Getting approved as a Green Marketplace vendor

Ethical Badge

Definition

Evidence required

Artisan Made

Small vendors and artisans are eligible for this badge when they provide evidence that their products are hand-made by local, named producers and that those producers receive at least 50% of the retail price.

Standard vendor: Details of resale arrangements with local product producers, which clearly show that:

• The product is hand-made by local producer(s), AND
• The producer(s) receive at least 50% of the retail price of the product, AND
• The producer(s) are clearly named and promoted by the vendor in any product listings or associated sales material.

Small vendor: Evidence of production processes clearly showing that the product is hand-made locally by the vendor.

Carbon Conscious

Vendors with this badge are taking active steps to reduce or neutralise their carbon footprint, and have shown this through a trusted external certification process or a robust climate action plan.

Standard vendor: Has received at least one of the following certifications:

• Toitū carbonreduce
• Toitū net carbonzero
• Toitū climate positive
• Ekos Net Zero Carbon Lite
• Ekos Net Zero Carbon
• Other comparable certification

Small vendor: Completed MBIE Climate Action Plan and details of steps taken to implement plan.

Empowering Workers

These vendors operate on a model that gives all workers an opportunity to have a stake in decision-making. These vendors may be an established worker co-op or operate share schemes that are accessible to all employees.

• Shows evidence that vendor is an established worker co-op, OR
• Shows evidence for all of the following:
  • that vendor operates an employee share scheme which is accessible to all employees
  • that a majority of employees participate in the scheme
  • that shareholding employees are empowered to participate in decision-making

Fair Trade

Vendors with this badge only engage with overseas producers who embrace fair trade principles, ensuring everyone involved in production is paid a fair price.

• Products are certified under one or more of the following:
  • Fairtrade Mark
  • Fair for Life
  • Fair trade USA
  • Good Weave
  • Other comparable certification OR
• Vendor is a member of the World Fair Trade Organisation or another comparable organisation

Giving Back

These vendors support their communities by regularly investing in social enterprise or charities.

• Details of charitable donations or social enterprise investments made annually, including information on the nature and purpose the organisations and initiatives supported demonstrating alignment with the Green Marketplace values, AND/OR
• Details of Mindful Money certified responsible investment funds the vendor invests in, AND
• Supporting evidence of social enterprise investment or charitable donation transactions, to the total value of at least the higher of either:
  • $1000, OR
  • 1% of annual profits

Living Wage

Vendors with this badge are accredited Living Wage employers, so all their staff can thrive, not just survive.

Is a Living Wage accredited employer.

NZ Made

These vendors make their products here in Aotearoa New Zealand, including all key components and materials.

Standard vendor:

• Buy NZ Made licence

Small vendor:

• Documents and images of production process showing that all key materials and components are produced, grown, or manufactured in Aotearoa including final assembly.

Organic

This badge shows that a vendor's products are certified as organic.

Product has received one or more of the following certifications:

• BioGro
• AsureQuality Organic Certified
• IFOAM Accreditation
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certification
• Biodynamics New Zealand Demeter Certification
• Natrue Certification
• Cosmos Organics Certification
• Organic Content Standard 100 Certification
• Other comparable certification

Social Enterprise

These vendors have been certified as serving a greater environmental or social mission, which they prioritise before profit.

Has received at least one of the following certifications:

• B Corp Certification
• Ākina Impact Certification

Socially Inclusive

These vendors are proactive about being inclusive and welcoming employers, and have taken steps to receive at least one trusted external accreditation.

Has received at least one of the following certifications:

• Rainbow Tick
• Pride Pledge Certified
• Accessibility Tick
• Youbeyou Certification
• GenderTick
• Diversity Works Workplace Inclusion Professional Accreditation
• Mind the Gap (registered and actively reporting)

Sustainably Sourced

Vendors with this badge are contributing to a more sustainable world by offering products that are free from materials that contribute to habitat loss, species extinction, or resource degradation.

Product is certified under any of the following that may be applicable:

• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
• Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
• Rainforest Alliance
• Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (excluding Greenpalm)
• Better Cotton Initiative
• Cotton Made in Africa
• Responsible Wool Standard
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
• Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) - Bluesign
• Oekotex Standard 100
• Other comparable certification

Toi Māori

These vendors are owned by and/or actively support and promote Toi Māori artists and craftspeople.

• The product or service embodies kaupapa Māori principles AND
  • The vendor is Māori-owned and operated OR
  • The producer(s) are Māori AND both
    • receive at least 50% of the retail price of the product
    • are clearly named and promoted by the vendor in any product listings or associated sales material

Transparent Trader

Transparent Traders are committed to public transparency to allow customers to make informed choices. This can include publishing details of their processes and materials, supply chains, or pay scales for staff.

Transparent publicly available information (i.e. on website) on one or more of the following:

• Pay scales for staff
• Processes and materials used in production
• Detailed material/ingredient supply chains

Vegan

This badge shows that the vendor's products don't contain any ingredients derived from, or tested on animals.

Standard vendor: Product is certified under one or more of the following:

• NZVS Vegan Certified
• NZAVS Cruelty Free Guide
• Listed on A Guide to Vegan directory
• Other comparable certification OR
• Evidence provided that product meets ISO 23662:2021

Small vendor: Documented production process showing that all ingredients and processes are free of animal-derived or animal-tested products.

Waste Minimisation

These vendors have systems in place to minimise the impact of waste from their production and packaging, and have show evidence for how they do this.

• An estimate of the number of kilograms of waste diverted from landfill every year as a result of your waste reduction practices, AND
• Documentation to support your estimate, which may include (but is not limited to):
  • Recycling: Details of recycling collector, recyclables collected, size/number of bins, and how often emptied per week.
  • Composting: Provide details of compost collector, size/number of bins, and how often emptied per week.
  • Reusables and Compostables: Estimated quantity and type of disposable items avoided each week through use of reusables or compostables in your workplace, details of reusable or compostable packaging used in products.
  • Circular Economy: Provide details of initiatives and your contribution and participation in them