Fair Trade

definition

Although no universally accepted definition of fair trade, fair trade labeling organizations refer most often developed on a definition of FINE, an informal association of four international fair trade networks (Fair Trade Labelling Organizations International, World Fair Trade Organization, a network of European World Shops and European Fair Trade Association) Fair trade is a trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency and respect is due for greater equity and studied in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions and guaranteeing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers especially in the south. Fair Trade organizations, backed up by consumers, actively involved in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practices of conventional international trade.

basic principles

right sort and pulp coffee beans in a fair trade cooperative in Guatemala

Fair Trade tend to marry a number of guidelines. The motion is to ensure access to markets for otherwise marginalized producers, their linkage with customers and access for less intermediate. The goal is to pay higher wages to give to producers in general and help producers develop the knowledge, skills and resources to improve their lives. Fair trade is also trying to increase awareness of the philosophies of the consumer movement in developed countries. Fair trade products are traded and marketed either through a “Supply Chain MEDC, where imported products and / or spread Fair Trade organizations (commonly known as alternative trade organizations) or” Product Certification “from the products meet the specifications of the fair trade by indicating they were produced, exchanged, processed and packaged in accordance with the certified standards.

General structure of the movement

Most fair trade import organizations are members of or certified by one of several national and international associations. These associations to coordinate, promote and facilitate the work of fair trade organizations. Some of the most important:

Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), established in 1997, is an association of three producer networks and twenty national initiatives for the identification and marketing promotion of fair trade label in their countries. The FLO labeling system is the largest and most widely recognized standard and certification organization for fair trade marked. It regularly inspects and certifies producer organizations in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The World Fair Trade Organisation (formerly the International Fair Trade Association) is an international association founded in 1989, fair trade producer cooperatives and associations, export marketing companies, importers, retailers, national and regional fair trade networks and fair trade support organizations. In 2004, the IFAT FTO Mark identifies registered Fair Trade Organizations (as opposed to the FLO system, the product labels against).

The Network of European World Shops (NEWS), founded in 1994, is the umbrella organization of 15 national associations in 13 countries throughout Europe World Shop.

The European Fair Trade Association (EFTA), established in 1990, is a European alternative trade organizations that the import of some 400 economically disadvantaged producer groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The aim of EFTA is to promote fair trade and fair import more efficiently and effectively. The organization publishes a number of publications per year on the development of fair trade market. EFTA currently has eleven members in nine different countries.

1998, these four federations created together FINE, an informal association whose goal is to harmonize fair trade standards and guidelines that support the quality and effectiveness of monitoring of fair trade and fair trade politically.

The Fair Trade Federation (FTF), founded in 1994, is an association of wholesalers Canadian and American fair trade, importers and retailers. The organization unites the members of producer organizations, fair trade, and serve as a clearinghouse on fair trade and providing resources and networking opportunities for its members.

Fair Trade Action Network, founded in 2007, is an international trade fair for volunteers on the Web. The association links between volunteer active in a dozen countries in North America and Europe Fair Trade Town initiatives and promotes the basis of international networks.

student groups have been increasingly active in the past promotion of fair trade products. Although hundreds of operating worldwide by independent student organizations, most groups in North America with United Students for Fair Trade (USA) or Canadian Student Fair Trade Network (Canada) are attached.

History

article: history were to sell fair trade

The first attempts to Fair Trade products to the markets of the North launched in the 1940s and 1950s by religious groups and various politically oriented non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Ten Thousand Villages, an NGO in the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Serrver International were the first in 1946 and 1949 respectively to develop fair trade supply chains in developing countries. The products were almost exclusively handicrafts from jute products for cross stitch work mostly sold in churches or fairs. The goods themselves had often no other function than to indicate that the gift was made.

Solidarity trade

fairly traded products in world shops

sold to the current fair trade movement was formed in Europe in the 1960s. Fair trade in this period is often perceived as a political gesture against neo-imperialism: radical student movements began targeting multinational corporations and concerns that traditional business models that fundamentally flawed began. The slogan of the time, harbor no aid, international recognition in 1968 when he was adopted by the UNCTAD (UN Conference on Trade and Development), focus on building a fair trade with developing countries.

