FairTrace

FairTrace is a mobile + web app that lets shoppers and small food businesses quickly verify whether a product’s “fair trade” claim is real, current, and meaningful. Users scan a barcode/QR or search a brand to see certification status, certifier, validity dates, supply-chain scope (ingredient vs whole product), and a plain-language summary of what the certification actually guarantees. The app flags common greenwashing patterns (self-made badges, expired certificates, vague “ethical sourcing” language) and links to primary evidence (certificate PDFs, certifier registry pages, audit summaries when available). For brands not covered by major certifiers, FairTrace offers a “Proof Request” workflow that emails the brand a standardized evidence checklist and tracks responses. Monetization is a freemium consumer app plus a paid dashboard for specialty retailers and cafes to build verified “fair trade” product lists and shelf tags.