Some Logos to Look for When Shopping

Products in San Diego Area Supermarkets

FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED^TM products guarantee a fair price to farmers so that they can care for their families and farms. Safe working conditions and environmental management are required. Products are usually organic. Visit www.transfairusa.org to learn more and to search for local markets selling Fair Trade certified products.    Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International at www.fairtrade.net is an umbrella organization for various national organizations.  For more information, check out fairtraderesource.org and the first half of the documentary Buyer Be Fair.

FAIR TRADE FEDERATION^TM  is an association of fair trade retailers, wholesalers and producers.  If you cannot find products in your area or are looking for non-food products, check out their web site at www.fairtradefederation.org.

The mission of the RAINFOREST ALLIANCE is to protect ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Visit www.rainforest-alliance.org to learn more about certified farm (including coffee, chocolate and fruit) and forest products and eco-friendly travel resources.

FISHERIES have been or are overexploited. Others are being fished with methods that destroy the environment. The MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL has an environmental standard for well-managed, sustainable fisheries.  Products from fisheries that have been certified as meeting this standard do not contribute to the environmental problem of over-fishing and the display of the MSC logo on these products assures consumers of this fact. Visit www.msc.org for more information, including certified fisheries. Unfortunately this logo is relatively rare. Until it becomes more common, you can get information from Seafood Watch at seafoodwatch.org.   See my seafood page for more information.

The FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL promotes responsible management of the world’s forests. They certify wood products, including paper. Since the path from forest to consumer often involves many steps, their certification process includes “chain of custody” to verify that the wood in an end product comes entirely from a certified forest. To find out more, the web site is www.fsc.org and the U.S. organization is www.fscus.org. Also see my page on wood products, including paper and furniture and the second half of the documentary Buyer Be Fair.

SMARTWOOD is the first independent forestry certifier. Part of the Rainforest Alliance, SmartWood is accredited by the Forestry Stewardship Council. Visit www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/forestry and www.brandsystems.net/smartwood to learn more and to find lists of manufacturers of certified products.

The GREEN SEAL^TM logo identifies products that minimize impact by causing less pollution/waste, conserving resources and habitats and minimizing global warming and ozone depletion. For more information and product recommendations, check out their web site at www.greenseal.org for reports that include tires, lawn care, air conditioners, cleaners and paper products.

Consumers Union has information on these and many other logos at  www.eco-labels.org

Some companies have their own logos suggesting environmental friendliness. Many are okay, but you or someone you trust should check the company out.

Take action to increase certified product availability and consumer awareness.