FAQs
About the GoodWeave Label
What does the GoodWeave label replace?
Is the RugMark label still valid?
Is RugMark Foundation USA also changing its name?
Has the mission of RugMark changed?
How is the GoodWeave label different from the RugMark label?
Why is RugMark changing the label it puts on rugs?
I'm a RugMark donor. Should my donations be made to RugMark, or to GoodWeave?
About GoodWeave Certification and ISEAL
How is RugMark working with ISEAL to create standards for the GoodWeave label?
What does it mean to say you’re developing better standards?
Were the existing standards inadequate? When will the new standards be final?
What is the loom inspection process?
Do looms and importers pay a fee to use the GoodWeave label?
About RugMark
Who founded RugMark, and when?
What are some of RugMark's successes?
About Purchasing a Certified GoodWeave Rug
How can I be sure my rug wasn’t made with child labor?
Will I pay more for a GoodWeave certified rug?
Is there a difference in quality in a GoodWeave certified rug?
Where can I buy GoodWeave certified rugs?
What if I'm working with an interior designer, architect or local carpet dealer?
About Child Labor
What is the economic impact of child labor?
Isn’t it true that children in poor countries must work to feed themselves and their families?
Aren’t children allowed to work in some countries?
Isn’t carpet weaving less dangerous than working with machinery or chemicals as some children do?
If children are forced to leave carpet weaving, won’t they turn to crime or prostitution?
Industry FAQs
How can selling GoodWeave certified rugs improve my business?
Is the demand for GoodWeave certified rugs expanding?
How does the GoodWeave certification process work?
Who carries GoodWeave certified rugs?
What’s the difference between GoodWeave and other labeling initiatives?
What is the importer’s financial relationship with GoodWeave?
How do I become a GoodWeave licensed importer?
How do I source GoodWeave rugs for my showroom?
How will being a GoodWeave Marketing Partner support my sales?
About the GoodWeave Label
The GoodWeave label represents an important step in RugMark’s evolution.
GoodWeave is the new name and label, publicly introduced in September 2009, for the certification program administered by RugMark. The GoodWeave label is your best assurance that only adult artisans-not children-made your beautiful rug.
What does the GoodWeave label replace?
The GoodWeave label replaces the RugMark label on all rugs certified as of August 2009.
Is the RugMark label still valid?
Rugs shipped before August 2009 will bear the RugMark label. They are still for sale from many retailers and showrooms, and that certification remains valid. All of the RugMark labels are expected to be phased out by 2011, when only the GoodWeave label will appear in the marketplace.
Is RugMark Foundation USA also changing its name?
RugMark International and RugMark Foundation USA will continue to function as always, overseeing the GoodWeave certification program and fulfilling the mission of eliminating child labor and improving conditions in the carpet industry. Only the brand of the rug labeling and certification program is changing.
Has the mission of RugMark changed?
No. The GoodWeave certification program is part of a long-term organizational strategy to strengthen certification through more rigorous and transparent standards and encourage greater social and environmental responsibility in all facets of the carpet industry.
The new label will provide a strong platform for future expansion of GoodWeave’s programs and mission, but the core purpose remains the elimination of child labor and providing opportunities for children and families affected by illegal child labor.
How is the GoodWeave label different from the RugMark label?
The GoodWeave label looks different, with a new name and an updated logo and typeface. Both labels assure the buyer that the rug was made by adult artisans, not child labor, through inspection of looms and legally binding contracts with rug-making facilities.
As RugMark introduces the GoodWeave label, it does so as a new member of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance (ISEAL). ISEAL offers guidance on good practices for progressive organizations involved in standard-setting for social change. RugMark International is strengthening its standards and systems in compliance with ISEAL guidelines. See additional information in the section below regarding ISEAL.
Why is RugMark changing the label it puts on rugs?
