Every industry faces different social and environmental challenges that must be addressed. Natural stone production presents different problems than, for example, agriculture. Fair Stone is a quality seal developed specifically for the natural stone industry that addresses these challenges. We work to solve these problems in dialogue with partners, experts in occupational health and safety, and local communities.
Only through this cooperation can solutions be created that are acceptable to everyone and provide sustainable improvements.
Fair Stone strives to bring together existing initiatives in the stone industry to work together towards the same goal: improving working conditions.
The Fair Stone Standard, as a fundamental document, defines the goals that Fair Stone partners and suppliers work toward together. The standard includes international standards, such as the ILO Core Labor Standards, as well as important criteria for occupational health and safety, management, and the environment.
The Fair Stone logo, in conjunction with the barcode, may be placed on the products by partners as a seal to demonstrate the origin and commitment of the stones.
Fair Stone is the first comprehensive standard developed for the international natural stone industry in 2007. Stone products labeled Fair Stone were manufactured in facilities that strive to improve working conditions and are independently audited within three years.
Fair Stone is a standard that takes into account the conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO ) as well as national legislation for employees, such as the minimum wage. Detailed information can be found here.
There are other seals in the natural stone industry, such as XertifiX and IGEP, but these are limited to India and focus mainly on the ILO Convention against exploitative child labor.
Fair Stone is a standard with an international character that goes far beyond this ILO Convention.
You can find the Fair Stone partners from whom you can purchase Fair Stone materials here . Fair Stone does not participate in the trade of certified stones and has no influence on them, including on pricing.
Since 2009, municipalities have been able to consider social criteria in public tenders. Many cities and municipalities have already amended their procurement regulations accordingly by council resolution. Munich is the first city in Germany to no longer accept voluntary commitments from bidders, as these cannot be verified by independent bodies.
Fair Stone partners can present a certificate listing the registered material. Furthermore, all Fair Stone deliveries are traceable using the Tracing Fair Stone software.
Correctly wording the tender, verifying certificates, and selecting the supplier can take more time. Nevertheless, as a municipality, you have the opportunity to support real change in the natural stone industry and set an example for your residents. Fair Stone supports you wherever possible and to keep the effort as minimal as possible.
The “Municipalities in One World” service center offers further advice on questions of sustainable procurement .
Most retailers aren't yet able to pass on the additional costs of implementing Fair Stone measures to their customers. However, implementation is associated with higher costs. Training workers and providing personal protective equipment costs money. Added to that is the personal commitment and dedication required to ensure everyone pulls together.
Fair Stone itself has no influence on pricing and does not charge a surcharge on imports, but rather an annual license fee.
Contact the Fair Stone team . We 'll provide you with comprehensive information about the partnership. Once you and your suppliers have signed the contract and the supplier agreements, thereby committing to the standard, you will receive the Fair Stone certificate, which confirms your commitment. If you already source stones from a Fair Stone-certified importer, you can become an Associate Partner. Further information is available here
Fair Stone is not only a certification that eliminates child labor, but also promotes the improvement of working conditions in factories. If you are already on-site several times a year, you can support implementation much more effectively. You need Fair Stone to be able to credibly present your commitment to the outside world and to receive the necessary support, for example, through workshops. The team's extensive experience, implementation support, and a widespread network of Fair Stone eV support your work and the communication of your commitment.
The standard was developed jointly with experts from ISSA Mining, the former quarry trade association, human rights and environmental experts, and managers of a supply chain for natural stone from China. Changes are coordinated at annual partner meetings and approved by the Fair Stone Steering Committee .
Together we seek and find viable solutions that bring about long-term changes.
In addition to a one-time registration fee, annual license fees and a maintenance fee per registered factory are charged, depending on the company's total import volume.
An overview of the Fair Stone fees can be found in the download area .
Only Fair Stone Partners may label registered products from their Fair Stone suppliers with the seal, not the suppliers themselves. If these products are resold to retailers, they may only use the seal if they are Associate Partners . All products bearing the Fair Stone seal must also be registered in the Tracing Fair Stone software .
Fair Stone labels products, not factories. This means that only registered materials may bear the Fair Stone seal. Products made from raw blocks whose origin cannot be clearly determined, such as goods imported from third countries for further processing, cannot be labeled. You can find the registered materials of the individual partners here .
From the start of the Fair Stone partnership, the partner may use the Fair Stone seal for promotional purposes. However, product-specific logo use is only permitted once the conditions for logo use have been confirmed by a Fair Stone representative at the registered supplier companies.
Fair Stone is an international standard and, in principle, applicable globally. Partners currently come from Belgium, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Ireland, England, and Germany. Their supply chains extend to China, Vietnam, and India.
Local representatives visit the factories both by appointment and unannounced. In addition, a proprietary software program has been developed in which all Fair Stone orders must be entered by the partner. The exporter adds information such as the number of packaging units and the production date. After a review by Fair Stone, the order is approved, and the system generates the required number of QR codes. These can be read by the partner, the Fair Stone team, and the end customer, e.g., using a smartphone. This ensures the traceability of the goods and also allows the end customer to check the status of the order.
After three years at the latest, the registered companies are inspected by independent auditors, e.g. TÜV Rheinland.
Even though various campaigns repeatedly point out child labor in the gravestone sector, such a statement is far too general.
It's true that children are employed in many quarries around the world. However, they aren't involved in sawing the large raw blocks from which the products for export are usually made. The technical equipment is far too large for children to operate.
However, children and young people are often employed in gravel production, for example, for local road construction, where they chip away stone scraps into gravel. This is also child labor and must not occur in Fair Stone companies!
In China, no children are employed in the stone industry. Furthermore, all Fair Stone companies have committed to not employing anyone under the age of 16, which is also monitored.
The processing of natural stone in countries like China, Vietnam, and Turkey is often carried out under extremely simple conditions. Awareness of the risks associated with the craft is virtually nonexistent. Personal protective equipment is largely unknown and, even when available, is rarely worn.
Fair Stone works with its partners and suppliers to ensure a healthy and safe workplace for all workers. This goes far beyond simply eliminating child labor.
