Six U.S. rug makers join GoodWeave, pledge to avoid child labor

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 21, 2013

WASHINGTON — Six more U.S. rug companies have joined GoodWeave to commit to a child-labor-free supply chain for production of their products, certifying their rugs as ethically made, the organization announced.

The newly added companies are è bella, NOA Living, Tibetan Karma Carpets, Lindstrom Rugs, Mia Muratori and Co. and Somace Design.

GoodWeave is an international nonprofit organization that works to end child labor in the carpet and rug industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in weaving communities in India, Nepal and Afghanistan. It monitors and inspects production to ensure that only workers of legal age are employed, and this year is implementing an expanded production standard that includes improving adult working conditions and lessening impact on the environment.

GoodWeave uses a market-based model to achieve its goals by licensing U.S. and European importers and their exporters in South Asia that commit to the standard. Each GoodWeave rug carries a label with a number that can be traced through the supply chain, certifying that the rug was made free of child labor.

Since 1995, 11 million rugs bearing the GoodWeave label have been sold worldwide, and the number of "carpet kids" has dropped from 1 million to 250,000, the group said.

"We're proud of all the companies that have stepped forward to take a stand for children in weaving communities," said Nina Smith, executive director of GoodWeave USA. "They make it easier for consumers to find rugs they can buy with a clear conscience, and bring us closer to our vision of a child-labor-free industry."

With the recent additions, GoodWeave USA now licenses nearly 100 North American importers.