Fair Trade Sustainability Alliance

What Fair Trade Sustainability Alliance does

Fair Trade Sustainability Alliance (FairTSA), founded in 2011 by Dr. Winfried Fuchshofen and headquartered in New Lebanon, New York, operates a Fair Trade certification program rather than a software product. Its core asset is the FairTSA Standard (Version 4.14), a proprietary compliance framework with specialized appendices covering seal usage, prohibited agrochemicals and food ingredients, and personal care/cosmetics. The standard is enforced through a network of 10 to 11 ISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifiers (including Control Union, CERES, Bioagricert, Kiwa BCS, and others) operating 30+ offices worldwide, which conduct inspections and issue certificates. This asset-light model allows FairTSA to maintain a core team of roughly six people while reaching 100+ certified producers across 25 countries on five continents.

FairTSA's revenue comes from three streams: annual producer certification fees, one-time/perpetual licensee application and logo licensing fees from brand owners that market FairTSA-certified products, and certifier accreditation fees. Distribution is hybrid: producers are onboarded via free monthly English and Spanish webinars (mandatory before certification), licensees are acquired through direct sales/website contact, and certifiers are integrated as a reseller-like network. The program bundles a Fair Trade Certification, a Social Responsibility Certification (based on ILO conventions and the UN Declaration of Human Rights), and — since November 2024 — ROC Social Pillar Certification under the Regenerative Organic Certified program. The program's defining feature is its Community Development Project model, where producers submit annual community proposals, premiums are verified during inspections, and outcomes are published for licensees; 300+ such projects have been completed and over $1M USD is directed to projects annually.

Strategically, FairTSA has expanded its product surface through mutual recognition arrangements with the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO, July 2023) and the Regenerative Organic Certified program (November 2024), and through a Socially Responsible Processing program for textiles and manufacturing. The world is segmented into Farmers & Workers, Communities, Licensees, and Certifiers as the four stakeholder groups served. No funding rounds, acquisitions, or institutional investors are disclosed; ownership is concentrated with the founder-led leadership team.

Name

Fair Trade Sustainability Alliance

Legal name

The Fair Trade Sustainability Alliance

Website

https://fairtsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FairTSA is a Fair Trade and Social Responsibility certification standard founded in 2011, serving small-scale farmers, producer cooperatives, brand-owner licensees, and ISO 17065-accredited certifiers across 25 countries via an asset-light network of cooperating inspection agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fair Trade Certification Services

akta.pro primary industry

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing Certification Services (AFALAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL), Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA), Traceability & Chain-of-Custody Certification (Mass Balance, Segregation, Identity Preserved) (AFALAMAK)

Keywords

• Fair Trade certification
• Social Responsibility certification
• Ethical sourcing compliance
• Producer certification services
• Community Development projects

Headquarters

HQ city

New Lebanon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Producer Certification Fees: Annual producer fees charged to certified producers for participation in the FairTSA program. Producers must pay an annual fee as part of the 4-step application process.
2. Licensee Licensing Fees: Companies that purchase FairTSA certified products under Fair Trade conditions (paying fair price and community development premium) pay an application fee and enter a licensing agreement to use the FairTSA logo for marketing claims.
3. Certifier Accreditation Fees: Certification agencies pay an initial accreditation fee to join FairTSA's cooperating certifier network. Reasonable accreditation fees are charged as part of the application process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FairTSA operates a Fair Trade certification program that certifies agricultural producers, processing operations, and textile/manufacturing facilities against its FairTSA Standard Version 4.14, ILO conventions, and UN Declaration of Human Rights. Certified producers receive fair prices plus a community development premium from buyers (licensees) who are authorized to use the FairTSA logo for marketing claims. Inspections and certifications are conducted by a network of accredited ISO 17065-compliant organic certifiers with worldwide presence.

