October 2007 – RugMark UK, the ethical accreditation for rugs, is making its biggest ever push to get rug buyers to look for the RugMark label. The RugMark, which gives consumers confidence that their rug was not made by illegal child labour and that adults have been paid a fair wage, has re-launched under the 'Look for the label' campaign, giving the initiative much more visibility through new website, logo and point of sale materials.

The rug industry is vital to the economies of India, Nepal and Pakistan where RugMark works, as it provides employment to many thousands of people and generates much needed foreign income. The consumer boycott on rugs eleven years ago, due to child labour campaigning, seriously affected the lives of many thousands of poor people. Samantha Towle, the new Director of RugMark UK says: "We want to encourage consumer confidence in buying beautiful hand made rugs - resulting in a promising livelihood for the many highly skilled adult weavers and a sustainable rug industry. Everyone buying a rug should lift up the corner and look for our label. If it's not there we want them to ask their retailer why not."

Since 1995, over five and a half million rugs bearing the RugMark label have been exported to the USA and Europe, and more than 3,000 children have been removed from the misery of child labour, and provided with education. It is estimated that child labour in the handmade rug industry in South Asia, stands at about 300,000 - down from 1 million before the RugMark initiative launched. Samantha continues: "Our continuing presence, and programme of unannounced random factory inspections, is effective in reducing the numbers of children sent to work in the industry."

RugMark is a very successful model for social entrepreneurship. Ajay Karki, Chief Executive of RugMark Nepal says, "The rug industry is Nepal's second biggest industry and RugMark's presence here is vitally important to the future of our nation. Not only are our children being educated instead of working, but the world is also aware of our efforts to eliminate child labour."

The website www.rugmark.org.uk, gives consumers all the information they need to know about rugs, rugmaking and RugMark. The site looks at the range of welfare initiatives that RugMark runs, the traditional craft of rug making, shows rug buyers where they can buy RugMark rugs to case studies of children, rescued from working on rugs, now living happy, hopeful lives thanks to RugMark.

Ends.

Notes to editors:
1. New images from RugMark Nepal are available.
2. Images from RugMark ranges from Carpetright and The Pier available.