fairtrade

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Fairtrade

Brighton & Hove has a monthly Fairtrade Fair and Farmers Market, making the link between global and local sustainability issues.

Fairtrade guarantees a better deal for third world farmers. Visit the Brighton & Hove Fairtrade City website to find out more

• what is fairtrade?
• what does being a Fairtrade City mean?
• why should I buy fairtrade goods?
• where can I buy fairtrade goods?
• as a business how can I get involved?

What is fairtrade?

Goods that are considered "fairtrade" are licensed a registered Fairtrade mark by the Fairtrade Foundation when they meet a set of criteria based on sustainability, democracy for farmers, acceptable working conditions and community issues. This mark is monitored by a network of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations across the world. The Fairtrade organisations buying the products agree to pay a fair price that covers producers' basic needs, costs of production, and is guaranteed to be more than the world price, with the extra money used by workers to improve their living and working conditions.

The Fairtrade mark is the only independent guarantee that producers in the developing world have received a premium on the market price.

What does being a Fairtrade City mean?

Brighton & Hove achieved Fairtrade City status in 2004.   

To be a Fairtrade City five goals need to be achieved:

• the local council passes a resolution supporting and promoting fairtrade.
• a range of at least two fairtrade products are readily available in the area’s shops and are served in local cafes / catering establishments.
• fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places and community groups.
• media coverage and popular support is attracted for the campaign.
• a local fairtrade steering group is set up to ensure continued commitment to its Fairtrade City status.

Once these five goals have been met, the people of the city are considered to be working towards helping farmers in the third world to be paid a decent wage and provide opportunities for their local communities to be sustainable. However, being a Fairtrade City is a continuing process of promoting and supporting the Fairtrade initiative, and making considered purchasing choices to stop exploitation.

Why should I buy fairtrade goods?

There is an inequality in the global market caused by free trade. Sixty per cent of coffee and tea growers live in absolute poverty. When the market price drops below the price of production, the retail price for a jar of coffee remains unchanged whilst the cut in price is passed on to the farmer. Another inequality linked to the current situation is that slave labour is used on cocoa plantations in West Africa, which is a source of more than forty two per cent of the world’s cocoa. Because this situation is so difficult to monitor the only way of ensuring chocolate is not from such a source is to buy Fairtrade marked products.

Where can I buy fairtrade goods?

Fairtrade goods can be brought in a number of outlets in Brighton & Hove. The Co-op supermarket sell their own brand fairtrade tea, coffee and chocolate as well as a number of other products.

As a business how can I get involved?

Join the growing list of businesses that support Fairtrade.

Brighton & Hove City Council have passed a resolution to support us becoming a Fairtrade City. As part of maintaining the five goals towards this end, we need to know which businesses support or would like to support Fairtrade - we feel sure you would like to join us in this project.

So, if you already use Fairtrade products in your workplace, such as Fairtrade tea and coffee, why not contact the Brighton & Hove Fairtrade Group and add your name to the list that they are compiling?

And, if you would like to change from bland brand to super slurp, then look on their website for info on how to make the change.

If you sell Fairtrade products, or are prepared to offer discounted services to Fairtrade organisations, we can also include you in our Fairtrade directory.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Fairtrade Foundation there will be lots of events for different groups and interests throughout the year. To find out what's on, look at the Brighton Fairtrade Group website for our diary of events.

Fairtrade resolution for business in Brighton & Hove

(Name of business) supports Brighton & Hove as a Fairtrade city.

In order to show our support for the campaign and for other communities, locally and internationally, we will:

• use Fairtrade goods wherever possible at our own meetings and events i.e. tea, coffee, etc.
• support the use of Fairtrade goods by providing information to the public where appropriate
• actively support the use of Fairtrade goods by publishing information about Fairtrade goods and the campaign in our newsletter, website and other means of communication where appropriate.

Send to info@bhft.org.uk

Further information

For more information on fairtrade please contact the Brighton & Hove Fairtrade group or visit the Fairtrade Foundation or the Brighton & Hove Fairtrade City website.