GoodWeave is a global, not-for-profit organisation which is responsible for operating the GoodWeave certification programme internationally.
Our Mission is to work to end illegal child labour in the rug industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia.
The problem of child labour in South Asia's hand made rug industry became world-wide news in the 1990s, consumer interest in hand made rugs fell sharply. This drop in demand meant that abject poverty became a reality for the families and communities who relied on making rugs for their income.
Our initiative was created in India in 1994 – as the rug industry's own initiative – to provide independent, ethical accreditation that not only reassured consumers, but also provided better training and conditions for workers in the handmade rug industry. Since 1994, over 6 million labelled rugs have been exported to Europe and North America.
So far, our programmes have rescued over 3,000 children from working the looms, and prevented thousands more from entering the factories. Those rescued from working are reunited with their families, or taken to live at one of our sponsored rehabilitation centres.
We also run vital educational and welfare programmes for poor weaving families and their children – providing pre-school day care for small children who would otherwise spend their days hanging around factories waiting for their parents to finish work.
By buying rugs and carpets bearing the GoodWeave label, you can be sure they were not made by under-age children working illegally.