The year 1965 saw the creation of the first alternative trade organization (ATO): This year started, the British NGO Oxfam “Helping the sale,” a program selling, which in craft shops of Oxfam in UK and mail order catalogs imported.

In 1969 opened the first World store in the Netherlands base. The initiative for the principles of fair trade retail them through the sale of goods, almost exclusively under Fair Trade conditions in regions produced nderdeveloped. The first business was run by volunteers and was so successful that dozens of similar transactions soon to start a business in the Benelux countries, Germany and other European countries. worked

During 1960 and 1970 segments important fair trade movement has to find markets for products from countries ruled by traditional distribution channels were for political reasons. Thousands of volunteers sold coffee from Angola and Nicaragua World Shops, behind churches, their homes, and displays in public places, with the products as a vehicle for their message across: give disadvantaged producers in developing countries a fair chance in the world market and support their self-determined sustainable development. The fair trade movement blossomed, if created and not in sales, at least with respect to ten Atos on both sides of the Atlantic, ten world shops put in place and well-organized actions and campaigns attacking exploitation and foreign domination, and promote the ideals of Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere, and the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. the right to independence and self-determination, equal access to global markets and consumers

Crafts vs. agricultural products

In the early 1980s, face alternative trade organizations, major challenges: the novelty of some products from Fair trade has begun to wane, the demand reached a plateau and IRED crafts and antiques market for the decline of the segments began. Craft market forced fair trade supporters to rethink their business model and goals. In addition, supporters of fair trade in this period was increasingly concerned about the impact of falling agricultural commodity prices concern for the poor producers. Many believed it was to be found then the object of the movement to solve the problem and innovative medicines in the current crisis in the industry.

respond played

In the following years, the fair trade of agricultural products have an important role in the growth of many Atos: success on the market, they offered a much needed source of revenue for producers of renewable energy and alternative trade organizations provided a perfect addition to complement the traditional market. The first exhibition of agricultural products were tea and coffee, quickly dried fruits, cocoa, sugar, fruit juices, rice, spices, fruits, followed hull. In 1992, a report from the sale of 80% to 20% of craft enterprises in agricultural products, the standard was, came in trade from 2002 to 25.4% of sales, fair trade, so that the lines of food to 69, 4% increase.

of initiatives to mark

At the beginning of the Fairtrade Certification Mark

sales of Fairtrade products really going on with the arrival of the first Fair Trade certification initiatives. While supported by growth in sales of more fair trade usually contained relatively low world shops scattered throughout Europe and to a lesser extent in North America. Some felt that these transactions were not separated from the rhythms and the contemporary lifestyle developed societies. The other side would only buy one or two products was too high for even the most loyal customers. The only way was to increase market opportunities start to offer fair trade products where consumers tend to shop in the large distribution channels. The problem was to find a way to expand distribution without the confidence of consumers in Fair Trade products and their origin.

A solution found in 1988, when the initiative was first fair trade certification, Max Havelaar, was created in the Netherlands on the initiative of Nico Roozen, Frans van der Hoff and Dutch development NGO Solidaridad. The independent certification allowed the goods to be sold outside the world shops and into the mainstream and a larger consumer segment and the promotion of fair trade sales were clear. The initiative also has to confirm label customers and retailers to track the origin of the goods that the products really jumped to the benefit of producers at the end of the supply chain

The concept for the train. In the years that followed established organizations such as the non-profit Fair Trade labeling in other European countries and North America. In 1997, a process of convergence between East and certification bodies (initiatives Abeling) led to the establishment Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO). FLO is an umbrella organization whose mission is to provide standards for fair trade, support, inspect and certify disadvantaged producers and harmonize set the Fair Trade message of the movement.

In 2002, FLO for the first time an international fair trade label launched. The objectives of the launch were to improve the visibility of the brand on the supermarket shelf facilitating cross-border trade and simplify procedures for manufacturers and importers. Currently, the certification mark in over 50 countries and dozens of different products based on FLO certification for use of coffee, tea, rice, bananas, mangoes, cocoa, cotton, sugar, honey, fruit juices, nuts, fresh fruit, quinoa, herbs and spices, wine, soccer balls, etc.

