The Fair Trade Mark
Since its launch in 1994, the FairTrade Mark has become established
as a credible, independent consumer guarantee for products
that help producers in developing countries get a better deal
from international trade.
Fairtrade labelling is an international system of standards
for producers, and terms of trade for their goods that ensure
farmers and workers in some of the poorest countries in the
world are adequately protected and can build a more sustainable
future. Over 4.5 million people in these countries are benefiting
from increasing sales of fairtrade products in 17 national
markets across Europe, North America and Japan.
Since 1997, retail
sales of Fairtrade products in the U.K. have been growing
by an average of 50% p.a. and in 2001 totalled £46
million. Fairtrade coffee now accounts for over 12% of the
total market for roast and ground coffee.
The roots of the fair trade movement can be traced back at
least 30 years and in that time it has developed into a world-wide
network of organisations seeking to relieve the causes of poverty
by tacking some of the injustices of world trade.
By operating a labelling scheme the Fairtrade Foundation can
apply international Fairtrade standards and audit products
to ensure compliance.
Fair trade Standards
Producer standards apply to organisations representing farmers
and workers and ensure that such organisations are:
Democratic
and accountable to their members
-
Capable
of ensuring compliance with social and economic coterie
and committed to a programme of ongoing improvement.
-
Able to
apply Fairtrade premiums for the benefit of their members
Producer Standards also ensure:
Respect for basic human rights as defined in ILO conventions
-
Decent wages and employment conditions for employed
workers
-
Ongoing improvements
in worker health & safety and
environmental protection by control and reduction of
chemical inputs.
Fairtrade product standards require buyers to:
Pay a guaranteed price covering the sustainable cost
of production
-
Help develop more direct and transparent supply chains
-
Commit to long term-relationships with producers.
At Daily Bread we
sell a range of Fairtraded products such as tea, coffee,
chocolate, & sugar.
We also as part of our commitment to the Third World donate
an amount of money each year via our charitable arm Strive
(overseas) Ltd. If you wish to learn more about the work
we do please contact us.
|
