| Along with "Green", "Eco-Friendly", and "Sustainable", | | | | brought to market in one of two ways. The first is |
| "Fair Trade" seems to be a term that gets utilized | | | | the "supply chain" method whereby goods are |
| quite a bit these days whether it is on the side of a | | | | produced, distributed, and sold through a common |
| coffee can or the back of a chocolate wrapper. We | | | | organization whose goal is to enhance the living |
| thought it might be useful to learn a little more about | | | | standards of the worker and promote fair trade. The |
| this label/movement. | | | | second and more common today is the "certification" |
| The basic idea of Fair Trade is one of connecting | | | | method whereby goods are certified by one of |
| producers (rural workers and craftsman) with viable | | | | many third party independent sources as complying |
| markets (you and me). The goal is to achieve this in | | | | with a set of underlying goals. These goods are then |
| the most efficient and transparent way possible to | | | | allowed to use the certification mark which in theory |
| ensure that those producers: | | | | will garner a premium over non certified products. |
| - Receive a fair wage for the work they produce | | | | Fair Trade Today: The idea of Fair Trade has grown |
| - Work in conditions that are safe and hazard free | | | | substantially in the years that have followed its |
| - Learn the business skills necessary to compete in | | | | inception. In order to learn a bit more about the |
| the global economy | | | | challenges facing Fair Trade today we spoke with |
| - Produce goods sustainably to ensure the resources | | | | Barkha Malik of Barkhas Custom Sourcing LLC. Barkha |
| they utilize will survive for generations to come. | | | | has been working directly with rural crafts people |
| According to Wikipedia, Fair Trade can be defined as: | | | | (primarily in India) for over 15 years. She specializes in |
| "an organized social movement and market-based | | | | facilitating the creation of unique textiles for use in |
| approach to empowering developing country | | | | both residential and commercial settings. We asked |
| producers and promoting sustainability. The | | | | Barkha about the obstacles confronting rural crafts |
| movement advocates the payment of a fair price as | | | | people and the role she plays in bringing the goods to |
| well as social and environmental standards in areas | | | | market. According to Barkha, "the greatest hurdle for |
| related to the production of a wide variety of | | | | the rural crafts people is probably the lack of |
| goods." | | | | education. This leads to exploitation of their talent by |
| History: The current fair trade movement seems to | | | | their employers. They often do not earn enough to |
| have found its footing in and around Europe in the | | | | make anything close to a decent living for their |
| 1960's as a grass roots way of attempting to help | | | | families. Lack of education also leads to ignorance |
| third world nations by empowering the working class | | | | about all the options that might be available to them |
| with capital. Initial Fair Trade efforts focused on | | | | through government funding programs or other |
| seeking specialized channels of distribution for Fair | | | | avenues which can get them out of the ill-paid jobs |
| Trade goods. As a result of this effort, so called | | | | they are trapped in". |
| "Worldshops" opened and became the destination for | | | | According to Barkha, markets exist in which many of |
| those seeking Fair Trade goods and wishing to | | | | the goods produced can be very valuable,it is the |
| support the movement. While this method of | | | | logistics of getting their goods out to those markets |
| distribution brought attention to the cause, theses | | | | that is daunting for these native artisans. Barkha sees |
| specialized outlets lacked the broad appeal of mass | | | | her role as one who helps facilitate this. In order to |
| distribution. Enter the certification label. In the late | | | | do so she says that communication is the key. |
| 1980's in response to a sharp decline in coffee prices | | | | "Advances in technology have definitely made this |
| the first certification label was created (so called Max | | | | work a lot easier than it was when I did my first |
| Havelaar label after a fictional Dutch character who | | | | custom project almost 15 years ago. Email and cell |
| opposed the exploitation of coffee pickers in Dutch | | | | phones have made for much faster communication |
| colonies ). By creating a certification process and label | | | | as compared to black/white faxes and waiting days |
| that branded a product as "fair trade", the | | | | for courier packages to arrive before approving |
| movement was able to move out of small specialty | | | | textile patterns etc. Skype is another great way of |
| shops and into the mainstream. The success of this | | | | international communication which is very economical |
| first Fair Trade label brought about the creation of | | | | and very popular even with small artisan groups in |
| many more, which naturally led to confusion in the | | | | remote corners of the Himalayas who can log on |
| marketplace. In 1997 FLO (Fairtrade Labeling | | | | from internet enabled computers in their local village |
| Organizations International) was established as a | | | | marketplaces." |
| governing body to set forth standards for the | | | | Future of Fair Trade: With the increasing awareness |
| varying labels (referred to as Labeling Initiatives). In | | | | among consumers about sustainability and |
| 2002 FLO created its own label, the International | | | | environmental issues it stands to reason that |
| Fairtrade Certification Mark in an attempt to | | | | products produced under Fair Trade conditions may |
| consolidate all marks into single recognizable symbol. | | | | continue to enjoy acceptance and growth in the |
| However many individual Labeling Initiatives (such as | | | | marketplace. According to FLO, 2007 saw a 47% |
| TransFairUSA and TransFairCanada) still maintain a | | | | increase in the sale of Fairly Traded goods to about |
| separate logo and work alongside FLO to ensure | | | | $3.6 billion worldwide. If this growth is sustained Fair |
| guideline compliance | | | | Trade items may someday become the standard |
| . | | | | rather than a niche brand. |
| How it works: Fair Trade products are general | | | | |