CARE & FAIR is an international initiative within the European rug and carpet industry, built on voluntary membership and a shared sense of responsibility. Founded in 1994, the organisation today brings together approximately 320 members worldwide. Through their joint efforts, CARE & FAIR supports educational and social projects in India and Pakistan, including schools, adult education centres and childcare facilities.
Membership is based on a commitment to ethical production and improved living conditions within the carpet industry.
Membership in CARE & FAIR reflects a long-term engagement in promoting responsible production and opposing illegal child labour. Through this commitment, members contribute to initiatives aimed at improving working conditions and supporting families within weaving communities in India and Pakistan.
Access to education is a central focus of CARE & FAIR’s work. One important initiative is the sponsorship of local schools that provide regular education for the children of weavers.
One such school is located in the village of Chaksikhari in India, where more than 340 children attend school on a daily basis. By covering operational costs, these initiatives help ensure continuity in education and provide children with opportunities for a safer and more stable future.
CARE & FAIR members commit to a set of production and purchasing principles designed to safeguard workers, their families and local communities. These principles include:
Prohibition of bonded and forced labour
Safe and decent working conditions
Compliance with local labour laws and regulations
Access to regular schooling for workers’ children
Provision of basic medical care for workers and their families
Payment of at least the legal minimum wage
These standards form the foundation for socially responsible rug production.
Supporting women in local communities is another key focus area. CARE & FAIR has established women’s empowerment programmes in several villages, addressing the challenges faced by women who lack access to education and economic opportunities.
Through these programmes, women are offered basic education in reading, writing and mathematics, as well as practical skills such as sewing and hand stitching. These skills provide opportunities for generating income or supporting their own households, contributing to increased independence and improved living conditions.
We represent carefully selected rug and textile producers, supplying leading brands and projects across the Nordic countries.