Our seals stand for regionality, sustainability, and fairness

 

QUALITY SEAL- "Handicraft from the Alps" is a defined quality seal with criteria that every artisan and supplier of 4betterdays.com must meet. This gives the buyer maximum assurance of quality. The values and the philosophy "Live and let live", joy in work, honesty in the product, not exploiting nature and ensuring the next generations also have the chance for a healthy life are paramount. All formulations are to be understood as gender-neutral. The products are manufactured in small or medium-sized businesses in the alpine region.

In most cases, these are master artisan businesses, where the boss/owner has personally learned the craft, completed the master examination and passes on his/her knowledge and skills to his/her employees in the workshop. The master artisan himself/herself guarantees the quality of the products – see partners on the homepage 4betterdays.com. Should standards or tests be necessary, the manufacturers ensure that these are obtained and the products are marked accordingly. The working conditions of the employees comply with EU guidelines and guarantee that the artisans are also paid in accordance with the guidelines. The product design by designers and creative artisans, who themselves live in the alpine region, stands for the further development of tradition with the requirements of modern international society.

The Materials, such as woods, leather, loden and other textiles, stones, etc. come from alpine regions. If this is not entirely the case, then the country of origin must be clearly declared. For example, from controlled cultivation. For small materials, such as screws, fittings or electrical components, this is not necessary if they play a minor role. The materials such as wood are natural materials and therefore always unique. This means that deviations in wood grain and typical features such as healthy branches do not constitute a defect, but are considered a special feature of the natural material. The products are made by artisans, artists and professionals, i.e. by people who understand their work, which means that slight deviations in craftsmanship details are possible and every piece is unique. Industrial manufacturing in mass production is not permitted. The furniture can be made raw, i.e. without surface treatment, waxed, oiled or also lacquered on customer request. The customer must always be able to be offered a natural-looking variant. Value creation in alpine regions is an essential factor of "4betterdays.com GmbH" and its partners.

Traditional Craftsmanship is valued and creates new possibilities in product design and application in combination with innovative manufacturing techniques. This redefines niches in the market, secures jobs in rural regions and mitigates the migration to cities. Simply put: Products for a better day!

EUROPEAN SEAL - "Manufactured in Europe" is a defined quality seal with criteria that every producer and supplier of 4betterdays.com must meet. This gives the buyer maximum quality assurance. The values and the philosophy "Live and let live", joy in work, no exploitation of nature and the securing of the livelihoods of future generations are paramount. All formulations are to be understood as gender-neutral. The products are manufactured in small or medium-sized businesses in Europe. In most cases, these are family businesses and not corporations.

Should standards or tests be necessary, the manufacturers ensure that these are met, obtained and the products are marked accordingly. The working conditions of the employees must comply with EU guidelines. Payment is made according to national guidelines. The materials, such as woods, leather, loden and other textiles, stones, etc. largely come from Europe. If this is not entirely the case, then the country of origin must be clearly declared. As well as the cultivation method, for example from controlled cultivation. For small materials, such as screws, fittings or electrical components, this is not necessary if they play a minor role. The materials such as wood are natural materials and therefore always unique. This means that deviations in wood grain and typical features such as healthy branches do not constitute a defect, but are considered a special feature of the natural material. The products are made with natural materials by people with the help of machines. This means that slight deviations in details are possible and every piece is unique. Industrial manufacturing in mass production is not permitted.

The furniture can be made raw, i.e. without surface treatment, waxed, oiled or also lacquered on customer request. The customer must always be able to be offered a natural-looking variant. Value creation in the individual European Regions is an essential factor of "4betterdays.com GmbH" and its partners. Innovative manufacturing techniques, the emphasis on human work and respect for Mother Earth are valued.

FAIR PRODUCED - is a defined quality seal with criteria that every supplier of 4betterdays.com must meet. Since certain products or raw materials are not available in Europe or cannot be manufactured there, it is sometimes necessary to use production facilities outside Europe. The "Fair Produced" seal stands for the fact that fair conditions prevail in these external production facilities. Safe and healthy working conditions and a livelihood-securing payment according to international guidelines, as well as social minimum standards, must be ensured.

No child or forced labor, no discrimination of employees but humane working hours and valid employment contracts. Our suppliers must therefore ensure the compliance with ecological and social principles. The products are largely made with natural materials by craft businesses with the help of machines. Industrial manufacturing in mass production is not permitted.

We are in the year 2016 AD. The entire Alps, all of Europe are dominated by the global one-size-fits-all. All of Europe, the entire Alps? No! An unyielding online shop, 4betterdays, does not stop resisting. Surrounded by the fortresses TTIPdumm, CETAnixda, TISAna and KOSTETFASTNIXblabla, the world improvers of 4betterdays are committed to regional value creation with fair and ecologically valuable products. Our country of origin designations show that the respective product was predominantly manufactured in this country, that the raw materials come from there and that fair working conditions prevail. These are our Gallic villages at 4betterdays.

GOLS – Global Organic Latex Standard

What does GOLS stand for?
GOLS stands for Global Organic Latex Standard and stands for a more sustainable and better environment, similar to GOTS. GOLS checks processing methods of latex products from organic raw materials. To achieve this goal, standards such as processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trade and distribution of latex products are strictly controlled. Apart from that, GOLS also focuses on aspects such as fair working conditions and an environmentally compliant manufacturing process of latex products. Therefore, this certification distinguishes a worry-free item!

So what does this certification mean?
Generally speaking, GOLS certified latex products must contain at least 95%, or more, of certified natural latex, or other certified raw materials. All other textiles contained in the final product must be GOTS certified.

Sustainable, Fair and Environmentally Friendly… ?
In addition to the already mentioned controls, water and energy consumption during the manufacturing process are also controlled. The mentioned social aspects are also not neglected, especially topics such as child labor or hygienic and safe working conditions are paramount. “People are the key of any organization and the efficient operation of the company.” - GOLS People are the key of any company and efficient management. This sentence underlines that GOLS stands up for fair working conditions and against exploitation. Our products even consist of 100% natural latex, for a guaranteed, certified, good sleep!
 

GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard

What does GOTS actually mean?
In short: GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard, a seal that identifies worry-free textile products! Consisting of four well-known member organizations, OTA (USA), IVN (Germany), Soil Association (GB) and JOCA (Japan), as well as other international stakeholder organizations and experts, the Global Organic Textile Standard International Working Group makes its contribution to a more sustainable environment.

What does this contribution look like?
GOTS has committed itself above all to the quality assurance of textile raw materials, starting from manufacturing up to the final product. Until the final product can be offered with the certification, it must undergo several controls. In addition to environmental tests and technical quality requirements, GOTS stands for social minimum criteria, and thus fair working conditions. The goal of GOTS is thus to mark environmentally and socially worry-free textile products. Starting with appropriate animal husbandry, a sustainable and fair manufacturing, up to the labeling of the final product.

Sustainable, Fair and Environmentally Friendly…?
As already mentioned, one of the goals is to manufacture sustainable products and make a contribution to our environment, but what can you imagine by that? Generally speaking, only products that consist of at least 70% organically produced natural fibers may be certified. All chemical additives, for example dyes or auxiliaries must meet environmentally relevant, as well as toxicological criteria. The compliance with social criteria must also be ensured. With social, or fair criteria, topics such as minimum wage, prohibition of discrimination, or also the prohibition of child labor are meant.

Of course, GOTS controls far more aspects of the mentioned criteria, here is just a general overview In this sense, let's go, test mattresses!