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Choosing a MEMBERSHIP Level
The Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association (FTSLA) has two basic categories of Membership: Full Members and Affiliates. The main difference is that Full Members are businesses that sign-on to the Declaration, our pledge for action in 11-key areas, and agree to report on their progress annually to the group. In return they receive tools and technical assistance to support their efforts and measure progress, and can vote for board members. Affiliates either do not meet membership criteria or choose not sign-on to the Declaration. Affiliates are welcome to participate in our educational and networking opportunities with full members, but do not receive the same tools and technical assistance and cannot vote for board members.
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Eligibility Criteria
Affiliates
- A business, organization, or individual that is 1) not eligible for Full Membership but that is supportive of the principles and mission of the FTSLA, Or 2) a business that is eligible for Full Membership but chooses not to become a signatory to the Declaration of Sustainability.
Full Members
- Must be a grower, processor/manufacturer, handler, broker, distributor or retailer in the organic food trade.
- Must have at least one certified organic product line and demonstrate a commitment to grow the percentage of their business that is organic.
- Must take steps to eliminate genetically modified food ingredients and demonstrate a commitment to eliminating GMOs in all processes and purchased materials.
- Must be a Signatory to the Declaration of Sustainability in the Organic Food Trade and commit to annual reporting in line with the declaration OWNERSHIP A business that is wholly owned or partially owned subsidiary of a larger corporation may become an Affiliate or Full Member of FTSLA so long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
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Benefits
Affiliate Benefits:
- Networking: We facilitate periodic meetings, on-line forums and communications to help members share questions, challenges, successes and best practices.
- Education: E-newsletter, periodic workshops, webinars and other valuable opportunities to learn from FTSLA staff, experts and peers.
- Advocacy: Stay updated on key issues and opportunities to advocate more effectively on areas such as organic standards, labels/certifications, policy and more
Full Member Benefits: All of the Affiliate benefits, plus the following,
- Executive Briefing: New members receive a complimentary one-hour briefing per your needs. FTSLA can arrange more extensive briefings and trainings as requested.
- Sustainability Metrics: FTSLA members report on sustainability performance using shared, industry-specific metrics, facilitating learning, benchmarking and progress.
- Member Tool Kit: This walks you through each step of sustainability programming, from strategy and goals to implementation, reporting and communications.
- Resource Guides: In-depth guides designed to help drive progress in each area of the Declaration, synthesizing the latest expert research and resources on the issues, opportunities, challenges, best practices, measurement and practical implementation.
- Consulting Program: Staff support offering resources and guidance to help you plan and implement sustainability programs. More extensive consulting can be arranged.
- Marketing/communications: Gain visibility through FTSLA communications. Learn best practices to measure and market your commitment and achievements.
- Free attendance at our webinar series.
Members Speak About FTSLA’s Benefits
Nature’s Path, 2009 Sustainability Report
“We’re challenged daily to find new ways to embody sustainability — to go “Beyond Organic." Recognizing there were others with the same burning desire to effect change, we sought out trade associations and joined the Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association (FTSLA). The FTSLA helps provide organic food trade businesses with guidelines and recommendations to run their businesses in more ecologically sound and socially responsible ways. They spent years gathering input from organic growers, distributors, processors, retailers, and certifiers in order to come up with their action plan called the ‘Declaration of Sustainability in the Organic Food Trade.’ The Declaration is an “aspirational” pledge that encourages companies to voluntarily work toward best practices in sustainability in various areas. More than just a sustainability report card, the plan helps companies find ways to improve their practices and encourages the organic food trade to inspire, challenge, and support each other in our efforts to make positive changes in our products and our planet.”
Frontier Natural Products Co-op, 2009 Sustainability Report
“Frontier Natural Products Co-op—as a member of the Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association (FTSLA)—is a signatory to the group’s “Declaration of Sustainability in the Organic Food Trade.” Prior to signing the declaration, Frontier had committed to producing a bi-annual sustainability report and interim updates in the years we do not publish a full report. Our first report followed, as much as was practical, certain international reporting standards. While this was useful in many ways, there were also a number of areas in the standards that were not relevant to our company or didn’t capture some essential sustainability issues important to the natural and organic food and personal care industry. Aligning our reporting with FTSLA requirements helps us and other companies in our industry to establish common metrics and benchmarks that will help all of us to become more sustainable.”
Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative, 2009 Sustainability Report
“In August of 2008, Organic Valley joined with 18 mission-aligned companies in the organic and natural food industry to pledge our commitment to continual improvement in 11 areas of sustainability: organic, climate change, energy, distribution, labor, packaging, water, waste, animal care, consumer education, and governance. The partnership is unique in that these businesses are industry competitors who have come together on an issue that is vital to us all: sustainability. In this non-threatening cooperative venture, these trend-setting businesses have engaged in a dialogue in which they’ve established the 11 areas on which businesses must report (though not all at once). From this baseline, they will work together so that all group members will be able to report on their sustainability performance and share and compare resources and results along the way.”