Fairtrade International Applies for SSCI Social and Environmental Benchmarking

Fairtrade International joins five additional schemes currently undergoing the assessment process, alongside ten that have already achieved SSCI Recognition.

Fairtrade International is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder association that represents more than 2 million farmers and workers across the globe. It is made up of 22 member organisations, which include three  producer networks and 19 national Fairtrade organisations. As the owner of the FAIRTRADE Mark, one of the world’s most recognised ethical labels, appearing on over 30,000 products sold by more than 2,500 businesses globally, Fairtrade International’s participation in the SSCI Benchmarking is important for retailers and manufacturers seeking credible, comparable assurance.

Fairtrade’s engagement with the SSCI reflects growing alignment across sustainability standards with the SSCI’s approach to benchmarking. The SSCI framework is designed to strengthen trust in certification schemes while remaining strictly pre-competitive. It does not replace commercial decision-making or limit independent business practices.

Marike Runneboom de Peña, Interim CEO, Fairtrade International, said, “Maintaining relevance and recognition in the sustainability landscape is of critical importance for Fairtrade certified organisations. As the SSCI leads on alignment across key industry sectors for Fairtrade products, we are excited to reach and maintain SSCI Recognition.”

Didier Bergeret, Director of Sustainability at The Consumer Goods Forum, said, “This is a first for the SSCI, for a scheme to apply for benchmarking across social and environmental criteria simultaneously. Fairtrade’s participation brings a widely recognised standard into the SSCI framework, increasing its relevance for companies and for stakeholders who engage with certification schemes at scale.”

We welcome Fairtrade’s engagement in the SSCI benchmarking process and look forward to reviewing its alignment with SSCI requirements on social and environmental responsibility as the assessment progresses.

Learn More and Apply

Auditing, monitoring, and certification programmes are invited to apply for the SSCI Recognition and demonstrate their commitment to industry-defined expectations for social and environmental responsibility. Learn more about the SSCI Benchmark and download the application kits at benchmark.tcgfssci.com. 

For more information about the SSCI, please visit www.tcgfssci.com or contact .