How to prepare for the new Claims platform
- 29 Nov 2023
- 8 Minutes to read
- PDF
How to prepare for the new Claims platform
- Updated on 29 Nov 2023
- 8 Minutes to read
- PDF
Article Summary
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The Rainforest Alliance introduces a new Claims platform on December 18th, 2023 and will close the current trademarks approval system, Marketplace 2.0.
All organizations that wish to receive approval for the use of our trademarks need to request approval in the new Claims platform. The new platform will be accessible from the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP) on December 18th, 2023.
To ensure a smooth transition, we are happy to announce that approved requests (within their validity period) from RA2020 accounts and their associated SKUs will be migrated to the new Claims platform.
Here is an overview of what will happen in the coming weeks:
| Date | Event |
30 November 2023 5 PM CET | Last date for submission of trademark requests in Marketplace 2.0. |
| 1 December – 15 December 2023 | Marketplace 2.0 will be accessible in read-only. Migration of approved requests and SKUs in progress. |
18 December 2023, 10 AM CET | New Claims platform accessible through the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP). You can start submitting new requests. |
Preparation before data migration:
To prepare for the migration of your data, we will close the submission of approval requests in Marketplace on November 30th, 2023, at 5PM CET. All approval requests submitted by this date and time will be reviewed by the Rainforest Alliance and, if approved and applicable, will also be migrated gradually to the new Claims platform. Requests that have not been approved will need to be resubmitted in the new platform.
Reminder:
To receive an approval for your request, your material must meet the rules in our Labeling Policy and Seal Graphic Guidelines.
Preparation to ensure access to new Claims platform:
Please follow the instructions outlined below depending on the scenario that is applicable to you.
Your organization already has an account in the RACP
You are responsible for requesting artwork approval and have a login to the RACP account of your organization
If you already have a login to your organization’s account in the RACP (example: #RA_0000000), you have access to the new Claims platform by default. No further action is required.
You are responsible for requesting artwork approval and do not have access to your organization’s RACP account
To get access to the RACP and request approval for claims, contact your account administrator to be added as a new user.
You currently have an account in Marketplace 2.0, but your organization does not have an account in the RACP
Please note the following information does not apply to design agencies and Forest Allies.
- Register your organization account in the RACP by clicking this link and select the appropriate registration option. Note: Select the registration option “Other organization” only if you are not in scope for certification.
- Once your account has been approved and you have logged in, upload or sign a License Agreement (2020 Version).
- If you already have a valid License Agreement (2020 Version), please upload it to the RACP.
- If you have not signed a License Agreement (2020 Version) yet, please request and sign it in the RACP. You can sign it with DocuSign or print, sign and upload the document.
- You can find more information on how to upload and/or sign in the “License Agreement (2020 Version)” chapter of the User Manual.
- If you are required to obtain a certification license, consult this page to get started. You will only be able to receive approval for your claims once you have obtained a certification license.
If you are not required to obtain a certification license, there are no further steps for you to take.
You are a design agency
If you are a design agency and are registered in Marketplace 2.0., you will be required to register your organization in the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP) and create an account to continue submitting claim requests. These are the steps you can follow on December 18th, 2023:
Register as a design agency in the RACP. Note that the current registration option for design agencies in the RACP will refer you to Marketplace. This will change once the new Claims platform is launched.
You are part of the Forest Allies initiative
Forest Allies will be required to register their organization in the RACP and create an account to continue submitting claim requests. These are the steps you can follow on December 18th, 2023:
- Register as Forest Allies in the RACP.
- Once your account has been approved and you have logged in, sign or upload a License Agreement (2020 Version).
- If you already have a valid License Agreement (2020 Version), please upload it to the RACP by clicking on the Legal tab.
- If you have not signed a License Agreement (2020 Version) yet, please contact us at [email protected].
- You can already start submitting claims but will only receive official approval once we can determine the validity of a License Agreement (2020 Version).
FAQ
What is a claim?
