Verification vs.
Certification
Membership Basics:
- Commitment to fair trade principles
- fairly-traded goods
- fair trade businesses practices
- Members are artisans & growers, wholesalers, retailers
- Membership provides networking opportunities, communal growth
- Sliding Scale membership dues
Membership
Organizations
Concepts:
3rd Party
Certifications
- Shortest supply chain
- Equal & transparent relationships
- No labels
- Co-ops have more negotiation power
- Artisans & growers own their own shares/businesses/farm land
- Vendor questionnaire & building long-term relationships
Fair Trade Labels
Things You
Should Know...
Direct Trade
- Producers pay certifiers to audit them, then pay for labels to be put on the product
- "fairly traded" ingredients
- Business style vs. product
- A Fair Trade Certified™ product can come from a non fair trade company
- A Fair Trade Certified™ plantation or factory
- Fair For Life certifies the entire manufacturing chain
Fair Trade USA
Fair Trade Certified™
- USA
- Not recognized as a credible Fair Trade Certifier by Fair World Project because of low standards
Priority Within
The Supply Chain
Conventional
Fair Trade
- Producer costs
- Environmental costs
- Shipping costs
- Processing costs
- Wholesale costs
- Retailer costs
- Profit margins
Fair Trade is...
- A response to exploitative global trade systems.
- A movement:
- Sustainable development with a focus on small producers
- Changing Corporate behavior
- Influencing Trade Policies
- An economic model: A transparent traceable supply chain
Fair Trade Terminology
Fair Trade – USA (movement, NGOs & products)
Fairtrade – Europe (NGOs & products)
fair trade - can be products that are not certified, protectionism
fairly traded – not certified or not certifiable
Fair Trade Certified™ –exclusive use licensed by Fair Trade USA
Domestic fair trade or Domestic Fair Trade – directed at Northern producers
Tips for
Choosing Authentic
Fair Trade Products
fairworldproject.org
- Look for full company commitment
- Avoid bad actors
- Look beyond certifications
- Read labels
- Be an activist!
Beware of
Feel-Good Labels