For over a decade, Mountain Rose Herbs has worked closely with Fair for Life (FFL), a Switzerland-based, fair trade certification program that seriously ups the ante on fair trade practices, making life-changing improvements in labor relationships both externally and internally. The mission is clear in this program statement: Fair for Life’s vision is a world where trade, through ethical, fair, and respectful partnerships, is a driving force for positive and sustainable change benefiting people and their environment.
We chose the FFL certification because it is the most robust program we could find, and because the premiums go directly to the farmers to fund innovations at both the farm and community level. FFL looks at the supply chain business model in its entirety, from producer to supplier, and works to create resilience and transparency across every link of that chain. It emphasizes respect for human rights and fair working conditions, along with respect for ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainability. However, there is another component of the FFL certification that people are less aware of, simply called For Life—a framework that makes corporate social responsibility a reality at home.
For Life seeks to create a system of accountability for business leaders to make a positive impact on human rights and labor conditions within their own companies. The framework defines strict standards, clear requirements, objective inspections and certification, and incentives for continual improvement. To ensure compliance, companies agree to be regularly audited and to allow their employees to be anonymously interviewed about working conditions, benefits, and more. The audits are based on a point system and we are graded on different attributes like how we handle paid time off, health insurance, break times, lunch times, whether or not we provide a private nursing/breast-pumping room, etc.
Mountain Rose Herbs has been certified For Life (and Fair for Life) since 2010. To maintain our certification, we commit to annual onsite evaluations so that auditors can confirm our continued compliance with the core aspects and requirements of the program. This means that every year, not only are our operations evaluated, our employees get to speak their minds anonymously to impartial auditors about what it’s like to work for Mountain Rose Herbs.
In 2023, For Life auditors reviewed our management systems, bookkeeping and product flows, contracts and payroll, employee handbooks and policies, etc. They also performed an on-site visit, toured the facilities to assess our operations, and privately interviewed personnel and producers who work with us. After the audit, an annual report is compiled based on their observations and discussions, and then we have a follow-up meeting to review any corrective action they felt was warranted.
We are proud to report that in 2023, we received our highest score to date! See the table below to view our most recent FL and FFL ratings, and view past results on our FFL Mountain Rose Herbs profile.
Looking ahead to 2024, we have even loftier goals. We will of course continue to improve working conditions for MRH employees, support existing valued relationships, and report on all the great things the program makes possible. In addition, we will expand our FFL product line by working with new vendors and offering products that represent a low risk of exploitation to workers and the environment. This is only a small sneak peek of what's ahead for Mountain Rose Herbs, so please stay tuned for more!
You may also be interested in:
Topics: Inside Mountain Rose Herbs, Sustainability
Ashley Bonn is the Sustainability Communications Specialist for Mountain Rose Herbs. She is deeply passionate about social and ecological justice and has several years of experience in community building. Her sustainability journey began after completing an International Business program and studying abroad in South America, where she became inspired to learn more about equitable practices for regenerative living. In 2016, Ashley moved to Portland, Oregon where she completed a Master’s Degree in Sustainability Leadership and worked for several nonprofit organizations. After living in Portland for seven years, she left the busy city and moved to Eugene to deepen her connection with the land. Ashley enjoys hiking, snowboarding, exploring new places, and seeing live music in her free time.
For over a decade, Mountain Rose Herbs has worked closely with Fair for Life (FFL), a Switzerland-based, fair trade certification program that seriously ups the ante on fair trade practices, making life-changing improvements in labor relationships both externally and internally. The mission is clear in this program statement: Fair for Life’s vision is a world where trade, through ethical, fair, and respectful partnerships, is a driving force for positive and sustainable change benefiting people and their environment.
We chose the FFL certification because it is the most robust program we could find, and because the premiums go directly to the farmers to fund innovations at both the farm and community level. FFL looks at the supply chain business model in its entirety, from producer to supplier, and works to create resilience and transparency across every link of that chain. It emphasizes respect for human rights and fair working conditions, along with respect for ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainability. However, there is another component of the FFL certification that people are less aware of, simply called For Life—a framework that makes corporate social responsibility a reality at home.
For Life seeks to create a system of accountability for business leaders to make a positive impact on human rights and labor conditions within their own companies. The framework defines strict standards, clear requirements, objective inspections and certification, and incentives for continual improvement. To ensure compliance, companies agree to be regularly audited and to allow their employees to be anonymously interviewed about working conditions, benefits, and more. The audits are based on a point system and we are graded on different attributes like how we handle paid time off, health insurance, break times, lunch times, whether or not we provide a private nursing/breast-pumping room, etc.
Mountain Rose Herbs has been certified For Life (and Fair for Life) since 2010. To maintain our certification, we commit to annual onsite evaluations so that auditors can confirm our continued compliance with the core aspects and requirements of the program. This means that every year, not only are our operations evaluated, our employees get to speak their minds anonymously to impartial auditors about what it’s like to work for Mountain Rose Herbs.
In 2023, For Life auditors reviewed our management systems, bookkeeping and product flows, contracts and payroll, employee handbooks and policies, etc. They also performed an on-site visit, toured the facilities to assess our operations, and privately interviewed personnel and producers who work with us. After the audit, an annual report is compiled based on their observations and discussions, and then we have a follow-up meeting to review any corrective action they felt was warranted.
We are proud to report that in 2023, we received our highest score to date! See the table below to view our most recent FL and FFL ratings, and view past results on our FFL Mountain Rose Herbs profile.
Looking ahead to 2024, we have even loftier goals. We will of course continue to improve working conditions for MRH employees, support existing valued relationships, and report on all the great things the program makes possible. In addition, we will expand our FFL product line by working with new vendors and offering products that represent a low risk of exploitation to workers and the environment. This is only a small sneak peek of what's ahead for Mountain Rose Herbs, so please stay tuned for more!
You may also be interested in:
Topics: Inside Mountain Rose Herbs, Sustainability
Ashley Bonn is the Sustainability Communications Specialist for Mountain Rose Herbs. She is deeply passionate about social and ecological justice and has several years of experience in community building. Her sustainability journey began after completing an International Business program and studying abroad in South America, where she became inspired to learn more about equitable practices for regenerative living. In 2016, Ashley moved to Portland, Oregon where she completed a Master’s Degree in Sustainability Leadership and worked for several nonprofit organizations. After living in Portland for seven years, she left the busy city and moved to Eugene to deepen her connection with the land. Ashley enjoys hiking, snowboarding, exploring new places, and seeing live music in her free time.
