ALTER ECO - Fair Trade

About Alter ECO

ALTER ECO works directly with dozens of farmer cooperatives in the Global South to bring Fair Trade, Organic and Carbon Neutral foods to the market. They now offer one of largest ranges of products in Europe and North America including chocolate, quinoa, rice, sugar, tea, coffee, hearts of palm, and olive oil.

We believe that a new economy is being built and driven by a new kind of leadership. The old system is un-adapted to this new economy. New structures and legal frameworks are needed to catalyze the efficiency and growth of these triple bottom line organizations, which require private capital to operate. By bringing these organizations together, B Corp provides a platform to pursue, advocate and implement these structural and regulatory changes within the new economy.

ALTER ECO gets its name from two of its cornerstone principles — Economic Alternative, for a different and fair approach to trade, and Ecological Alternative, for a more environmentally sustainable approach to farming. ALTER ECO's premium quality is the marriage between traditional farming and finely-tuned gourmet craftsmanship –an unbeatable combination that transforms the finest Ghanaian cocoa into delectable chocolate in Switzerland, and takes full- bodied Ethiopian coffee and roasts it to perfection in San Francisco.

The Change We Seek™

Changing the World Never Tasted so Good! ALTER ECO provides small-scale farmers outlets for their crop and a brand to protect their interests in highly competitive marketplaces.

• In exchange for their high-quality harvest, they pay farmers a fair price. This price covers the cost of production and enables producers to invest in their lives and future. In addition, ALTER ECO pays a Fair Trade Premium. Farmers democratically decide how best to invest the Premium in projects that help the whole community.

• In addition to that, they follow their 5 basic trading principles that extend far beyond basic fair trade and into social and environmental sustainability for those communities. They help their farmer communities improve the environment they live in (see about theirr reforestation projects and Carbon Zero Certification). Their most recent project worked with Palestinian olive farmers to produce their new line of olive oils. This project was established to help bring economic stability for this cooperative amidst conflict and turmoil.

ALTER ECO - Fair Trade

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B Impact Report »

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Summary:

Certified: December 2008
  Points Earned % Points Available
Governance » 14.3 84%
Workers » 24.7 61.6%
Community » 54.7 73%
Environment » 35.2 58.6%
Composite B Score 128.9
  • >80 out of 200 is eligible for certification
  • >60% points available = Area of excellence

Highlights:

From B Impact Assessment

Community: 100% Fair Trade Certified products; 100% Significant Suppliers have a third party social/environmental certification; Banks with a local, independent bank; Offers paid time off for employees to volunteer; Policies promote recruitment of majority women/minority owned suppliers

Environment: >25% energy used comes from renewable sources; Has implemented office-wide recycling and composting systems; Conserves energy through efficient equipment, lighting, and HVAC systems

Employees: Living wage paid to all employees; Covers 100% health insurance costs for all employees; Employees performance feedback considers social and environmental targets

Consumers: 100% Certified Organic products

 

 

 

News

• Alter Eco mentioned in The Globe and Mail Go»

Blogs/Feeds

• Surin Farmers Support Blog Go»

Videos

• Alter ECO on the Martha Stewart Show Go»

Values and Certifications

• Our Approach to Fair Trade Go»
• Alter ECO Fair Trade Study Go»
• Carbon Zero Certification and Emissions Summary Go»
• Example of Alter ECO's Approach Go»