfare. Farmers certified by the Rainforest Alliance do not use agrochemicals prohibited by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the European Union, nor do they use chemicals listed on the Pesticide Action Network's "Dirty Dozen" list. They are required to continually reduce their agrochemical use and to use biological alternatives whenever possible. Rainforest Alliance certification was developed to deal with agriculture at large, and we have determined that the standards afford a realistic and effective way for farms of all sizes to move toward independence from agrochemicals. How does Rainforest Alliance Certified differ from FairTrade? Fairtrade is an alternative marketing system that gives disadvantaged farmers a guaranteed price for their products. Rather than emphasizing how products are traded, Rainforest Alliance certification standards focus on how farms are managed. They cover a full range of worker protection issues including the right to organize; the right to a safe, clean working environment; the right to be paid at least the national minimum wage; dignified housing (including potable water); access to medical care for workers and their families and access to free education for workers' children. How does a farm or forest become certified by the Rainforest Alliance? Certification of a farm or forest begins with a preliminary site visit to determine the changes necessary for Rainforest Alliance certification. Once land managers decide that their methods meet the Rainforest Alliance certification standards, they may request a full audit, which entails evaluation against nearly 200 measures by a team of independent inspectors. Operations that meet the criteria are awarded the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal, demonstrating compliance with the standards. All farms and forests are evaluated annually to ensure continued compliance. Are the standards universal? All of the Rainforest Alliance certification standards were developed in partnership with local NGOs, scientists and government representatives using a collaborative process that ensures full stakeholder participation. While the standards are universally rigorous, they are adapted to meet regional-specific needs and criteria. Does the Rainforest Alliance certify hotels and other tourism-related businesses? No, but we do work with these businesses to help them meet the environmental and social standards set by other certifiers. Additionally, we are helping to set global standards for these independent certifiers, so that tourists can rest assured that the seals are reliable and that their tourism dollars are helping to conserve fragile ecosystems and alleviate poverty in local communities. Our Certified Products in the Americas catalog lists hotels, restaurants and other types of tourism businesses in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Caribbean. The Rainforest Alliance's Eco-Index offers travelers a fast way to find sustainable businesses in Latin America.
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