The GoodWeave label represents an important step in RugMark’s evolution. RugMark is responding to increasing awareness of social and economic issues in textiles with a more sophisticated standards program that will also allow the organization to continue its growth. While child labor is the most pressing and immediate issue to be addressed in the carpet industry, broader ethical, labor and environmental issues also require responsible responses. The GoodWeave label will also enable RugMark to incorporate other textile products into one certification program in the future.
Finally, the new label has a contemporary new look and a name that reflects RugMark’s mission in the world of ethically produced textiles.
I’m a RugMark donor. Should my donations be made to RugMark, or to GoodWeave?
In the United States and Canada, donations should be made to RugMark Foundation USA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Visit www.RugMark.net for information on other offices of RugMark International.
About GoodWeave Certification and ISEAL
RugMark International is an Associate Member of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance (ISEAL), founded in 2001 to define and codify good practices in standard-setting for progressive change. ISEAL defines its associate members as “organizations that are in the process of meeting requirements for good practice in either their international standard-setting or international accreditation practices and that have committed to the ISEAL Alliance Code of Ethics.”
How is RugMark working with ISEAL to create standards for the GoodWeave label?
ISEAL provides guidance and models for standards that are meaningful, rigorous, transparent, developed using input from all stakeholders and have effective complaint mechanisms, among other qualities. RugMark’s standards are in process for full compliance with the ISEAL framework.
RugMark began in 1994 as a small organization serving critical and immediate needs in the carpet industry. Since then, RugMark has helped thousands of children and families, but there’s much more work to do. Simultaneously, consumers have become more sensitive to marketplace claims and want assurances that a label means what it says. To meet these expectations and to continue to grow and serve more children, families and communities, RugMark is in the process of updating and strengthening its standards to meet contemporary best practices.
Under the guidance of ISEAL, RugMark aims to strengthen its standards to meet the toughest tests of clarity, rigor and transparency; to be attentive to the needs of all stakeholders; to encourage rather than create barriers to change; and to establish effective complaint mechanisms that will speedily rectify any failures in oversight. Standards in development are to undergo a multi-stakeholder consultation process that is scheduled to come to completion in mid-2010.
What is the loom inspection process?
To receive GoodWeave certification, carpet looms agree to be monitored regularly and inspected at random by GoodWeave inspectors. Looms are registered with the monitoring and inspections office, and each finished rug includes a number on the GoodWeave label allowing end purchasers to track and verify its origin.
Do looms and importers pay a fee to use the GoodWeave label?
Manufacturers and importers pay associated licensing fees that fund the GoodWeave program. Retailer and showroom marketing partners also pay fees for participation in the GoodWeave program in the countries where rugs are sold. Fees support GoodWeave’s education programs and other community initiatives for former child weavers and their families, the inspection and certification process and other operational costs, including the GoodWeave consumer education campaign.
About RugMark
The mission of RugMark, the organization that implements the GoodWeave program, is to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia.
RugMark rescues children directly from the looms and strives to deter the illegal employment and exploitation of other children through the GoodWeave program. RugMark inspects and certifies carpet-weaving facilities and authorizes use of the GoodWeave label on rugs made at looms meeting GoodWeave standards. The certification program helps fund educational opportunities for children as well as support and resources for families and weaving communities.
In the United States, RugMark USA operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping to build awareness of child labor and other ethical issues in the carpet industry. It informs, educates and partners with designers, architects, retailers, importers and all who love beautiful rugs. RugMark promotes and publicizes the GoodWeave label as the purchaser’s best assurance that their rug was made only by adult artisans. RugMark provides sales and media support for its designer, importer and retailer members.
Who founded RugMark, and when?
RugMark was founded by Kailash Satyarthi, then Chairman of the South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude. After many years of rescuing Indian children from bonded labor in the carpet industry, only to see them replaced by others, Satyarthi wanted to create a market incentive for manufacturers to stop exploiting children on an industry-wide basis.
