First Fair Toys Seal Awarded
Two companies receive the seal for responsibility in toy production
The Fair Toys Organization (FTO) has awarded its seal for social and environmental responsibility in toy production for the first time. From now on, the companies heunec and plasticant mobilo are allowed to display the seal on their products. They highly meet the criteria of the Fair Performance Check (FPC). With this, the FTO evaluates the commitment of toy manufacturers regarding their social and environmental responsibility in their supply chains.
In the supply chains of the toy industry, labor rights violations and negative environmental impacts are frequently observed. Often, customers do not know under what conditions a toy was produced. To bring about improvements in this regard, the FTO was founded. Maik Pflaum, labor rights expert at the Romero Initiative and board member of the FTO, explains: "The assessments by the FTO provide more transparency in the toy industry and therefore support labor rights. To achieve significant improvements, the companies that have been waiting on the sidelines must now also get on board."
In a pilot phase, heunec and plasticant mobilo initially underwent the FPC. Now, the review of all other member companies will follow. The FTO informs about the results with public reports for each company, and companies that perform very well receive the seal.
The FPC is based on the core elements of human rights due diligence, which also underlie the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. "With the FPC, there is a comprehensive tool for embedding human rights due diligence and its credible verification. The collaborative development and assessment of criteria within the multi-stakeholder initiative FTO give the seal a unique radiance!" emphasizes business ethicist Prof. Dr. Harald Bolsinger (THWS), emphasizing the significance of the new seal.
Barbara Fehn-Dransfeld, Managing Director of heunec, reports on the path to the seal: "We didn't come up with this overnight; we've been working on some processes for many years. We are all the more delighted with this award. At the same time, we want to emphasize that FTO companies currently undergoing the FPC deserve recognition. Even if their results may not yet be sufficient for the seal, they invest resources in voluntary evaluation and are open to feedback and development." Sven Grabosch, Managing Director of plasticant mobilo, adds: "We have been concerned about our responsibility as a company for a long time. We value the FPC as a helpful tool for reflection and improving our processes."
As a multi-stakeholder initiative, the FTO works with representatives from the toy industry and civil society on an equal footing, jointly pursuing the goal of improving social and environmental standards in the toy industry. The work of the Fair Toys Organization is currently significantly supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The Fair Toys seal for social and ecological responsibility in toy production. Responsibility in Toy Production Further information on the seal: siegel.fair-toys.org
Photos of the award ceremony and more information on the FTO and its members: www.fair-toys.org
Source: FTO Press release (German version)
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