The lack of transparency in most mainstream body cares
supply chains makes it virtually impossible for consumers to know if the
bathroom/personal care products they buy were produced following
environmentally and socially sustainable methods.
Indochine Natural, as Malaysia’s first and only certified Fair
Trade company with its certification by the Netherlands based World Fair Trade
Organization (WFTO), changes many conventional business practices. Our
customers are becoming part of an increasing number of consumers globally who
are demanding ethically produced body care products.
The key here is transparency, and the
ability to trace products from the retail shelf to their origin in order to
avoid anonymity and, as a consequence, human rights, labor and environmental
infringements. This traceability enhances the confidence of the consumers in their
intention to support sustainable development of communities in developing
countries.
What does this mean in practical terms
for Indochine Natural customers? Our production facility and records are open
to public scrutiny, and visitors are welcome to inspect our facilities and talk
with workers. We have absolute transparency with our partners. For example,
with the group of intellectually disabled who produce our eco-friendly generalhousehold cleaning liquid we pay them above the price they requested to make
this product, and they are kept informed of our wholesale price to distributors
and the retail pricing so that they are fully aware of the profit margins along
each step of the supply chain. In this way, consumers can be assured that these
intellectually disabled producers are receiving a fair return for the product
they produce.
Pictured here is Indochine Natural’s Dr.
Mike on the right with our Stepping Stone staff and members who are a group of
rural based intellectually disabled producing our eco-friendly general
household cleaning liquid.
You can read more about the Indochine
Natural Fair Trade principles, producers, and employment policy HERE.