Fair Trade today

product certification

Main article: .. Fair Trade certification

Note: The spelling of common Fair is a word for the product FLO labeling system

Fair Trade Labelling (usually simply Fairtrade or Fair Trade Certified in the U.S. ) is a system of certification that the consumer goods standards. be identified by a standards body (FLO International) and a certification body (FLO-CERT) oversee the agreed targets, the system of independent review are from manufacturers and distributors ensure meets agreed standards.

For a product to either carry the International Fairtrade Certification Mark or the Fair Trade Certified mark, it will be reviewed by FLO-CERT and certified producer organizations. The crop must be grown and harvested in accordance with international standards set by FLO International Fairtrade. The supply chain must be monitored by FLO-CERT has been to ensure the integrity of the labeled products.

Fair Trade certification is not only fair prices but also to ensure the principles of ethical purchasing. These principles include respect for ILO conventions such as the prohibition of child labor and slave job security and guarantee the right to form trade unions, membership of the Charter of the United Nations for human rights, a fair price, that production costs are covered and facilitates social development, protection and preservation of the environment. The system of fair trade certification is also long-term relationships between buyers and sellers, pre-financing of crops and greater transparency throughout the supply chain and encourage even more.

The Fair Trade certification covers a growing range of products, including bananas, honey, coffee, oranges, cocoa, cotton, dried and fresh fruits and vegetables, juices, fruits, nuts and oil seeds, quinoa, rice, spices, sugar, tea and wine. Companies offering products that meet fair trade criteria, for the use of trademarks used to apply Fair Trade certification for these products.

The International Fair Trade label was launched in 2002 by

FLO and replaced twelve marks used by various initiatives for fair trade labeling. The new mark is now in use worldwide (except Canada and the United States). The Fair Trade Certified Mark used in Canada and the United States, nor identified as a fair trade goods in both countries. The final transition to the new brand must be a reality in the future, they gradually replaced the old mark in both countries.

International fair trade label

Fair Trade Certified (USA & Canada)

WFTO Fair Trade Organization Mark

WTO members trade organization

In an effort to enable the certification system to complete Commodities Fair, as well as craft producers sell their products outside shops in the world, the World Fair Trade Organization (WTO) in 2004, a new mark to identify Fair Trade Organizations (as opposed to products in the case of FLO International and Fairtrade). Called the FTO Mark, allows consumers to Fair Trade guarantees to recognize organizations registered around the world and the standards are implemented in terms of working conditions, wages, child labor and the environment. The FTO Mark gave for the first time all Fair Trade organizations (including workshops) definable recognition amongst consumers, business partners, existing and new governments and donors

Alternative Professional

Main article: .

/> An alternative trade organization (ATO) is usually a non-governmental organization (NGO) or a company focused on the mission focus of the fair trade movement, which “contribute to poverty reduction in developing countries, regions of the world by creating a trading system that producers have pushed the edge allowed in developing regions, access to markets of developed countries “aims.

alternative trade organizations have to support fair trade in the heart of its mission and activities, use as a development tool for disadvantaged producers and to reduce poverty and create synergies through awareness and marketing campaigns.

alternative trade organizations are often but not always, on the basis of political and religious groups, even when their secular purpose precludes identification sectarian and evangelical activity. Philosophically, the basis for policy and action agenda of these organizations, the staff actively with progressive political causes since the 1960s. Above all, the belief in collective action and commitment to moral principles of social justice, economic and commercial

the European Fair Trade Association (EFTA), the essential feature after alternative trade organizations is that of equal partnership and to develop a partnership between local producers and importers, shops, labeling organizations and consumers – respect. Alternative trade “humanizes” the trade process – making the producer-consumer chain as short as possible so that consumers of culture, identity has become, and the living conditions of farmers. All actors are committed to the principle of alternative trade, the need for advocacy in their working relationships and the importance of awareness and advocacy.

World Shops

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br /> Story:. World Shop

Oxfam shop on Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London

world shops, world shops or Fair Trade shops offer specialty shops and the promotion of fair trade products. World shops also tend to organize various educational activities, fair trade and play an active role in fair trade and other North-South political campaigns.

world shops are often not

of nonprofit organizations and managed locally established networks of volunteers.

Although the movement originated in Europe and most of the shops in the world are still on the continent, is world-stores now in North America, Australia and New Zealand.

