October is Fair Trade Month
October is the month designated to spreading awareness and education about fair trade all over the world. The more people that become aware of fair trade and embrace its principles, the more we can base our world economy on environmentally and socially sustainable practices. In the spirit of education, my blogs this month will address some frequently asked questions regarding Fair Trade. I’ll start with the basics and continue to address the most common questions and concerns we hear from our customers. Feel free to respond with any areas you would like to see me address later in the month!
What is fair trade?
Fair Trade is an alternative way of doing business. It involves building long-term and equitable partnerships between consumers in North America and producers in developing regions. Fair Trade businesses must commit to the following criteria – established by the Fair Trade Federation (www.fairtradefederation.org):
• Paying a fair wage in the local context.
• Offering employees opportunities for advancement.
• Providing equal opportunities for all people.
• Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices.
• Being open to public accountability.
• Building long-term trade relationships.
• Providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context.
• Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible.
What percentage of the sale price is received by the artisans?
This is perhaps our most common question. And it is definitively the most impossible to answer. Alternative trade organizations work worldwide under an unending variety of circumstances: production, resources, geographics, and the unlimited number of factors involved in crafting and manufacturing. The short honest answer is: it varies. What we can count on is the “partnership” aspect of fair trade: fair trade producers are obliged to guarantee fair profit margins for all parties and not exploit artisans and workers.
Is the fair trade movement significant enough to make a difference?
I will never forget the moment the answer to this question crystallized in my mind- and inspired my commitment to fair trade. We had spent a month in Bali working with artisans producing crafts for our store. As our trip came to a close we offered $100.00 to a woman who had been particularly helpful to us during our stay. Suddenly, she threw herself down and flung her arms around our legs and cried in gratitude. Needless to say we were embarrassed and overwhelmed (not to mention naive). As we wrapped our arms around her and gently brushed away the tears she was finally able to speak through her astonishment. What we leaned was that we had, in essence, handed her a years worth of wages. She only made $75.00 annually. Upon learning this we then set up a fund for her children’s education and arranged tuition for her to attend sewing school. A little bit goes a long way. It is nothing to us, even in our worst of times, but so much to them. When a small cooperative in India, for example, receives an order from us for $1000.00 worth of tote bags it makes a significant difference to their livelihood and the survival of their community. In some areas, fair trade earnings are, in part, turned over to the community to improve quality of life. These monies may provide health care, potable water, day care, educational programs, literacy programs, or any number of social programs that bring viability and justice to an impoverished community.
Can I make a difference?
Please do not doubt the difference your dollars make to the cause of fair trade. Wherever you are, whatever you do, this is one way you can impact your world. Look forward to more ins ands outs of fair trade in my next blog. Thank you for being partners in spreading good around the world. And hey- if you haven’t become a subscriber to our website newsletter you might want to sign up- we are offering discounts all month to our preferred customers as a way to say thank you for supporting fair trade 365 days a year.
