How Fair is Fair Trade?

[tigeralex]

After seeing the Jonny Vegas adverts, I wondered what people's opinions are on how much help FairTrade goods actually provide? Does it actually do any good at all!?

I'm rather undecided!

[Mike]

Good question, the PG Tips ads make reference to the Rainforest Aliance which is a similar type organisation to Fair Trade - On the PG tips website it says

Turns out, the Rainforest Alliance is busy making sure that by 2010 all PG tips tea suppliers meet their high sustainability standards. Yes, I had that blank look on my face, too. Apparently, it means the thousands of farmers who grow our favourite tea must make sure that their hard-working staff are getting a decent wage as well as access to housing, education and healthcare. They also have to commit to protecting the environment from which they make their living, by introducing environmentally-sound farming techniques. Well, 'hear-hear', say I.

The Fairtrade Foundation site says that fairtrade means

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

So, if these are followed as they should be then I think they are a good thing.

[phopkinson]

I know a number of people who work within the fair trade industry, as it were, and they testify that it makes a real difference to people on the ground so I guess it is a good thing

[gavlar]

I think in certain circumstances it takes the mick a bit - like the chocolate - £2.50 a bar the other day, for the same amount as a 50p bar of normal!

Dont get me wrong, but how can it cost that much more?

[tigeralex]

I think we've been living (especially in the Western World) a life os cheap food and labour, with China chucking out cheaply-made goods etc. Now China has limited it's export, we're having to wake up to paying properly for things.

[slazanger]

Yep unfortunately we have been living our luxury lives by repressing (indirectly) the third world, unfortunately its time to wake up and face the music

[OnlyFair]

As the owner of a fairly trading business I obviously think fair trade is a good thing. However, I would be extremely naive if I were to say it were the only solution. I do think that anything that helps producers to achieve a reasonable wage in safe and fair working conditions is the right way to go.

I have some information on my website - Only Fair - Fair Trade Statement.

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/ has a wealth of information too.

Originally Posted by gavlar

I think in certain circumstances it takes the mick a bit - like the chocolate - £2.50 a bar the other day, for the same amount as a 50p bar of normal!

Dont get me wrong, but how can it cost that much more?

I understand what you are saying. For me though, I don't mind paying more as I think the quality is far superior :)

Kate

[Siri]

I really appreciate you for chosing such a great topic about fair trade and sharing personal views. Iam eco-friendly, and being an organic nut I feel Fair trade is really fair and good. I am very health consious and do guilt-free shopping! I buy and use every thing related to organic, fairtade, hemp and sustainable and feel great as well as proud that this is the way iam saving the planet by being environmentally friendly. Finally this is the best way for us to personally protect our world and our health. I personally prefer shopping online the most or look for a one stop go where I can purchase every thing I need. While browsing through net for my baby stuff I came across an online store where they have a wonderful array of eco friendly apparel( Fair trade), eco friendly toys, and eco friendly reusable bags from all over the world, and has positive impact on the future of the planet, using Earth's natural resources. They purposefully selects gifts that are sustainably made and fair trade produced. While surfing for Nubius Organics to purchase baby clothes and diapers I found a great coupon for it here, the coupon is halfway down the page Discount Coupons on Sustainable Products - The SustainLane GreenSaver. What are your opinions on buing locally produced and fair-traded goods for you and your family and being eco-friendly?

[Belinda]

I have also thought deeply about this question myself as I too run a fair trade on-line shop and am interested in other peoples opinions about it.

Having seen the original thread, I wanted to share this article I wrote for our blog discussing the subject.....

The Fair Trade label is becoming increasingly common in the Western world. But while shoppers seem keen to pay a little over the odds for fair trade products, some observers question how effective it really is in helping developing third world farmers.

In my view, the more the Western market is flooded and the more Fair Trade sold, then over time, the third world will surely reap the benefits in the end?

Surely, the more fair trade clothes and jewellery we buy, the more the third world produce and sell, and then the more we buy, the more the third world earn and so on…..and this can only be a positive cyclic relationship perpetuating greater wealth over time for impoverished societies?

The craftsmanship on fair trade gifts and jewellery is truly outstanding. Quite clearly the skills of the indigenous communities who produce such gems are passed from generation to generation so skills like wood carving, hand painting, hand screen printing and jewellery crafting do not fade. We are lucky to have accessibility to the products of great artisans so we can appreciate their unique beauty in contrast to mass produced generic products that are not, in sharp contrast, skilfully handcrafted and have no soul or originality.

Hand embroidered fair trade bags – there is an organisation in India called Touch of India who specialise in hand making fair trade bags all of which are hand embroidered. Touch of India carries out most of its work with Muslim minorities and aims to preserve old traditional embroidery techniques such as Kantha embroidery, Zardozi and Aari work. It uses a wide range of beads and fabrics in the most beautiful colours and are true works of art. All their products are exchanged for a fair wage.

Hand Made Candles – In Kolkata, India, the conglomerate ,E.M.A., carry on the tradition of candle making by hand. Paraffin was is melted in an oven and poured into a mould or ‘die’. Each candle is left to cool for six to seven hours before being taken out of the die and polished. It can be then hand painted or hand screen printed. Most of the scents used are from flowers, fruits and spices and come from Bangalore. Each candle is a work of art and has been exchanged using fair trade principles.

Hand screen printed jute shopping bags– Earth Bags in Kolkata, India, produce bags made from jute since it is a fast-growing vegetable fibre in their country. It is also 100% biodegradable and recyclable. Some of the bags are natural jute while others have been hand dyed in sumptuous pinks, greens and purples embellished with coloured sequins and hand printed with metallic gold or pink screen prints. Earth Bags gives employment to women and self-help groups in Kolkata and strives to help the environment by encouraging more people to use eco-friendly bags.

Fair trade jewellery – produced in Delhi, India, each piece of jewellery is created from Indian solid silver. Each item is crafted and inlaid with semi precious gemstones ranging from the beautifully rich deep blue lapis lazuli, to the milky moonstone and the opulent malachite. The range of jewellery covers intricately crafted pendants inlaid with coral and turquoise to hand crafted earrings some with finely shaped spirals of silver.

All products are exchanged for a fair wage to help to improve the communities standard of living and quality of life - not only for them - but for their next generation.

It would be great to hear other people's views on my thoughts on this debate / dilemma.

thanks

Belinda
(Fair Trade Jewellery, Incense, Toys and Gifts Buckinghamshire UK)

[Mike]

Thanks Belinda, great article there.

do you find that the Fair trade badge helps sell directly?

There was an interesting discussion on here somewhere about Rachels Organic dropping the organic part as it was seen to (possibly) negatively affect sales as it was assumed to be more expensive...

Edit: Dont forget to say hi and introduce yourself on the intros forum :D