World Shops goal is trade directly with trading partners as possible. Usually this means a producer in a developing country and consumers in developed countries. The goal of the World Shops is to pay producers a fair price that substinence guarantees and assures positive social development. Often cut all middlemen in the chain import

Impact Studies

main article. : Fair trade impact studies

Several independent studies have recently been the impact of fair trade among the participating farmers and workers

measured
Brewing Justice. Fair trade coffee, sustainability and survival of the Michigan State University assistant professor Daniel Jaffee has led a four-year study on the impact of fair trade on producers Michiza coffee cooperative in Oaxaca, Mexico. Jaffee findings in 2007 published the book “Brewing Justice: Fair Trade coffee, sustainable development and survival, a more differentiated view of fair trade:” The rising price of fair trade increased gross household income – even if, as most fair-trade coffee is certified organic, producers have higher costs of production as well. Participation in the trade fair reduce household debt and improve their economic possibilities in order to better educate their children and feed efficiency. equal protection of farmers partially trade offers some of the worst aspects of the crisis and commodity prices in many cases, they need to breathe engage in a more sustainable agriculture. Additional capital may also generate substantial economic domino effect of fair trade in communities to create more jobs, not participating for families. However, fair trade is not a panacea and it does not work, most participants of poverty. (…) The demand for Fairtrade products has increased in the economic benefits to the families of small farmers and for the system to many other producers have grown coffee and other products in the world “

The impact of fair trade on producers and their organizations. A case study of COOCAFE in Costa Rica in 2002, Loraine Ronchi have Poverty Research Unit at Sussex University examined the impact of fair trade cooperative in Costa Rica COOCAFE. Ronchi noted that fair trade producer organizations to be strengthened and determined that “can be given the crisis in the coffee in the early 1990s are fair trade with the objective of improving the returns on small producers and a positive effect on their quality of life and health, that local organizations representing national and Beyond be achieved “

One cup at a time. fight against poverty and fair trade coffee in Latin America in 2003, the Fair Trade Research Group at Colorado State University conducted seven case studies of Latin American producers of fairly traded coffee (UCIRI, CEPCO, Majomut, Las Colinas and El Sincuyo La Selva and La Voz Tzotzilotic) and concluded that is fair trade “in a short time greatly improved the welfare of coffee farmers into small scale and their families,” Case Studies different and in particular noted that the producers were financed under fair trade access to credit and external development. The studies also found that producers of fair trade, compared to conventional coffee producers better access to training and the ability to to improve the quality of their coffee .. The families of fair trade producers were also to be more stable and children have better access to education than families in coffee-growing
/> study impact of trade on fair peasant organizations and their families and territories in Filir cif Yungas of Bolivia A case study of Bolivian coffee producers of Fair published trade Nicolas found Eberhart for French NGOs and vet Agronomists Without Borders in 2005, that Fair Trade certification, in the Yungas a positive impact the local price of coffee was economically (certified Fair Trade or not) for the benefit of all coffee producers, the show was also said to increase strengthened producer organizations and their political influence

address the coffee crisis:.. Can Fair Trade, organic and specialty coffees reduce small farmer vulnerability in northern Nicaragua? A comparative case study conducted small producer groups that coffee sold in conventional and has certified organic / fair trade market in the north of Nicaragua showed that, the sale of Fair Trade, the vulnerability of livelihoods to reduce small farmers, “if the prices of commodities of coffee was low (Bacon, 2005). The development of governance structures, corporate concentration, oversupply, interchangeable products beans rank and low agricultural prices characterize the crisis in conventional coffee markets. In contrast, certified Fair Trade and organic coffees are two types of trade and production that may be useful to a wider process of sustainable community development. A team of participatory action research surveyed 228 farmers to assess the impact of sales to organic markets and fair trade. The results suggest that participation in networks of reduced organic and fair trade, the vulnerability of the livelihood of farmers and can help empowerment of bottom-up process. Nevertheless, substantial challenges remain in efforts to increase positive impacts and maintain the basic values ​​of fair trade fair trade as between the current

Fair Trade producers pushed to the edge. An impact on farmers in Kenya, an econometric analysis of Becchetti and Costantino (2006), the study examined the impact of Fair Trade affiliation on monetary and non monetary measures of well-being on one. Sample of farmers in Kenya, the researchers compared a control sample of farmers in fair trade groups and herbs Meru farmers Becchetti and Costantino documents the following:. In the same period, farmers have more fair trade