Jubilee chocolate for fair carpet trade

Since 1995, Label STEP is involved in fair conditions in production and trade of handmade carpets. These 15 years of fair carpet trade stand for functioning economic partnerships and cultural exchange. With a specially created jubilee chocolate Label STEP points to the results in fair carpet trade. The Zotter chocolates with rose blossoms and Alpine milk reflect the subject “Orient meets Occident” in a particularly delightful way – and of course carries the Fairtrade seal of quality.

The fair trade organization Label STEP was founded in autumn 1995 by development aid agencies and the carpet industry in Switzerland. Since that time, Label STEP has established itself internationally as a driving force for better working and living conditions in the carpet industry. 15 years of fair carpet trade have contributed to the fact that hundreds of thousands of people in the environment of carpet production in Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kyrghyzstan, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan and Turkey can enjoy their life a little bit more.

Numerous small and big improvements of the terms of employment and the gradual rise of the wages of the carpet weavers can be counted as milestones. In the course of the years Label STEP has continuously extended its network in the carpet industry and has developed partnerships. Today, Label STEP reaches about 450 enterprises which are active in production, export and import of handmade carpets. These 450 contacts make it possible for Label STEP to get in contact with hundreds of thousands of carpet workers.

Together with local partners the base for a better future could be created with projects on medical care even in remotest areas, education for children and adults, empowerment as help for self-help, child care centres and many more. Since its foundation in 1995, Label STEP has launched almost 70 projects aiming at the improvement of the living conditions of the people in the carpet industry. (Find out more about the Label STEP projects.)

The fair trade Label STEP labels carpet dealers who commit themselves to social engagement towards carpet workers. Vice Versa, they profit from long-term commercial relations, reliable suppliers, better product quality and from consumer’s trust due to their social engagement. Already today, more than 60 enterprises from five countries with about 150 sales places in eleven European countries commit to fair carpet trade. Not only do responsible consumers enhance their own home with the purchase of a fairly traded carpet. But with this, they make an active contribution to the improvement of the situation of thousands of people in the environment of carpet production. (Find a fair carpet dealer close by.)

Orient meets Occident: To draw attention to the achievements and possibilities of fair trade, Label STEP together with Fairtrade partner Zotter – the famous Austrian chocolate manufacture – has created its own jubilee chocolate which reflects the double pleasure of fair cooperation of the East and the West with rose blossoms and Alpine milk in taste as well. The Label STEP jubilee chocolate is a Labooko duo and contains two boards à 35 g in the flavors “Nicaragua 50 milk chocolate“ and “Ecuador 60 with rose blossoms“.

We give you the Label STEP jubilee chocolate as a present

Send us your jubilee message: You can write us, for example, why you love handmade carpets (– or why you don't!), what you think about fair carpet trade, or you can send us a photo of your favorite carpet … we are looking forward to every reply, via e-mail to info(at)label-step.org or on our facebook page www.facebook.com/LabelSTEP.

The first 50 replies are rewarded a Label STEP jubilee chocolate from Zotter!