RugMark was formally established in 1994 by a coalition of nongovernmental organizations, businesses, government entities and multilateral groups like UNICEF. The first carpets bearing the RugMark label were exported from India at the beginning of 1995, mainly to Germany. Since then, more than five million carpets have been sold through the RugMark program. The GoodWeave label was introduced in mid-2009 to replace the RugMark label.
What are some of RugMark’s successes?
Through a combination of forces including RugMark’s efforts, illegal child labor in the carpet industry has dropped by an estimated 70 percent since RugMark was founded in 1994. RugMark has directly rescued several thousand children and deterred the employment of many thousands more. It has helped to build awareness by shining a spotlight on child labor, the hidden tragedy of the carpet industry. Though there is much more work to be done, RugMark’s efforts are making it more difficult for looms to profit by selling luxury goods made by exploited children.
Once children are freed from the looms, RugMark makes every effort to reunite them with their families. RugMark runs its own education and rehabilitation facilities, and it partners with other organizations to support children’s education. Other initiatives help create strong, financially independent communities by providing health clinics, adult literacy programs and worker health and training seminars.
RugMark International has field operations and offices in India and Nepal and national initiatives in the United States (also serving Canada), England (also serving Ireland) and Germany.
Designers, importers and retailers are invited to sell GoodWeave certified rugs and join RugMark as members and marketing partners.
Interior designers and consumers should insist on the GoodWeave label and help spread the word about the importance of choosing rugs made by adult artisans. The Purchase a Rug section includes profiles of GoodWeave’s retail partners, a gallery of featured rugs, rug-buying tips, a list of online shopping options and a searchable directory of showrooms and retailers.
RugMark Foundation USA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that depends on generous donors, in addition to foundation grants and membership fees, to continue its work. Any donation amount is welcome and appreciated and helps to give more opportunities to children in Asia. Please visit the Donate page to make a gift easily and in any amount. RugMark is also honored to have been selected for the Combined Federal Campaign, a workplace charity fund drive for members of the Armed Forces, U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Government; see www.GoodWeave.org/index.php?pid=201 for details.
About Purchasing a Certified GoodWeave Rug
How can I be sure my rug wasn’t made with child labor?
Ask and look for the certified and numbered GoodWeave label on the back of the rug. It’s your best assurance that no children were exploited in the production process. You can verify your GoodWeave rug online at www.GoodWeave.org/trace.php?cid=51 and trace its origin. Until 2011, you may still see the former RugMark label on imported rugs; this label is equivalent to the new GoodWeave label.
Will I pay more for a GoodWeave certified rug?
We estimate that the cost to the consumer is typically no more than half a percent of the total retail price. On a $2,000 rug, that comes to about $10. Certified GoodWeave rugs are available in many price ranges to fit your budget.
Is there a difference in quality in a GoodWeave certified rug?
Rugs that are made with experienced, adult hands are of a higher quality and more beautifully woven, since fine detail work takes years of practice and the patience of an adult weaver. GoodWeave members include some of the world’s finest designers of handmade rugs, and certified rugs grace many prestigious venues including the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the home of actor Kelsey Grammer and the Apollo offices of Time Warner in New York.
Where can I buy GoodWeave certified rugs?
In the Purchase a Rug section you’ll find images of member rugs, profiles and searchable directories of member retailers, importers and designers, and links to their individual websites. Many of GoodWeave’s members have extensive inventory and can also create custom rugs.
What if I’m working with an interior designer, architect or local carpet dealer?
Ask them to show you rugs with the GoodWeave label (or rugs in existing inventory with the RugMark label). Your interior designer or architect can view GoodWeave’s virtual showroom or find conveniently located showrooms.
About Child Labor
The International Labour Organization (ILO) recognizes child labor as work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally harmful to children. Instead of going to school and experiencing childhood, 218 million children around the world are involved in this type of work.1
Of those an estimated 250,000 children in India, Nepal and Pakistan are spending long days at the looms, working in poor conditions. In addition to interfering with child development and education, child labor also drives down adult wages, keeping communities trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.
