Fairtrade - introduction

“Goods produced under conditions which do not meet a rudimentary standard of decency should be regarded as contraband and not allowed to pollute the channels of international commerce.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Fairtrade is all about improving lives, but we don’t do that through charity – there is no hand out in the Fairtrade movement. People are solving their own problems through Fairtrade.” – Paul Rice

What is Fairtrade?

The Fairtrade movement is about getting a better deal for farmers and workers in the developing world, who produce many of the basic commodities we take for granted, like tea, coffee, sugar etc. (and even gold). International trade has traditionally penalised the poorest and weakest producers, so Fairtrade aims to help break the cycle of exploitation by implementing fairer terms of trade and obliging companies to pay producers at or above the market rate.

Fairtrade Certification Mark.

History

The first ‘Fairtrade’ label appeared in the late 1980s in the Netherlands. More labelling initiatives began to appear across Europe and North America, culminating in the establishment of the Fairtrade Labelling Organization (now Fairtrade International) in 1997 to unite the different initiatives and harmonise standards. Fairtrade International is an international non-profit composed of the UK’s Fairtrade Foundation and similar partner organisations around the world. The Foundation itself was established in the early 1990s by NGOs like Oxfam and the Women’s Institute to promote Fair Trade in the UK. The producers that Fairtrade was set up to benefit have themselves taken on a greater role in the activities of the board and governance since 2002, and today have an equal say in running the global movement and 50% ownership of Fairtrade International.

Fairtrade coffee grower in Tanzania.

The Fairtrade Certification Mark first appeared in 2002, and works like this. Since then, countries from South Africa and Korea to the Philippines and many others have come on board. The basic labelling scheme remained largely unchanged till 2014, when the Fairtrade Sourcing Program was introduced for cocoa, sugar and cotton. This represented a major change in that it allows participating companies to source one or more specific commodities for use in a range of products, rather than all the ingredients in a specific product having to qualify as Fairtrade in order to be awarded the mark.

How it works

Fairtrade International runs the certification scheme and writes the Fairtrade Standards which must be adhered to by producers to qualify for Fairtrade Certification. The Standards have a number of developmental pillars and vary depending on the commodity and group in question (e.g. the standard for gold is different to that for sugar). Standards are written in collaboration with producers with the aim of helping them work their way out of poverty. Producers are regularly independently audited to ensure they are sticking to the rules.

Interview with a Fairtrade cocoa farmer in Côte d’Ivoire.

There are now over 4,500 Fairtrade products available, from tea to coffee, chocolate, bananas, wine, sugar, rice and many more. Fairtrade International also certifies non-food commodities like gold, silver and platinum, cotton, cut flowers etc. See here for a full list. As long as a standard exists, and they can be connected to the market, any producer is eligible to get involved.

In the UK, the Fairtrade Foundation licences use of the Fairtrade Mark and works with companies and retailers to make sure they carry it. It also campaigns to raise awareness and create demand for Fairtrade products.

Fairtrade coffee shops can be found in many towns and cities.

What are the benefits of Fairtrade?

Producers

Getting a better, price for their labour, translates into improved quality of life and working conditions for producers, and a greater degree of control over their lives. They also receive a bit of extra money in the form of the Fairtrade Social Premium which goes into a communal fund to help them develop projects and initiatives in their community. Being part of the Fairtrade scheme also helps them overcome certain obstacles. For example, one of the challenges facing small-scale banana producers in countries like Colombia is actually producing enough bananas, so Fairtrade works with them to help improve productivity. Producers also benefit from training initiatives like learning business skills, environmental protection and dealing with climate change and other issues that affect their crops.

Fairtrade certified bananas from the Windward Islands.

Human and labour rights are also written into the standards. Child labour, for example, is completely prohibited and if it’s detected a producer would be suspended from the scheme and investigated. However, Fairtrade works to educate and improve, so programs exist to remedy situations like this and train producers in better practice.

Environment

Fairtrade Standards stipulate environmentally-sound agricultural practices – responsible, sustainable use of natural resources like water, maintenance of soil fertility, minimal use of agrochemicals, good waste management, no genetically-modified organisms (GMO) etc. Fairtrade doesn’t automatically mean organic, but the two often go hand in hand, and organic production is encouraged and rewarded by higher Fairtrade minimum prices.

Fairtrade certification isn’t just for foods – it’s also for craft goods like these necklaces.

Consumers

When you buy a product with the Fairtrade Mark, you know you’re not ripping anyone off – the person at the other end of the production chain has been paid a fair price for their labour. You know your choices as a consumer are contributing directly to their getting out of poverty.

Criticism

There is criticism of the Fairtrade movement, based on how much money reaches farmers, corruption, or the fact that farmers not in the scheme are disadvantaged. Much of this criticism is valid, and can be addressed, so that the system is improved and problems ironed out. However, because the Fairtrade movement exists to benefit small farmers, and involves co-operatives that divert money away from corporations, a lot of criticism is political – initiated and funded by the corporate sector. We have to be vigilant when distinguishing between these two types of criticism – the former is valid, but the latter is down to Fairtrade threatening corporate profits, by distributing it to small farmers worldwide. This kind of criticism should encourage the Fairtrade movement, because it shows that it’s being successful. More on this here.

How communities around the world are spending Fairtrade Community Development Funds.

What can I do?

Look for products carrying the Fairtrade Mark in shops, cafés and restaurants, catering suppliers and wholesalers. Check the website to find out where to buy, including from shops that are part of BAFTS (British Association of Fairtrade Shops) as they often have products that aren’t available in mainstream stores. If you can’t find the product you’re looking for, ask store managers to stock it; part of the success of Fairtrade is down to consumer-led demand.

If possible, buy from BAFTS and independent suppliers, who are much more likely to be really on board with Fair Trade principles, and make sure that as much of the premium as possible goes to the producers. Large supermarkets are likely to take as much of the premium price for themselves as they can. Supermarkets don’t do it for love – they do it for profit. They already squeeze small farmers in the UK, so why wouldn’t they squeeze small farmers overseas?

Fairtrade social premiums go towards funding benefits for local communities, such as schools.

Contrary to what you might think, buying Fairtrade isn’t necessarily more expensive; there are very affordable Fairtrade own-brand products or lines – from bananas to gold wedding rings – available on the High Street.

Check out Fairtrade Fortnight, which aims to raise awareness and get people to think about where the stuff they buy comes from and how their choices can positively impact on people on the other side of the world.

An example of a Fair trade shop in Somerset

Just Things Fairtrade shop in Somerset.

There are lots of ways to get more involved with the Fairtrade movement. The Fairtrade Foundation runs campaigns with local community groups; Fairtrade towns, faith groups, schools and universities exist across the UK, all of which have either made a commitment to stocking Fairtrade products, or to ongoing campaigning, teaching and raising awareness. Look for a group near you on the website, and if there isn’t one, then maybe you can be the first to start one?

Thanks to Martine Parry of the Fairtrade Foundation for information

The specialist(s) below will respond to queries on this topic. Please comment in the box at the bottom of the page.

Martine Parry – Communications expert with a background in in Fairtrade, sustainability, international development, consumer and corporate communications.