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 |
| Website | www.fairtrade.org.uk |
The Fairtrade Foundation is the British member of FLO International, which unites 23 Fairtrade producer and labelling initiatives across Europe, Asia, Latin America, North America, Africa, 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 hundreds of coffee shops, small retailers and online shops.
In 2007, Fairtrade certified sales in the United Kingdom amounted to approximately £493 million, up from £273 million in 2006. Sales of the top selling product, bananas, topped 150 million pounds, an increase of 130 percent. In 2007, Fairtrade accounted for 25 percent of the bananas sold in Britain. Fairtrade sales of coffee in Britain, which had been the top selling product in 2006, rose 24 percent to 117 million pounds.[3]
It was estimated in 2008 that approximately 70% of the British adult population could identify the Fairtrade Certification Mark[4], up from 25% in 2003, 39% in 2004, 50% in 2005 and 57% in 2007.[5]
In 2008, it was estimated that two in three UK households now buy at least one Fairtrade product.[6]
[edit] See also
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[edit] References
- ^ The Fairtrade Foundation. (2000). Unpeeling the Banana Trade. URL accessed on March 5, 2008.
- ^ The Fairtrade Foundation. (2000). Unpeeling the Banana Trade. URL accessed on March 5, 2008.
- ^ The Guardian (February 25, 2008) Fairtrade sales soar in Britain. URL accessed on February 25, 2008.
- ^ Just-food (2008). [UK: Awareness of fairtrade symbol rises to 70% http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?id=102331]
- ^ House of Commons International Development Committee (June 5, 2007) Fair Trade and Development. URL accessed on June 20, 2007.
- ^ Sunday Mirror [1]. URL accessed on February 24, 2008.
