Fair Trade
How much do you really know about Fair Trade?
Look closely around any supermarket and it won’t be long until you spot the Fair Trade logo.
It’s there on everything from coffee, cakes and chocolates to fresh fruit, flowers and fudge.
In 2008 Wales made history by becoming the first Fair Trade Nation and the sale of products is now a multi-million pound industry that is taken seriously by the major brands – did you know that Cadbury’s Dairy Milk is now made using Fair Trade cocoa?
Next month sees the launch of 2010’s Fair Trade Fortnight, a two-week celebration and it seems like the perfect time to examine just what that little blue, green and black logo really stands for…
The Fair Trade (FT) mark guarantees:
That producers receive a fair and stable price for their products. The minimum price is the lowest possible amount that a buyer of FT products must pay the producer and means that producers are guaranteed to receive a price that covers the cost of sustainable production. It is not uncommon for farmers who are not supported by FT to actually end up in debt after selling their products to dishonest middlemen who pay them far below the market price.
That producers receive a premium to invest in improving their communities and businesses. This is an additional sum of money, paid on top of the agreed price that is invested in social, environmental and economic developmental projects - it is the right of the workers to decide how the premium is spent.
Improved working conditions. The difficulties faced by many producers have led to poor working conditions, increases in children forced into work and even slave labour. FT helps eliminate this regressive practice, securing workers rights, fair conditions of employment, the freedom from discrimination and a safer working environment. Perhaps most importantly, it ensures that young children are not taken out of school and forced into work and imposes a minimum working age of 15.
Greater respect for the environment. The FT standard requires producers to work to protect the natural environment. Coffee farmers in Costa Rica for example have used their premium to replant trees and have invested in environmentally friendly ovens, fuelled by recycled coffee hulls and the dried shells of macadamia nuts. They no longer need to cut down forest trees for fuel, helping preserve the oxygen producing rainforests for future generations.
A stronger position in world markets for small producers. Not only does it give them a voice but also requires buyers to enter into long-term trading relationships, allowing producers to predict their income and plan for the future.
Fairtrade Fortnight kicks of on the 22nd of February and the theme for this year is The Big Swap. In Wales, we are asking every member of the Welsh Assembly Government to commit to pledging to swap at least one item. This could be tea and coffee for newbies or something more exciting such as olive oil or rum for the more adventurous! You can help by making swaps in your own shopping and writing to your local AM asking for their support.
Remember, every swap made will be further proof that Wales wants developing world producers to get a better deal.
LINKS:
Visit the Fair Trade Wales website.
