Question

How should we think about fair trade coffee and other attempts at eco-friendly products and services? Are they a benefit or a hazard to CSR and efforts toward sustainability ?

Answer 1

Let’s begin with the quote "Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity."

Fair Trade is a global trade model to help small farmers, co-ops, and other producers in developing countries obtain a fair price for their products and enable them to build sustainable businesses.

The Fairtrade Foundation argues: 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.

According to one of the main principles of fair trade, the production cost of the most needy farmers, so the smaller and less effective, determines the price. We call it a "guaranteed minimum price".

Fair Trade products include coffee, chocolate, sugar, bananas, avocados, honey, nuts, wine, rice, and cotton products.

Many people purchase fair trade certified products because they trust that doing so makes a difference in the lives of small producers around the world.

Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages, fairtrade came about in response to the struggles of Mexican coffee farmers following the collapse of world coffee prices in 1988.

Fair trade certification guarantees that coffee producers are paid a stable, minimum price per pound for their product. Historically, this protection has been offered to small producers who are members of democratically organized cooperatives. These cooperatives give producers entry into a global market that is dominated by large transnational buyers.

Colombia is the largest producer of Fairtrade coffee.

# Are they a benefit or a hazard to CSR and efforts toward sustainability ?

Fairtrade believes the best way to eliminate poverty is to pay farmers a fair price for their produce and workers a fair wage for their labour.

The fair trade system also provides small loans to producer groups to facilitate improved infrastructure for farms and communities.

In the past, these benefits were available only to small producers affiliated with democratically organized cooperatives, since the movement was conceived to both increase access to the global market and protection from manipulative and exploitative buyers.

Until recently, this was an important hallmark of fair trade certified coffee, as most of the world’s coffee is grown by small-scale producers in remote areas. The tremendous growth of the fair trade coffee market has been beneficial to the many small farmers around the world.

We put fair prices first because farmers and workers in developing countries deserve a decent income and decent work.

Global sustainability standard which is equally owned and managed by producers, for producers, while Fairtrade workers are protected by strong, transparent standards.

Support women to set up their own businesses and we train them to become entrepreneurs and community leaders.

Fairtrade is helping to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. The overarching goal, to end poverty in all its forms everywhere, is central to Fairtrade. Our standards are an essential development tool which go way beyond certification.

Fairtrade is an independent, pragmatic, flexible business partner. For consumers who have hundreds of labels to choose from.

Fairtrade provides the trust and confidence to make sustainable shopping choices

“Fair Trade” logo, and they ensure safe and humane conditions for workers and producers, as well as a fair price for the trade and use of products and services.

Therefore, not only is fair trade good for people and the planet, but it’s good for profits, as well—the “three P’s,” if you will.

In short, each Fair Trade organization sets its own principles and standards, although there are many similarities across organizations. Producer standards cover small farmers, co-ops, hired labor, and contract production. Other standards cover companies that trade and purchase products.

Some requirements are progressive with a minimal level of compliance required the first year and increasing requirements each year thereafter.

Third-party organizations conduct audits and certify that producers and traders are complying with Fair Trade standards.

Traders and purchasers pay above market price for products like cacao beans used to make chocolate.

The extra money is intended to help farmers practice environmentally sound production methods, and make improvements in their communities by building schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

Fairtrade believes the best way to eliminate poverty is to pay farmers a fair price for their produce and workers a fair wage for their labour.

We put fair prices first because farmers and workers in developing countries deserve a decent income and decent work.

Global sustainability standard which is equally owned and managed by producers, for producers, while Fairtrade workers are protected by strong, transparent standards. support women to set up their own businesses and we train them to become entrepreneurs and community leaders.

Fairtrade is helping to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. The overarching goal, to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Fairtrade provides the trust and confidence to make sustainable shopping choices

No harming the environment to get what you need

Public health is preserved

All-natural products bring you a healthier life

You feel better because you’re doing something remarkable