Ethical Trade in Natural Stone 

Time: 14:00, March 8, 2010

Venue: 305 Meeting Room

Brief Introduction:

Ethical trade is becoming more and more important in Europe. Various importers of natural stone are now implementing programs to monitor and improve labour and environmental aspects of natural stone quarrying and processing throughout their international supply chains. In India important steps have been taken by importers and their Indian suppliers. In China, the issue is also taking off.

The aim of the meeting is to inform Chinese natural stone exporters about ethical trade and to inspire and motivate them to collaborate with CSR programs, such as those proposed by their buyers from abroad. The meeting would focus on issues like:

· the importance attached to ethical trade in Europe

· how other sectors have worked with CSR in international supply chains

· the state of affairs in the Chinese natural stone sector

· the views of European and Chinese companies on CSR

This information meeting will be organised by three organisations from Europe, in collaboration with the Xiamen Stone Fair. The European organisations are:

1. WGDN - Working Group on Sustainable Natural Stone, based in the Netherlands. WGDN, composed of Dutch and Belgian natural stone companies, NGO's and trade unions, works towards an international label for sustainable natural stone (www.duurzamenatuursteen.nl/en/page/home).

2. ETI - Ethical Trading Initiative. ETI works with companies, NGOs and trade unions in partnership to improve the working lives of people across the globe. ETI runs a working group on natural stone, in which UK importers discuss approaches towards ethical trade in natural stone (www.ethicaltrade.org).

3. WiN=WiN, is a German consultancy specialised in CSR. With various stone trading companies, they work on improving labour and environmental aspects of stone quarrying and processing, with certification by the Fair Stone Label. (www.fairstone.win--win.com)

The organisations are also in contact with similar initiatives, natural stone trading companies, and sector associations in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, which are also interested in discussing with Chinese companies possible strategies towards more “sustainability” in the natural stone sector.

Please confirm your participation by sending an e-mail to Frans Papma, mentioning “Ethical Trade Meeting”, company name and the names of participants