We are on the verge of a greener dawn. As environmental concern and awareness rise, everyday people are beginning to make a difference. A variety of environmental organizations have launched to assist consumers by creating logos that indicate eco-friendly products. The Rainforest Alliance has implemented programs to help in this as well as the conservation and preservation of the environment.
The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-governmental organization that seeks to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable livelihoods for the people who depend on the land. They have programs in agriculture, tourism, and forestry among others that strive to transform “land-use practices” and to ensure sustainability. They work in partnership with governments, business owners, farmers and scientists to create standards that strike a balance between being eco-friendly and economically plausible.
Rainforest Alliance Certified
So how you will be able to identify products that have been approved by the Rainforest Alliance? The Rainforest Alliance agricultural program utilizes a seal of approval to help consumers recognize items produced by farms meeting their ten standards of sustainability. Certified products carry a logo of a green frog encircled with “Rainforest Alliance Certified” around it.
The Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) is a group composed of members of universities, businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations that dedicate themselves to the proliferation of sustainable agriculture. They manage the certification process promoting sustainable farming practices.
Products
Today, you can find various products that carry the Rainforest Alliance Certified Seal. Examples of these products are building materials, paper, tea, coffee, guitars, and even furniture. Once you find the green frog logo, you can be sure that you’re buying products that help to support a sustainable society.
Some Criticisms
While the drive of Rainforest Alliance in general, is to promote sustainable farms, forests, and at the same time help those who depend primarily on the soil for livelihood, there has been some criticism about the organization’s certification standards.
They have been primarily criticized for their approval of products that have as little as 30% of their ingredients coming from certified farms. This has led to some raised eyebrows in relation to the products carrying their seal. The organization’s contention was that 30% can still make a great impact when we consider how many products create adverse effects on the environment and the inhabitants living in it.
Where to Take it From Here
It cannot be denied that the efforts of the Rainforest Alliance will encourage companies to become more accountable and consumers to become more informed. Although 30% approved ingredients may fall short of 100%, isn’t it nice to have at least some guiding determinant when trying to make those environmentally conscious decisions?
References
(2010) Search for Retailers. Retrieved August 16, 2010
(1996) SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE NETWORK (SAN). Retrieved August 16, 2010
(2009) What Does “Rainforest Alliance Certified” Mean? Retrieved August 16, 2010
(2010) Our Mission. Retrieved August 16, 2010