Of the total number of children working, 126 million are engaged in the worst forms of child labor, defined in ILO Convention 182 as “work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children,” such as bonded labor, extremely hazardous work and other work that separates children from their families.
What is the economic impact of child labor?
Ending illegal child labor would help the global economy. The ILO’s 2003 Investing in Every Child report shows that it would cost $760 billion over a 20-year period to end child labor. The estimated benefit in terms of better education and health is more than six times that—over $5 trillion in economies where child laborers are found.2
Isn’t it true that children in poor countries must work to feed themselves and their families?
Child weavers often work as bonded laborers and never see a penny for their work. Those who are paid make far less than adult weavers, and adult weavers make less in environments where child labor is used because child labor drives down wages. 1,3
Aren’t children allowed to work in some countries?
Child labor is illegal in India and Nepal, where GoodWeave certification efforts are based.
Sometimes children working at home are worse off. It’s easier for inspectors to enforce fair labor standards in a factory setting than in the privacy of a home. Anything can be hidden behind closed doors. It is legal for children to work in the home, as long as they attend school full-time and are not working against their will.
Isn’t carpet weaving less dangerous than working with machinery or chemicals as some children do?
The health of child carpet weavers is very poor. Many develop respiratory illnesses, spinal deformities, impaired vision and cuts and wounds from sharp tools. Many sleep on the floor next to the carpet looms and are fed only one meal a day. This leads to malnutrition and stunted mental and physical development. 3, 4, 5
If children are forced to leave carpet weaving, won’t they turn to crime or prostitution?
We ensure that rescued children have an opportunity to go to school. When they’re old enough, children rehabilitated by GoodWeave have the opportunity to learn a trade if they’d like to.
Child laborers in the handmade rug industry typically aren't learning the craft of carpet weaving. They are usually given the most mundane, repetitious tasks because they’re too young to execute complex designs.
Industry FAQs
How can selling GoodWeave certified rugs improve my business?
Importing, selling or specifying GoodWeave rugs is an excellent way to distinguish your business and capitalize on the growing market of consumers who are interested in buying socially responsible products. You'll also have the satisfaction of knowing you're helping end illegal child labor.
Is the demand for GoodWeave certified rugs expanding?
In the past three years alone, sales of GoodWeave rugs have increased by nearly 100 percent. The estimated retail sales for GoodWeave’s North American network of 60-plus licensed importers and 1,500 retailers totaled over $35 million. In 2008, U.S. handmade rug imports dropped 19 percent, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission, while sales of our certified rugs grew 22 percent. Meanwhile, the market for socially responsible goods overall has skyrocketed to an estimated 65 million consumers, or 23 percent of the U.S. adult population.
How does the GoodWeave certification process work?
GoodWeave recruits carpet producers and importers to make and sell carpets without the use of illegal child labor. By agreeing to adhere to GoodWeave's strict no-child-labor guidelines, permitting random inspections of carpet looms and paying associated license fees, producers receive the right to put the GoodWeave label on their carpets. The label provides the best possible assurance that children were not employed in the making of a rug. It also verifies that a portion of the carpet price is contributed to the rehabilitation and education of former child weavers. In North America, only licensed GoodWeave importers are legally permitted to sell carpets carrying the GoodWeave label. For more information, visit our Child-Labor-Free Certification page.
Who carries GoodWeave certified rugs?
GoodWeave rugs are available at approximately 1,500 showroom and retail locations throughout North America and through several online stores. To search our showroom and retail locations by name or zip code, click here.
For rugs sourced from India and Nepal––two countries where GoodWeave works and where the illegal child labor problem is most serious—the GoodWeave label offers the best possible assurance that no child labor was used. There are many beautiful rugs produced in other countries that are not part of GoodWeave but that might be involved with other social responsibility projects. Our current retailers tell us that their positive association with GoodWeave actually enhances sales of their entire rug inventory.
