Fairtrade

What does Fairtrade mean?

Fairtrade means guaranteeing that producers in poor countries receive a fair price for the goods that they produce or, if they work on a plantation, that they enjoy decent wages and working conditions.

It means they are paid a price that reflects the true costs of production and allows for investment in their communities or in their businesses.

Why is Fairtrade important?

A guaranteed price is important to protect producers if the international price of a commodity falls. With a fair price for their produce, they cannot only feed their families, but also look to the future and invest in such basic necessities as safe water supplies, sanitation, healthcare, and education.

How does it work?

Fairtrade marks or labels are used to guarantee standards for prices and working conditions for producers or goods bearing such marks. One such example in the UK is the fairtrade mark administered by the fairtrade foundation.

The Fairtrade foundation was established in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian aid, new consumer, Oxfam, Traidcraft and the World Development Movement. These founding organisations were later joined by Britain’s largest women’s organisation, the Women’s Institute. The first fairtrade certified product, Green and Black’s Fairtrade Maya gold chocolate was launched in 1994 and was shortly followed by cafedirect fairtrade coffee and clipper fairtrade tea.

Today, fairtrade standards are set for a range of commodities from the developing world including tea, sugar, cocoa, fresh fruits. The standards include fairtrade price which covers the cost of production and a premium which is invested in the local community.

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