. What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is a certification from Fair Trade USA, a non-profit based out of Oakland California, that certifies that the product you are buying has been made with the utmost social and environmental responsibility. I.E. that the manufacturer was not abusing their workers or harming the environment when they make their product. To quote the paper: “As the leading third-party certifier of fair trade products in North America, FT USA’s certification stamp or seal of approval was also more than just a label; it ensured adherence to a rigorous set of standards so that ‘purchases are socially and environmentally responsible.’” As well as: “FT USA’s Fair Trade Certified label was distinctly focused on empowering ‘farmers and workers to fight poverty through trade, and to protect the environment.’”
Originally it had a focus on coffee, an industry where workers are commonly abused or severely underpaid. But the certification has since expanded to cover organic, environmental, and certain company-specific standards for a huge amount of products.
2. How does Fair Trade certification process differ from Utz Certified or others?
Fair Trade extends beyond just setting a few social and environmental standards. The big difference between Fair Trade and RA or UTZ is the fact that Fair Trade sets a standard for community empowerment. They demanded specific floor prices, community development premiums, and an overall empowering structure for farmers and such. The Fair
Recently people have become more and more conscious of what they put into their bodies and where it comes from. An unprecedented amount of information is now readily available to most Americans with the advent of the Internet. This has resulted in a great increase in transparency of the many aspects of imported products. Consequently, programs have been established to help ensure that these products are produced in more ethical and humane ways. To many Americans, the Fair Trade labeled bags of coffee they purchase that give them the energy they need to go about their day in addition to being a socially conscious decision but to many it is a means for survival and an escape from a cycle of debt that traps many similar non-Fair Trade growers generation after generation
Fair trade is a market reactive system that wants to abolish global inhumane acts from child labor, poor working environments, low wages, and healthy working conditions. Fair Trade does not control the prices at a local level the producers
The Max Havelaar Fairtrade Mark is the only standard that the 'Triple P' of sustainable development - People, Planet and Profit - completely covers. Through a guaranteed fair price creates the label space for both economic development and environmental improvement and social progress. Fairtrade system that makes it a unique model with the highest standard for sustainable development.
Fair-trade is a trading partnership that focuses on sustainable development for poorer producers. they do this by providing better trading conditions and raising awareness of their situation.
Trading fairly is a movement which strives for fair treatment for farmers. In a fair trade agreement, farmers will
To cut costs, companies relocate their factories to areas with minimal pollution regulations to produce more with lower prices. Without tariffs, “trade without borders” become more much accessible and gratifying multibillion dollar corporations. Free trade agreements such as NAFTA and WTO do not consider the ecosystem and thus, endanger biodiversity and vital natural resources. Globalexchange.org states, the creation of free trade agreements imperil “global diversity by accelerating the spread of genetically engineered crops, … and erodes the public’s ability to protect our planet for future generations.” All in all, the absence of environmental regulations in free trade agreements severely damage the biosphere.
Logos are emblems or graphic marks used by enterprises and organizations worldwide to promote public recognition. From Target’s red bullseye to Nike’s prominent swoosh, logos catch our eye and provide us with a way to connect particular symbols to their respective companies. The Fair Trade Certified logo embodies the beliefs promoted by Fair Trade USA. Fair Trade USA is devoted to enhancing the lives of those who are in poverty and helping farmers in many third-world around the globe earn reasonable wages for their hard work. Fair Trade products are described as “socially and environmentally sustainable.”
Being an entirely fair trade company means Just Us pays its suppliers from so-called “third world” countries a fair price, including a premium for social welfare, gets into long-term contracts (equal or more then a harvest cycle) with them skipping middlemen who often absorb most of the margin and offers them additional benefits e.g. pre-payment and loans. “The
FTF (Fair Trade Federation) is an organization that strengthens and promotes North American organizations fully committed to fair trade. This federation started at the late 1970s when alternative individual trade organizations began to hold conferences for groups working in fair trade. At the beginning, this organization was called the NAATO(North American Alternative Trade Organization) but changed its name to FTF(Fair Trade Federation) in 1995. The FTF has their base on the World Fair Trade Organization, upholding each other’s principles; Create Opportunities for Economically and Socially Marginalized Producers, Develop Transparent and Accountable Relationships, Build Capacity, Promote Fair Trade, Pay Promptly and Fairly, Support Safe and
Fair Trade’s consumer recognition has tripled in the last five years, proving the company’s sustainability in a global market. As of today, this organization works with more than 800 companies to verify more than 6,000 products as Fair Trade. In 2009, Fair Trade Certified products generated $1.2 billion in retail sales, indicating their large-scale business practices.
Since the mid-20th century, countries have progressively reduced barriers, subsidies to domestic industries and diverse restrictions on international commerce in order to promote specialization and greater efficiency in production. In theory, free trade allows nations to focus on their main comparative advantages and profit from cooperation and voluntary trade. This strategy is usually reinforced by treaties between two or more countries where commerce of goods and services can be handled across their common borders, without tariffs and other trade obstacles. As a key component of regional integration in the Americas, CAFTA-DR is one important example of this economic ideology.
Free Trade is the concept we use when referring to selling of products between countries without tariffs, fees, or trade barriers. Free Trade simply is the absence of government interference or numerous restrictions, which has been labeled as laissez fair economics. Free Trade grants easier access to goods and services, promote faster growth for the economy, and also allows for the outsourcing of production of goods, which hurts the economy. Many believe that the free trade hurts developed countries and nations, due to the loss of jobs by international competition and can reduce the country’s GDP. Overall, free trade agreement with other countries can save time and money and increase participating countries economy.
2009). This in itself shows the high standards of sustainability can be made from free trade (Gidney, M. 2009). Fair trade provides two key benefits that can help with the current world economic crisis. First it provides sustained benefits for producers that can help maintain their business through fluctuations of the world market (Gidney, M. 2009). Second, fair trade helps to maintain fair prices, additional social premium, and long-term partnerships that help provide better living standards for millions of people in over 60 countries (Gidney, M. 2009).
Throughout the years, there has been a constant controversy over whether the World Trade Organization should enforce global free trade. The primary idea is to establish in which all are happy. Although there are many advocates for trade liberalization, as well as many who oppose. I believe free trade may be advantageous for both large and small-industrialized countries, but it does not favor the smaller developing countries needs primarily.
The fair trade concept, based on the idea of both economic activity and social development, is replete with ethical and sustainable echoes. Ransom (2002 p 20) asks, 'can the