Making Fairtrade your business
by Serge Merone (on behalf of Perth City Fairtrade Steering Group)
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You may have heard the world 'Fairtrade' in the media during the Fairtrade Fortnight in March 2006 which was widely publicised across the UK. You may wonder what it is.
Fairtrade is an independent consumer label awarded by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) and supported in the UK by the Fairtrade Foundation.
Fairtrade products must meet a strict set of criteria guaranteeing, for example, decent wages, a fair price, credit terms, good environmental standards, no child or forced labour and worker representation in trade union activities.
In other worlds, when consumers are buying Fairtrade certified products, they support third world producers as Fairtrade products guarantee a better deal for them.
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Different businesses have already used Fairtrade as a key selling point to retain and attract customers. You just have to look at shelves in the supermarkets and you will notice that Fairtrade products are more and more popular and available.
Fairtrade cover a wide range of products such as coffee, fruit juice, teas, chocolate, rice, wine, pepper, vanilla, football and cotton. For a full list, visit the Fairtrade Foundation website:
www.fairtrade.org.uk. Although the Fairtrade Fortnight is passed, you can still make Fairtrade you business habit the rest of the year.
There can be no doubt that the Fairtrade Towns initiative has played an important part in achieving success in both the sales and awareness of Fairtrade products.
The purpose of a Fairtrade Town/City is to contribute to the Fairtrade Foundation's aim of tackling poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to receive a better deal, through encouraging support for the FAIRTRADE Label/Mark.
Communities in Perth and Kinross are participating in the initiative.
Aberfeldy become the first Fairtrade Town in Scotland in November 2002, Kinross-shire became a Faitrade County in August 2005 and Perth City a Fairtrade City in June 2005. Perth City is a good example on how communities and businesses can become involved.
Although Perth City's involvement in the Fairtrade Campaign is quite recent, the City achieved its Fairtrade City status last year. David Buchan (Spring Fine Foods), Chair of Perth City Faitrade Steering Group received the certificate from Patricia Fergusson, Scottish Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport, with the support of Perth and Kinross Council's Provost Bob Scott and Chief Executive, Bernadette Malone.
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Fairtrade market
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| For many years, local shops, local community groups and organisations were involved by selling, serving or using Fairtrade Products. It is the case of St Matthews Church Traidcraft Group which pioneered Fairtrade in Perth by setting a small group fifteen years ago and started to purchase Fairtrade products and sold and served them locally. This achievement was recognised at the 'Think Global, Act Local 2005 event' organised by Perth and Kinross Quality of Life Trust in September 2005. The Scottish Co-op played also a significant role over the years. |
Helping support family
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David Buchan said, "Many people in Perth are committed to doing something concrete to help eradicate poverty in developing countries and Perth has done a great deal to achieve the goals set by the Fairtrade Foundation. Achieving the prestigious Fairtrade City marque has reflected this level of commitment. If you would like to your bit: ask for Faitrade products, buy Fairtrade products and tell your family and friends to do the same".
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