Fair Trade, What is it about?The climate is changing, and our industrial food and farming system plays a big role in that. Over the past few years, the movement for a food system that sustains people and the planet has been growing. As conversations around topics like carbon sequestration that were previously just for academics and practitioners move into the mainstream, we cannot forget the people at the heart of it all: small-scale farmers and the movements that they have built. Everyone’s heard the term Fair Trade. The words conjure images of coffee, chocolate, and happy farmers with fresh produce advertised on a product. Most consumers have an idea that Fair Trade products are probably a good choice, but maybe they’re not sure exactly why. And with 86% of millennials looking for responsibly sourced products, Fair Trade seems like a no brainer. But what exactly is Fair Trade and is it really more than just a marketing ploy to get consumers to feel good about their purchases?
What exactly is « Fair Trade »?According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), fair trade is a component of the quality of life and social justice aspects of agricultural sustainability. « Fair Trade » is an arrangement designed to help producers in developing countries achieve sustainable and equitable trade relationships. Members of the fair trade movement add the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as improved social and environmental standards. The movement focuses in particular on commodities, or products which are typically exported from developing countries to developed countries, but also used in domestic markets (e.g. Brazil, England, and Bangladesh) most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, wine, sugar, fruit, flowers and gold.
Fair Trade and The Promotion of Equity in International TradingThe movement seeks to promote greater equity in international trading partnerships through dialogue, transparency, and respect. It promotes sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers in developing countries.
Fair Trade and its three core beliefsFair Trade and is grounded in three core beliefs:
- First, producers have the power to express unity with consumers.
- Secondly, the world trade practices that currently exist promote the unequal distribution of wealth between nations.
- Lastly, buying products from producers in developing countries at a fair price is a more efficient way of promoting sustainable development than traditional charity and aid.
Fair Trade Labelling Organizations and « FINE »Fair trade labelling organizations commonly use a definition of fair trade developed by FINE, an informal association of four international fair trade networks:
- Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International Fairtrade International, or Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International e.V. (FLO) is a product-oriented multistakeholder group aimed at promoting the lives of farmers and workers through trade. Fairtrade’s work is guided by a global strategy focused on ensuring that all farmers earn a living income, and agricultural workers earn a living wage.
- World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), is a global association of 401 organizations who are committed to improving the livelihoods of economically marginalised producers. WFTO has members in 76 countries.
- Network of European Worldshops Established in 1994, Worldshops sell fair trade products and organize various educational exhibits, programmes and campaigns to promote fairer trade practices.
- European Fair Trade Association (EFTA) The European Fair Trade Association is a Dutch association established informally in 1987. It gained formal status in 1990. It regroups 11 fair trade importers in 9 European countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.