1986 saw the start of Naturland’s international projects, in collaboration with GEPA. In the years following, the fair trade organisations dwp and BanaFair became Naturland partners. The ensuing topics and challenges found their expression in many areas of Naturland’s work. The incorporation of significantly elaborated social standards into Naturland’s standards and finally the adaptation of fair trade criteria to the conditions prevailing in Germany were a logical consequence of this co-operation. In 2006 the first German processors who procured their raw goods from local sources were adjudicated for conformity with the “Naturland Criteria for Fair Trade Partnerships“ and commended for their fair business methods.

Together with the fair trade organisations, Naturland pursued the development of its criteria. The Naturland fair trade standards now produced are on the one hand a natural consequence of Naturland’s historical development and are the logical result of a long process of evolution. They define and expand on their precursor, the “Naturland Criteria for Fair Trade Partnerships”.  On the other hand they are based on the definition of FINE and the core principles of the fair trade organisations as they are described in the “Charter of Principles for Fair Trade” (WFTO and FLO 2009).

This far reaching decision to institute Naturland certification to fair trade standards was made in consequence of Naturland’s explicit intention to send a clear signal to society – and to the trading community. The work farmers do is of immense value. By offering certification to fair trade standards, Naturland aims to encourage processors and the trade to put the values laid down in the standards into practice and to get this message over to their customers. For Naturland, fair trade is not just a question of price but also includes the effect an enterprise has and the motivation it can give to its suppliers – the farmers -, its trading partners, its own employees and to society in general.