Buying for a fairer future

In recent years Fairtrade has been a big thing in the press, government, and with tree hugging hippies. But why should teens take notice of this world changing organisation?

Fairtrade is an organisation which works towards decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair trading terms, in the third world. Sounds like a big job? To put it simply, Fairtrade related companies buy raw materials like bananas, cocoa and sugar from farmers in places like Africa at a fair price and sells them, all over the world, at a good price. So…the farmers receive a good price for their produce, rather then being exploited by large companies, which is a big problem in the economic world. This enables them to buy better farming equipment, send their children to school, pay for healthcare, build decent homes and generally improve their community because they have a stable and dependable income.

Fairtrade stall at All Saints School

It has been 2 years since, Sheffield became a Fairtrade city, but how many of us know what this is and what it means? In a recent poll of a diverse group of teens from all over the city, only two out of the ten that I asked knew that Sheffield was a Fairtrade city. To become a Fairtrade city, Sheffield has passed five aims. One is that Sheffield council has to pledge to support Fairtrade, and to serve Fairtrade products like coffee and tea in its meetings, offices and canteens. The second is that Sheffield has to sell Fairtrade products in a number of shops around the city and serve Fairtrade food in local cafés and food businesses. Thirdly is that Fairtrade products must be available in local companies, like estate agents and hairdressers, and also in the community (e.g. schools or churches). Fourthly, a Fairtrade steering group must be set up to guarantee continued dedication to Fairtrade in the city. And last, but not least, there must be public support and media coverage (Cube’s helping this one!).   

Even if you didn’t know that Sheffield was a Fairtrade city, you might have noticed Fairtrade around your schools. Some schools have jumped on the bandwagon and become Fairtrade Schools. This means that the school has set up a Fairtrade steering group to organise and sell Fairtrade, designed a Fairtrade policy, and is selling Fairtrade products in vending machines, and the cafeteria. Fairtrade isn’t just run by adults; teenagers are also lending a hand in the movement. Through young cooperative systems, teenagers are setting up Fairtrade stalls in schools or in local communities (e.g. churches). They are spreading the word of fair-trade through selling Fairtrade products and bringing the message to the community. A young cooperative member and former student of All Saints School, David Webster, summed up why Fair Trade is needed by explaining, “Every human being deserves a good standard of living. It isn’t fair that the people who do the most work get the lowest pay, which isn’t enough to support their families”.

Fairtrade stall at All Saints School

So you like chocolate? In the west there is so much choice on what chocolate to buy; Galaxy, Cadburys, gluten free, Fairtrade, and Dubble bars. Hold on, what’s a Dubble bar I hear you say? A Dubble bar is a chocolate bar made by The Day Chocolate Company. One of the special things about this bar of chocolate is that the share holders of company is a west Africa coca farmers co-operative called ‘Kuapa kokoo’ (meaning; good cocoa farmers). By being a shareholder, the Ghana farmers have a say in how the chocolate is produced and sold and they get a share of the profits.

As Fairtrade has become mainstream and is being sold in every major supermarket, people are questioning is Fairtrade really fair is different supermarkets have different prices for Fairtrade products? The simple answer to this is that even supermarkets need to make money on a product, hence the wavering prices, but this doesn’t mean that the farmers get any less money because Fairtrade organisations always pays every farmer a liveable and stable income.

Fairtrade doesn’t just stop at food; there is also a Fairtrade fashion label. A company called People Tree, helps people all over the world to make clothes that are environmentally friendly (use natural and biodegradable materials), and that are organic (meaning no pesticides are used). The company supports vulnerable people, like the Assisi Garments Company in India whose work force is made up of disadvantaged women who are deaf, mute and poor. So buying these products you aren’t only getting clothes that feel great against your skin, you are helping to support schools, communities and people from remote parts on the world to build a better life. 

Through Fairtrade organisations, and fairer trade laws, you can help people in the third world to elevate themselves out of poverty with dignity and get a better standard of living. A small change like switching to Fairtrade products or promoting it in your area enables people in the third world to start to look forward to more positive and fairer future.

By Sarah Hembrough

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