Handmade - Self Declared is one of the declarations under the Ekko Score Artisan & Professional Standard.
Handmade products are usually (but not always), small production and may be made at a trader's home business, like body care products, food, paper, fashion, furniture or artwork. Many handmade products are also made off shore where traders have relationships with individuals, families or communities. Look for information on the trader's website for more specific details. Handmade products are created in a traditional or non-mechanized ways, generally using high quality componentry.
Traders who produce or sell artisan goods know all product ingredients & materials and honour the craftsmanship and skill that goes into making one of a kind products.By purchasing handmade, you are supporting someone making quality items - handmade with love, creativity and uniqueness.
Handmade - Self Declared sits in the MADE Family under the Societal Standard: Artisan & Professional of Ekko Score. One set of Ekko Score points are gathered from each Family.
These are the claimable declarations & certifications under the Societal Standard: Artisan & Professional. Please note that different certifications and declarations may be relevant to each category.
Yes, where the impact of the claim is similar. This is how it works.
IMPORTANTLY, SELF DECLARATIONS ARE GOVERNED BY CONSUMER LAW. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR BUSINESSES TO MAKE FALSE CLAIMS (INCLUDING IMPLIED CLAIMS IN A CONTEXT LIKE EKKO SCORE).
EVEN IF A PRODUCT HAS A FORMAL CERTIFICATION, THAT CERTIFICATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ENTIRE INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCT'S MAKE UP.
An example might be a Handmade, Australian, Certified Organic chocolate that contains Palm Oil. Under Ekko Score, this product would claim Certified Organic and would self declare: Zero Waste Production and Australian made, but could not claim the No Palm Oil declaration. This would mean a lower score under the No Exploitation Standard, making the inclusion of Palm Oil clear to potential consumers, without detracting from its other assets.
No product is perfect, but some products are definitely better than others. Ekko Score allows you to make the best decision you can, or to put it another way, the least worst decision. And to make that decision with the confidence of not being green washed. Find out more about how Ekko Score works.