What’s the difference between GoodWeave and other labeling initiatives?
There are other “child-labor-free” labels on some rugs. GoodWeave is the only independent monitoring and inspection program working in India and Nepal. The other labels might represent organizations running social programs, but these programs are philanthropic in scope, do not include random inspections and are administered by the industry itself rather than by an independent nonprofit. Rug exporters simply pay a fee to these organizations to receive “no child labor” labels without actual inspections in their factories/loom sheds. These labels do not provide the same level of assurance as the GoodWeave label.
In addition, GoodWeave represents everyone involved in the South Asian carpet industry: manufacturers, importers, exporters, retailers and consumers. The GoodWeave program is funded by a variety of sources and is free from influence by any particular industry segment or individual government. Other labeling initiatives tend to represent single interest groups that see things from their own perspective and have their own agenda. GoodWeave has many voices but only one agenda: moving all South Asian child carpet weavers from looms to schools.
What is the importer’s financial relationship with GoodWeave?
GoodWeave is administered by RugMark International. By signing the RugMark Foundation License Agreement, importers agree to pay RugMark USA a 1.75 percent royalty on the net import value (FOB price) of carpet shipments on a quarterly basis. RugMark USA is contractually bound to return more than half of this amount to its overseas offices to be spent on the education and rehabilitation of former child laborers. The additional amount covers the marketing expenses of RugMark USA.
How do I become a GoodWeave licensed importer?
Importers are the backbone of the GoodWeave program. Out of the small royalty fee on carpets paid by licensed importers, 60 percent is returned to South Asia to educate and train former child weavers. The balance of the fees helps to build consumer awareness about the importance of purchasing certified rugs. In the United States, only licensed importers are legally permitted to sell carpets carrying the GoodWeave label. To view a sample agreement, click here. To receive a complete copy of the agreement, contact us toll-free at 1-866-784-6275 or info@GoodWeave.org.
How do I source GoodWeave rugs for my showroom?
Rugs from more than 60 importers carry the GoodWeave label. By selling rugs from these companies, you can represent the finest carpets available while offering your clients the best possible assurance that they were made under ethical conditions and without child labor. A complete list of brands is available here.
How will being a GoodWeave Marketing Partner support my sales?
As a GoodWeave Marketing Partner, you can help end child labor in the carpet industry and promote your reputation for social responsibility. You will receive point-of-sale materials and publicity support with consumer and trade media. You will also benefit from GoodWeave’s extensive promotion of its partner retailers to interior designers, importers and consumers. For more information, contact Partners@GoodWeave.org.
Many importers and manufacturers are supporting schools and other programs in weaving communities. But with the prevalence of child labor in hand weaving, the random, surprise inspections conducted by GoodWeave are the best way to know that only adults were involved with production.
References
- International Labour Organization. The End of Child Labour: Within Reach. Geneva: ILO, 2006. View online »
- International Labour Organization, International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour. Investing in Every Child. Geneva: ILO, 2003. View online »
- UNICEF. State of the World’s Children 1997. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997. View online »
- US Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs. By the Sweat and Toil of Children, Vol. I. Washington, DC: DOL, ILAB, 1994. View online »
- Parker, D.L. Before Their Time: The World of Child Labor. New York: Quantuck Lane, 2007.
- UNICEF. Child Labor Facts. Accessed August 2009 View online »
Partner with GoodWeave
By participating in the GoodWeave program, interior designers, retailers and importers can make a difference while growing their business.
Children's Stories
At the age of five, Manju was already working on the rug looms. While she has since been found and freed from illegal carpet work, some 250,000 children throughout South Asia still toil in obscurity. Through GoodWeave more than 3,600 kids like Manju have been rescued, rehabilitated and educated, and thousands more deterred from entering the work force.
More Stories »
