Fairtrade Max Havelaar
Fairtrade Max Havelaar is a Swiss non-profit that licenses the Fairtrade certification mark to consumer goods companies and manages standards for 3,700+ products in Switzerland as part of Fairtrade International's global network supporting 1,930 producer organizations across 70 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersSwitzerland, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Fairtrade Max Havelaar does
Fairtrade Max Havelaar is a Swiss non-profit organization founded in 1992 that licenses the Fairtrade certification mark to consumer goods companies and administers Fairtrade standards for the Swiss market. As the Swiss national member of Fairtrade International, it operates within a global network that supports 1,930 producer organizations across 70 countries and licenses more than 37,000 products in over 140 countries; in Switzerland alone, more than 3,700 certified products are available through major retailers including Migros and Coop. The organization is headquartered in Zurich, ZEWO-certified for accountability and transparency, and operates with approximately 42 employees.
The organization's business model combines licensing fees from manufacturers, importers, and retailers with donations and project grants supporting producer communities, awareness campaigns, and outreach programs such as Fair Trade Schools and Fair Trade Towns. Revenue is therefore not purely commercial: it blends recurring certification royalties on certified SKUs with philanthropic contributions and project-based funding. Customer segments span consumer goods companies (licensees), producer organizations (supply-side beneficiaries), conscious consumers (retail purchasers), and the hospitality sector (a growing foodservice channel).
The certified product portfolio historically centered on coffee, cocoa, bananas, sugar, and cotton, and has been deliberately broadened into newer categories including gold, sports balls, and wine. Distribution is anchored by Swiss grocery multiples, with foodservice expansion underway. The organization holds no proprietary technology stack in the AI/ML sense; its core operational assets are the Fairtrade standards framework, brand recognition, and the governance infrastructure underpinning its ZEWO certification.
Fairtrade Max Havelaar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fairtrade Max Havelaar
- Legal name
- Fairtrade Max Havelaar Schweiz
- Website
- https://fairtrademaxhavelaar.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fairtrade Max Havelaar is a Swiss non-profit that licenses the Fairtrade certification mark to consumer goods companies and manages standards for 3,700+ products in Switzerland as part of Fairtrade International's global network supporting 1,930 producer organizations across 70 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fairtrade Max Havelaar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainability Certification and Ethical Labeling
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing Certification Services (AFALAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)
Keywords
Where Fairtrade Max Havelaar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Switzerland
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fairtrade Max Havelaar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Licensing Fees: Companies pay licensing fees to use the Fairtrade label on their products. This is the primary revenue stream that funds the organization's operations and producer support programs.
- Certification Fees: Producer organizations and trading companies pay certification fees to become Fairtrade certified and participate in the Fairtrade system.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Fairtrade Max Havelaar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fairtrade Max Havelaar Schweiz is a non-profit certification and labeling organization that licenses the Fairtrade label to companies for use on their products and certifies producer organizations and traders against Fairtrade's fair trade standards. It operates the Swiss arm of the global Fairtrade International network, enabling ethical sourcing across 17 product categories including coffee, cocoa, bananas, cotton, flowers, and gold, and supporting 1,930 producer organizations across 70 countries.
Product overview
Fairtrade Max Havelaar is a certification and labeling organization for fair trade products, founded in Switzerland in 1992. The organization operates as part of Fairtrade International and offers the Fairtrade Label, an independent certification system that enables companies to label their products as meeting Fairtrade standards. The product portfolio includes 17 product categories: Bananen, Baumwolle, Blumen, Früchte und Säfte, Gemüse, Gewürze und Kräuter, Gold, Honig, Kaffee, Kakao, Nüsse Kerne und Öle, Tee, Reis, Sportbälle, Quinoa, Wein, and Zucker. Over 37,000 products bearing the Fairtrade Label are sold in more than 140 countries, sourced from 1,930 producer organizations in 70 countries. The organization also provides services for businesses including Fairtrade Certification, Licensing, and registration for florists, goldsmiths, and restaurateurs, along with programs such as Fair Trade Schools, Fair Trade Towns, and public procurement initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fairtrade Label: The globally recognized Fairtrade certification label for products meeting fair trade standards
Products and services
- Fairtrade Certification Independent third-party certification service for producer organizations and trading companies, verifying compliance with Fairtrade standards covering fair prices, labor rights, child labor safeguards, gender equality, and environmental protection. For cooperatives, plantations, and traders in 70 producer countries.
- Fairtrade Label Licensing Licensing of the internationally registered Fairtrade label and logo to companies for use on certified products. Companies pay licensing fees for the right to display the label on packaging across categories such as coffee, cocoa, bananas, tea, cotton, and flowers.
