Fair Trade

Fair Trade

1. History

   • 1988: Max Havelaar = first Fairtrade label.
     • Initiantive of dutch developement agency Solodaridad Frst fairtrade coffee sold in a dutch supermarket
   • Late '80s/early '90: replicated in several other marktes across Europa and America
     • Max Havelaar: Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, France
     • Transfair: Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, Italy, the United States, Canada, Japan
     • Fairtrade Makr: UK, Ireland Rättivsemärkt: Sweden, Reilu Kauppa: Finnland
   • 1997: Fairtrade Labelling Organization International (FLO) established in Bonn, Germany
     • unite the natinal Fairtrade organizatins
     • harmonize worldweide standards and cerification
   • 2002: Launch of the international FAIRTRADE Certification Mark
     • improve the visibility of the Mark on supermarkt schelves, facilitate cross border trades, simplyfy export procedures
   • 2004: split in two independet organizations
     • Fairtrade internationals: sets Fairtrade standards, provides producers support
     • FLOCERT: ispechts and certifies producer organization and audits trads

2. Concept

   • main tasks: coordinating Fairtrade labellint at an internatinal level, setting international Fairtrade standards, organizing support for producers around the world, developing globals Fairtrade strategy, promoting trade justice internationally
   • Fairtrade Standards: apply to all Fairtrade producs, apply also to companies who market Fairtrade products,
   • paying the farmers a fair price for their product, support them, teach them hwo to servive on the global on the global market
   • Critirions: good working conditions for the farmers and workers, no child labour, sustainablility

3. Disadvantages

   • farmers
     • losing independance, getting adicted to fairtrade, according to western standards getting less money, having to pay fees for the certification
   • customers
     • expensive products, not the whole product is produced fair

4. Advantages

   • farmers
     • getting support, fair price (according to the standards in their country), education, sending children to school,
   • customers
     • good conscience, good feeling, thinking they are supporting poor farmers

5. Products

   • Bananas, Coca, Coffee, Flowers, Sugar, Tea, Gold, Honey, Fruits, Spice and Herbs, Sports Balls, Cotton, Wine, Rice, Juices

6. Logo

   • the logo guarantees: fair price for farmers and workers, better working conditions, products of high quality, care of the enviroment