FAIRTRADE

WHAT IS FAIRTRADE?

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.

WHAT FAIRTRADE DOES:

• Fairtrade sets standards
• Fairtrade certifies products and ingredients
• Fairtrade works with companies’ own schemes
• Fairtrade lobbies government
• Fairtrade works directly with producers
• We drive awareness with the public

FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS:

• Banana
• Cocoa
• Coffee
• Cotton
• Flower
• Gold
• Sugar
• Tea

HOW MUCH OF THE PRICE WE PAY FOR FAIRTRADE PRODUCTS GOES BACK TO THE PRODUCERS?



Whatever the price of the product on the shelf, only the FAIRTRADE Mark ensures that the producers have received what is agreed as a fairer price, as well as the Fairtrade premium to invest in the future of their communities. The Fairtrade price applies at the point where the producer organisation sells to the next person in the supply chain (usually an exporter or importer). It is not calculated as a proportion of the final retail price, which is negotiated between the product manufacturer and the retailer.


Marketing

The marketing of fair trade cocoa to European consumers often portrays the cocoa farmers as dependent on western purchases for their livelihood and well-being. Showing African cocoa producers in this way is problematic because it is reminiscent of the imperialistic view that Africans cannot live happily without the help of westerners. It puts the balance of power in favor of the consumers rather than the producers.[110]

Consumers often aren't willing to pay the extra price for fair trade cocoa because they do not know what fair trade is. Activist groups are vital in educating consumers about the unethical aspects of unfair trade and promoting demand for fairly traded commodities. Activism and ethical consumption not only promote fair trade but also act against powerful corporations such as Mars, Incorporated that refuse to acknowledge the use of forced child labor in the harvesting of their cocoa.



CADBURY

Cadbury Dairy Milk has been Fairtrade since 2009 and was the first mainstream chocolate brand to become Fairtrade certified. Cadbury and Fairtrade are now building on this relationship through a global partnership between Cocoa Life and Fairtrade.

Cadbury's Fairtrade Story

Cadbury and Fairtrade are working in a global partnership between Cocoa Life and Fairtrade to support the roll out of Cocoa Life to Cadbury brands driving greater scale and impact for cocoa farmers and their communities.

Fairtrade will become a partner for the whole Cocoa Life programme, working together to secure the long-term future of cocoa farming communities. By 2019, all Cadbury chocolate in the UK and Ireland will display the Cocoa Life branding, symbolising the adoption of the programme across the Cadbury range.

Fairtrade and Cadbury have achieved significant impact and change since beginning to work together almost a decade ago, for example, farmer income has increased 49% more and cocoa yield increased 37% more in Ghanaian Cocoa Life communities than in communities outside the programme, by enabling the establishment of strong farmer organisations in Ghana, who’ve facilitated the delivery of many benefits to farmers and their communities. These include micro-saving and loan schemes, providing agricultural inputs and training on income diversification and environmental sustainability.



M&S is proud to offer a wide selection of Fairtrade products, from beautiful flowers to delicious, refreshing tea.

M&S' Fairtrade Story

At M&S, we have an ethical and environmental sustainability programme, called Plan A, that’s at the heart of everything we do. Fairtrade is a key part of that. It’s about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Ethical trading, in short – and that’s what we believe in.

We have a wide range of Fairtrade products in our foodhalls, all of which help small-scale farmers and growers by paying them a Fairtrade price and a premium that protects against volatile market forces.