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. We 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! We provide 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, we 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, we follow our 5 basic trading principles that extend far beyond basic fair trade and into social and environmental sustainability for those communities. We help our farmer communities improve the environment they live in (see about our reforestation projects and Carbon Zero Certification). Our most recent project worked with Palestinian olive farmers to produce our 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
Accountability » 22.9 92%
Employees » 17.5 56%
Consumers » 50 80%
Community » 20.8 30%
Environment » 9.8 78%
Composite B Score 121 67%
  • >80 out of 200 is eligible for certification
  • >60% points available = Area of excellence

Highlights:

2008 B Impact Report

Environment: >25% carbon inventory offset >5% energy used comes from renewable sources

Employees: 100% healthcarepremiums paid for employees and their families 3+ weeks paid maternity leave offered for tenured employees

Community: >25% suppliers located in low-income communities Employees allowed time off for community service Policies promote recruitment of majority women or ethnic minority owned suppliers

Consumers: 100% Certified Organic products, 100% Certified Fair Trade products

Leadership: All potential suppliers are screened for social and environmental performance

 

 

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»