Fairtrade Church |
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We are a Fairtrade church. We have committed to:
What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is a system that ensures better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. The Fairtrade Foundation certifies products where companies pay locally negotiated fair and sustainable minimum prices, and meet social, economic and environmental standards. In addition to a minimum price (paid if the market price is lower), a further premium is invested in social, environmental and economic developmental projects, decided upon democratically by a committee of producers or workers. There must also be continuous improvements to develop farmers’ organisations or workers’ situations.
Why Fairtrade?
Conventional trade generally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. These producers may have poor access to markets and limited information about prices and market needs, so they often get very low prices. Fairtrade gives a better price as well as a premium to help an organisation or community grow. Fairtrade organisations also give training and market research advice to help producers develop and sell new Fairtrade products – and invest in opportunities to start Fairtrade for new products and new producers.
Fairtrade products have to meet minimum conditions for workers. Buying Fairtrade chocolate is important, for example, because some cocoa farmers use forced child labour in cocoa production. Fairtrade cocoa producers are strictly monitored on this – so if you want to ensure that your chocolate treats are not encouraging child slavery, buy Fairtrade chocolate!
For more information about Fairtrade see http://www.fairtrade.org.uk
- use Fairtrade tea and coffee for all meetings for which we have responsibility;
- move forward on using other Fairtrade products;
- promote Fairtrade during Fairtrade fortnight and through other activities where possible.
What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is a system that ensures better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. The Fairtrade Foundation certifies products where companies pay locally negotiated fair and sustainable minimum prices, and meet social, economic and environmental standards. In addition to a minimum price (paid if the market price is lower), a further premium is invested in social, environmental and economic developmental projects, decided upon democratically by a committee of producers or workers. There must also be continuous improvements to develop farmers’ organisations or workers’ situations.
Why Fairtrade?
Conventional trade generally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. These producers may have poor access to markets and limited information about prices and market needs, so they often get very low prices. Fairtrade gives a better price as well as a premium to help an organisation or community grow. Fairtrade organisations also give training and market research advice to help producers develop and sell new Fairtrade products – and invest in opportunities to start Fairtrade for new products and new producers.
Fairtrade products have to meet minimum conditions for workers. Buying Fairtrade chocolate is important, for example, because some cocoa farmers use forced child labour in cocoa production. Fairtrade cocoa producers are strictly monitored on this – so if you want to ensure that your chocolate treats are not encouraging child slavery, buy Fairtrade chocolate!
For more information about Fairtrade see http://www.fairtrade.org.uk
