The Fairtrade Foundation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Fairtrade Foundation | |
 |
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| Type | Charitable organization |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters |  London, UK |
| Key people | Harriet Lamb, Director |
| Employees | ~41 (2006) |
| Website | www.fairtrade.org.uk |
The Fairtrade Foundation is the British member of FLO International, which unites 20 national Fairtrade initiatives across Europe, Japan, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
The organization, registered as a charity, exists to improve the position of poor and marginalised producers in the developing world, by encouraging industry and consumers in the United Kingdom to support fairer trade.[1]
The Foundation achieves this by:
- Awarding the independent consumer guarantee - the Fairtrade Mark - to products which give a better deal to producers in the developing world. In collaboration with FLO International and FLO-CERT, the Fairtrade foundation checks through regular inspection and audit that products with the Fairtrade Mark continue to meet Fairtrade standards.
- Promoting research into and education about the causes and effects of poverty, particularly in relation to the conduct of trade and conditions of employment for poor people throughout the world. [2]
The Foundation was established in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, New Consumer, Oxfam, Traidcraft and the World Development Movement. These founding organisations were later joined by Britain's largest women's organisation, the Women's Institute.
The Fairtrade Foundation organizes and coordinates several promotional campaigns and events every year, such as the Fairtrade fortnight (which typically runs in March), the British counterpart of Max Havelaar France's Quinzaine du Commerce Équitable. The Foundation also coordinates the Fairtrade Town campaign, which designates areas and towns committed to the promotion of Fairtrade certified goods.
Fairtrade certified products are today widely available in the United Kingdom. In 2006, there were over 2000 Fairtrade product lines available in the country. The products can be found at Asda, Budgens, Booths, Co-op, Londis, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons and Safeway, Sainsbury's, Somerfield, Spar, Tesco, Waitrose as well as in dozens of coffee shops, small retailers and online shops.
In 2005, Fairtrade certified sales in the United Kingdom amounted to approximately £195 million, a 40 % year-to-year increase.[3] Fairtrade sales are expected to increase significantly in the upcoming years in the United Kingdom: market analyst Mintel predicts sales to crash through the half a billion pound mark (£547 million) by 2011.[4]
It was estimated in 2005 that approximately 50% of the British adult population could identify the Fairtrade Certification Mark, up from 25% in 2003 and 39% in 2004.
[edit] See also
| Fair trade topics | Fair trade | History of fair trade | Fairtrade certification | Fair trade and politics | Fair trade impact studies | Fair trade debate | Alternative trading organization | Trade justice | Worldshop | Black Gold (film) | One Cup (film) |
|---|---|
| Federations | Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International | International Fair Trade Association | Network of European Worldshops | European Fair Trade Association | FINE | Fair Trade Federation |
| Certification | FLO International (standard-setting & producer support) | FLO-CERT (inspection & certification) | International Fairtrade Certification Mark | Fair Trade Certified Mark |
| Campaigns | Fairtrade Town | List of Fairtrade settlements | Fairtrade fortnight | Make Trade Fair | World Fair Trade Day |
| Fairtrade labelling initiatives | Asociación del Sello de Productos de Comercio Justo | Comercio Justo México | Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand | Fairtrade Österreich | Fairtrade Mark Ireland | The Fairtrade Foundation | Max Havelaar Belgique | Association Max Havelaar France | Max Havelaar Danmark | Stichting Max Havelaar | Fairtrade Max Havelaar Norge | Max Havelaar-Stiftung (Schweiz) | Reilun kaupan edistämisyhdistys | Rättvisemärkt | TransFair Canada | TransFair Deutschland | TransFair Italia | TransFair Japan | TransFair-Minka Luxembourg | TransFair USA |
|---|
[edit] References
- ^ The Fairtrade Foundation. (2000). Unpeeling the Banana Trade. URL accessed on December 31, 2006.
- ^ The Fairtrade Foundation. (2000). Unpeeling the Banana Trade. URL accessed on December 31, 2006.
- ^ BBC News Service(2006). Global Fairtrade Sales Taking Off. URL accessed on November 7, 2006.
- ^ Confectionary News (January 8, 2007) Divine Restructuring the Fairtrade Market. URL accessed on January 15, 2007.
