Thrive Market– Thrive Products Policy

In a nutshell (well a few words)

Thrive Market is a ‘single layer’ organisation where all team members are treated equally and an open, honest culture encouraged. We appreciate the benefits of diversity in the workplace and strive to encourage it within Thrive Market.

We aim to promote ‘green’ and healthy eating…we will not knowingly stock products which contain harmful food additives. All our ethical products are carefully sourced and where possible fairtrade labelled variants are sought.

We aim to operate in a way which balances running a successful business with the environmental impact of our actions. Therefore, we continue explore the viability of ‘green’ innovations and new ways of operating e.g. energy use, delivery vehicles etc.

We recycle as many assets as possible. Where re-use and repair is no longer a practical or efficient option, we will pass on, sell or recycle as appropriate.

Some of what we bang on about...

Fairly traded

Made with fair trade principles in place, the manufacturers and designers endeavour to ensure that workers, from harvesting materials to manufacture, are paid fairly and not exploited in 'sweatshop' or equivalent conditions.

Sustainable

This denotes fabrics or processes which are sustainable. For instance some of our designers organic silk carries the SBV mark (Sustainable Biodegradable Product) as it is 100% biodegradable and is finished in accordance with Skal criteria, or elements maybe sourced from sustainable FSC managed forests.

Carbon Offset

Companies who are actively reducing carbon emissions in their manufacturing process, limiting the carbon footprint of their product through it's carbon travel miles or offsetting their carbon emissions by investing in carbon reduction projects, credits or tree planting.

Communities

Companies who are investing in the development of local communities where the product is manufactured. This could be by assisting in education, building of infrastructure, demanding adequate health and safety standards, as well as paying fair prices.

Non-toxic

The use of natural, vegetable or Azo-free dyes and processes in the manufacture, or natural adhesives.

Organic

For items made from organic materials; which are free from non-natural pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fertilisers.

Recycled

An item which is 100% or partially made from recycled or vintage materials.

UK

Quite simply, made in the UK thus reducing carbon miles within the manufacturing process and supporting UK workers and factories who operate under European health, safety, minimum wage and employment laws.

Wildlife

Supports, rather than exploits and harms wildlife, and conservation projects.

SKAL organic certification

A Dutch organic certification body which not only certifies that no pesticides and fertilisers have been used it also guarantees the working conditions of farmers.

Fairtrade Certified

This is the symbol of the FairTrade Foundation established in 1992 and license the FAIRTRADE Mark to products which meet internationally recognised standards, and work to raise awareness and deepen understanding and sales of fairtrade certified products. It symbolises that the cotton farmers have been treated fairly and have a guarantee of a minimum price plus a further premium to be used for community development. It does not guarantee that the manufacture of the garments is fairtrade however.

IFAT The International Fair Trade Association

Only 100 per cent Fair Trade organisations, who are members of The International Fair Trade Association, may use their symbol and it guarantees fair trade practices from production through to manufacture. Their mission is to improve livelihoods and well being of disadvantaged producers by linking and promoting fair trade organisations.

Soil Association

The Soil Association is the UK's leading organic organisation. The Soil Association symbol can be found on over 70% of Britain's organic produce - a guarantee that it has been grown or produced to the highest standards of organic integrity. Soil Association Certification Ltd enforces these standards through certification and regular inspections of producers, processors and suppliers.

Agrocel

Agrocel cotton is produced by Agrocel Industries Limited, in conjunction with Vericott Ltd and Traidcraft Exchange, who have defined and branded the cotton fibre Agrocel® Pure & Fair Indian Organic Cotton. Agrocel co-ordinates organic fibre cultivation with a select group of local farmers while constantly ensuring it adheres to International Organic Standards.

Oeko-Tex

The International Oeko-Tex Association has been testing for harmful substances according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for textile products of all types which pose no risk whatsoever to health, since 1992. It's a uniform, scientifically founded evaluation standard for the human ecological safety of textiles tested for safety for skin-friendly clothing and other textiles.

EU Eco-label

The EU Eco-label scheme has drawn up a set of environmental and performance criteria for judging products and takes into account all aspects of a product's life, from production and use to eventual disposal (cradle-to-grave approach). The products should inflict less damage upon the environment than other products of the same type.

FSC certified

This symbol denotes that a product or part of a product has been sourced by specially managed sustainainable forests.