- Fairtrade Registration for Florists, Goldsmiths, and Gastronomers Specialized Fairtrade registration service for restaurants, cafes, caterers, florists, and goldsmiths that want to use the Fairtrade label on their food, beverage, floral, or gold offerings to demonstrate ethical sourcing.
- Fairtrade Product Finder Online discovery portal listing Fairtrade-certified products across 17 product categories including bananas, coffee, cocoa, tea, cotton, flowers, honey, sugar, quinoa, rice, wine, gold, sports balls, nuts, oils, fruits and juices, and spices, for use by consumers, retailers, and businesses.
- Fair Trade Schools Program Educational program for schools providing teaching materials and activities about fair trade principles and ethical consumption to engage students and build long-term consumer awareness.
- Fair Trade Towns and Public Procurement Program Recognition program for municipalities and public institutions that commit to Fairtrade procurement, providing them with guidance and support to source Fairtrade-certified products in their public purchasing.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,930 producer organizations in 70 countries benefit from Fairtrade certification
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fairtrade Max Havelaar
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fairtrade Max Havelaar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Fairtrade Max Havelaar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- TARZANminorCollaborative merchandise partnership producing 'Fair Vibes' branded merchandise. This partnership combines fashion brand TARZAN with Fairtrade Max Havelaar to create ethically sourced apparel and accessories that promote fair trade values through lifestyle products.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fairtrade Max Havelaar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO): Multi-stakeholder certification system for sustainable palm oil; a direct peer to Fairtrade in the broader ethical-commodity certification space with similar licensing fee revenue models.
- Rainforest Alliance: Global sustainability certification organization covering coffee, cocoa, tea, and bananas — directly competing with Fairtrade for the same ethical-sourcing label on retailer shelves and in producer supply chains.
- B Lab (B Corporation): Certifies whole companies on social and environmental performance; competes with Fairtrade for the same corporate sustainability budget, particularly with consumer-goods brands seeking an ethical credentials signal.
- Bonsucro: Global sustainability platform for sugarcane, directly competing with Fairtrade's sugar certification program for producer certification and downstream brand licensing.
- GlobalG.A.P. World-leading farm assurance program covering safe and sustainable agriculture, often a prerequisite for European retail; directly competes with Fairtrade for producer certification fees in fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
- Better Cotton Initiative: Largest cotton sustainability standard, directly competing with Fairtrade's cotton certification program for retailer and brand adoption across apparel and textile supply chains.
Regional players
- Fair Trade USA: Independent fair trade certifier serving the North American market under its own Fair Trade Certified label; a regional peer that split from the Fairtrade International system and now competes for producer and brand partnerships.
- Fairtrade Foundation (UK): Sister national organization within the Fairtrade International network serving the UK market; operates the same label and standards under a different national licensee structure.
Emerging players
- Control Union: Global certification body offering organic, fair trade, and sustainability audits; an emerging peer competing for third-party verification work on behalf of producers and brands seeking alternative certifiers.
- IMO Control (IMOswiss): Independent Swiss-based inspection and certification body for organic and fair-trade products; competes with Fairtrade for producer certification contracts and brand licensing audits.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fairtrade Max Havelaar social profiles
Digital presenceFairtrade Max Havelaar compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Fairtrade Max Havelaar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fairtrade Max Havelaar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Fairtrade Max Havelaar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fairtrade Max Havelaar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fairtrade Max Havelaar
What does Fairtrade Max Havelaar do?
Fairtrade Max Havelaar Schweiz is a non-profit certification and labeling organization that licenses the Fairtrade label to companies for use on their products and certifies producer organizations and traders against Fairtrade's fair trade standards. It operates the Swiss arm of the global Fairtrade International network, enabling ethical sourcing across 17 product categories including coffee, cocoa, bananas, cotton, flowers, and gold, and supporting 1,930 producer organizations across 70 countries.
Is Fairtrade Max Havelaar a public or private company?
Fairtrade Max Havelaar is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fairtrade Max Havelaar founded?
Fairtrade Max Havelaar was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fairtrade Max Havelaar based?
Fairtrade Max Havelaar is headquartered in Switzerland, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Fairtrade Max Havelaar make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Licensing Fees are the primary driver. The others are certification Fees.
Who are Fairtrade Max Havelaar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Rainforest Alliance, B Lab (B Corporation), Bonsucro, GlobalG.A.P. and Better Cotton Initiative. Regional players are Fair Trade USA and Fairtrade Foundation (UK). Emerging players are Control Union and IMO Control (IMOswiss).
Does Fairtrade Max Havelaar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fairtrade Max Havelaar.
What industry is Fairtrade Max Havelaar in?
Fairtrade Max Havelaar's product category is Sustainability Certification and Ethical Labeling. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAMAD, Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing Certification Services, with a secondary code of BPAGALAL, Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support).