Product overview

Fair Trade Sustainability Alliance (FairTSA) operates a multi-tier certification platform consisting of three core certification products: Fair Trade Certification (the primary program requiring buyers to pay fair prices plus community development premiums), Social Responsibility Certification (covering labor standards based on ILO conventions), and ROC Social Pillar Certification (verifying Regenerative Organic Certified social fairness requirements). Supporting services include free monthly Producer Webinars in English and Spanish (mandatory for certification), Community Development Projects Support with planning and documentation assistance, Project-based Accountability Reporting for licensees, and ICS Manual templates for producer groups. The program works through a network of accredited organic certification agencies that conduct inspections and issue certificates, enabling Fair Trade sales while maintaining accountability through annual inspections and project verification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fair Trade Certification The primary Fair Trade certification program enabling producers to sell products as Fair Trade, requiring buyers to pay higher prices plus a fee for community development projects. The certification covers working conditions, worker's rights, overtime, child labor, safety, vacation, sick days, and other labor standards for farm workers and processing plants.
• Social Responsibility Certification Certification program based on ILO conventions and UN Declaration of Human Rights, ensuring workers are treated fairly with proper wages, benefits, and safe working conditions. Includes 'Socially Responsible Processing' for textiles and 'Social Responsibility Program Food' for organic operations.
• ROC Social Pillar Certification Certification service that verifies producers meet the Social Fairness Pillar requirements of the Regenerative Organic Certified program, launched November 2024.
• Licensee Logo Licensing Licensing service enabling brand owners and producer operations with integrated processing plants to use the FairTSA logo for mission-related marketing of Fair Trade products under Fair Trade conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million USD directed towards Community Development Projects annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Since November 1st 2024, FairTSA can certify that producers fulfill the Social Fairness Pillar requirements of the Regenerative Organic Certified program. Currently Bioagricert, Ceres, Mayacert SA de CV, and some Control Union Certification offices provide FairTSA certification for ROC.
• World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023In July 2023, FairTSA's certification system was recognized by WFTO for monitoring Suppliers of Fair Trade products. WFTO members purchasing FairTSA-certified (semi)finished products or ingredients are not required to take additional steps to monitor their suppliers. This is a mutual recognition arrangement that benefits both organizations' members.
• IFOAM - International Federation of Organic Agriculture MovementsminorOthersFairTSA is a proud member of IFOAM, which provides credibility and alignment with the global organic agriculture movement.
• Organic Trade Association (OTA)minorOthersFairTSA is a proud member of OTA, which supports and promotes organic trade in North America.
• Accredited Certifiers AssociationminorOthersFairTSA is a proud member of the Accredited Certifiers Association.
• Aditi Organic CertificationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner conducting FairTSA inspections and certifications. One of 11 cooperating certifiers in the FairTSA network.
• Agreco GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner conducting FairTSA inspections and certifications.
• Bioagricert srl UnipersonalecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner. One of the certifiers currently able to provide FairTSA certification for ROC (Regenerative Organic Certified) Social Pillar.
• Biocert International Pvt. Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner conducting FairTSA inspections and certifications.
• Bioinspecta Kontrol Sertifikasyon Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner conducting FairTSA inspections and certifications in Turkey.
• CERES Certification GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner. One of the certifiers currently able to provide FairTSA certification for ROC Social Pillar.
• Control UnioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner with worldwide offices. One of the certifiers currently able to provide FairTSA certification for ROC Social Pillar at some Certification offices.
• ICERT for Development of Agriculture SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner conducting FairTSA inspections and certifications.
• Kiwa BCS Oeko Garantie GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner conducting FairTSA inspections and certifications.
• Mayacert SA de CVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner. One of the certifiers currently able to provide FairTSA certification for ROC Social Pillar.
• OneCert InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner conducting FairTSA inspections and certifications.
• Organización Internacional Agropecuaria (OIA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO 17065-accredited cooperating certifier partner conducting FairTSA inspections and certifications.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FairTSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fairtsa
• Instagraminstagram.com/fairtsa
• Xx.com/FairTSA

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fair Trade Sustainability Alliance