A claim is a story about your product or your ingredient that is assured, verified, and compliant with our standard and guidelines. Whether you want to use our certification seal on your products or add a general statement about your sustainability commitments related to your partnership with the Rainforest Alliance on your website, a claim helps you in raising consumer awareness. In all cases, use of claims must be submitted in the new platform for review and approval by the Rainforest Alliance.
Why will Marketplace 2.0 no longer be used for claims?
As part of our continuous improvement, a new platform will be introduced which is more agile and has more efficient functionalities. Its use will enable the Rainforest Alliance to explore additional claims opportunities for you in the future.
What is the timeline for the launch of the new Claims platform?
The new platform is expected to be launched on December 18th, 2023 at 10:00AM CET. Please refer to the overview listed at the top of this article to know more about the timeline.
From when can I submit claims in the new platform?
You can start submitting requests in the new platform from the moment it is launched, given that you have followed the steps described in this article.
How can I be added as a user in the RACP?
If you are not a user in your organization's RACP account, please contact your account administrator to ensure that they add you as a new user.
How can I add users in the RACP?
You can only add users in your RACP account if you are the account administrator and have been assigned the “Admin” role. To add users as an account administrator, click on “Users” under the Organization tab and select “Add New User.”
Will I have to resubmit requests that are in Approved status in Marketplace 2.0.?
No, you will not be required to resubmit trademark requests approved in Marketplace 2.0. for the period of their validity.
What will happen to my approved trademark requests and to my current trademarks? What will I need to do?
Approved requests (within their validity period) and their associated SKUs will be migrated to the new Claims platform. The last date to submit trademark requests in Marketplace 2.0 is November 30th, 2023. All approval requests submitted by this date and time will be reviewed by the Rainforest Alliance and, if approved, will also be migrated gradually to the new Claims platform. Requests that have not been approved will need to be resubmitted in the new platform. Historical information will be archived.
How can I access the new Claims platform from the RACP?
Once the new Claims platform is launched, you can access it by loging in to your RACP account and clicking on the Claims tab.
How can I best prepare myself for the move to the new Claims platform?
To prepare for this change, please follow the steps described in this article.
What will happen to my legal agreement currently housed in Marketplace 2.0?
If you have not completed this step yet, we recommend that you upload your valid and fully executed License Agreement (2020) in your organization's account in the RACP.
Will Marketplace 2.0 still be accessible during the transition to the new platform?
From December 18th, 2023, all claim requests need to be submitted through the new platform. From that moment, Marketplace will remain accessible to view information but you will not be able to edit any information nor submit a new request.
Can I submit a new request during December 1st – December 15th?
No, it will not be possible to submit new requests in Marketplace during that period. The new Claims platform will be available on December 18th. We strongly recommend that all the requests are submitted before November 30th in Marketplace. If for an exceptional reason you need to submit a request in the period December 1st- December 15th, please reach out to Customer Success at [email protected].
What do I do if my approval expires between December 1st and December 15th?
If the request was active and valid on December 1st, then it will be migrated to the new Claims platform, even if it expires during the first two weeks of December. Once the new platform is available, you will have the possibility to extend expiring requests in the new platform 3 months after the expiration date.
What will happen to all my valid requests that will not be migrated?
Active requests within their validity period for which migration is not applicable will be archived and accessible through Rainforest Alliance staff.
When is the last day for me to resubmit requests in Marketplace? When is the last day that they will be reviewed?
If changes are required to requests that have been submitted by November 30th in Marketplace, we recommend you to re-upload the new file as soon as possible and by December 13th the latest to ensure sufficient time for our reviewers to process your request. The last date a request can be approved by Rainforest Alliance reviewers in Marketplace is December 15th. Note however, that the migration deadline for applicable requests is December 14 at 5:00 PM CET. This means that requests will keep their validity but will not be migrated to the new Claims platform, if they have been approved after this date.
I submitted a request in Marketplace by November 30th, but it has not been approved on December 15th. What now?
If your request has not been approved by December 15th 5PM CET, we ask you to please resubmit your request in the new Claims platform which will be available on December 18th.
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