GoodWeave New Standard

The new GoodWeave standard developed between 2007 and 2011 by the GoodWeave International Standards Committee will be phased in beginning in 2012. The environmental, labor and transparency criteria in the new standard aim to raise the standard of living in weaving communities and alleviate poverty—a root cause of child labor.

The standard is organized into seven principles, each of which includes both entry-level and progressive requirements. Once the standard goes into effect in 2012, existing licensees will have one year to implement core entry-level requirements and put a plan into place for working towards long-term progress requirements. GoodWeave will work closely with industry members to meet the new standard.

Synopsis | Full text of the new standard final draft
Stakeholder consultations
Background

GoodWeave remains focused on its core mission of eradicating child labor and its core no-child-labor requirement; however, the expanded certification standard adds mandates to protect adults from abusive labor conditions, such as forced, bonded and exploitative labor. It also includes environmental criteria, such as managing run-off from dyeing and washing. The new standard is in response to consumers, industry and weavers, who wish to see more benefits associated with the GoodWeave label.

The broader scope of labor-related criteria helps to improve GoodWeave’s efficacy in addressing the root causes of child labor. The lack of secure incomes for adults and the exploitation of children are interrelated, while fair work for adults translates into families having their own children in school.

The standard covers: Rug making processes in factory, cottage industry and homework situations from receipt of raw material until the finished product, including all sub-contracted processes, such as weaving, washing and dyeing.

Timeline for compliance: The new standard is comprised of both entry-level and progressive requirements. Once the standard comes into force in 2012, existing licensees will have one year to implement its core entry-level requirements and put a plan in place for working towards long-term progress requirements, which will be reviewed annually.