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There has been increasing buzz about fair trade in recent years, and it is spoken of in a way that upholds its stance as an ethical buying choice. This begs several questions, the first and foremost being, what does fair trade mean?<\/p>\nThere has been increasing buzz about fair trade in recent years, and it is spoken of in a way that upholds its stance as an ethical buying choice. This begs several questions, the first and foremost being, what does fair trade mean?<\/p>\n
Fair trade, according to the International Market Bureau, is a social movement that focuses on \u201cinternational development, social justice, environmental sustainability, and equitable economic returns.\u201d1<\/sup> While it is still considered a niche market, fair trade is becoming increasingly popular, showing substantial growth in recent years.<\/p>\n Let Prospector help! Find technical data, request samples, contact global suppliers, and more!<\/p>\n Although fair trade goods represented less than 0.1 percent of all goods traded globally as of 2010, the market grew 27 percent from 2009 to 2010 to reach a global retail market value of $5.8 billion. Along with this growth, well-known corporations such as Ben & Jerry\u2019s, Theo chocolate, and Patagonia active\/outdoor are committed to using fair trade products.2<\/sup><\/p>\n While the exact criteria and standards for what is considered fair trade differs somewhat across organizations that promote fair trade, The World Fair Trade Organization cites 10 Principles of Fair Trade<\/strong>:3<\/sup><\/p>\n Many types of products are available through fair trade channels, including:<\/p>\n Fair trade products typically carry some type of certifying label; however, there is some inconsistency in the meaning of certification from various fair trade organizations. The World Fair Trade Organization and Fairtrade America (a subgroup of Fairtrade International) both have their own labeling criteria, as do other organizations.<\/p>\n Fair Trade USA and Fair for Life both have certification processes that they use based on their individually published standards to certify specific products as fair trade. Each of these organizations has their own mark that a product may display if certification criteria are met.<\/p>\n The World Fair Trade Organization and the Fair Trade Federation are both considered membership groups, which means that, in exchange for payment of dues, companies can be part of events, gatherings, and promotion of fair trade. These membership organizations also have their own labels and marks to indicate companies that belong to the group.5<\/sup><\/p>\n There is some criticism of fair trade certification, as products can be certified even if they do not address fair trade issues at every stage of a product\u2019s production and distribution. Futurity Earth and Environment explains that there are several ways that fair trade certification might carry less meaning than a consumer expects:6<\/sup><\/p>\n If the market demographic of a company values fair trade, the best places to begin are investigating which certification or membership best aligns with the company\u2019s mission and vision, and subsequently sourcing products that match up with those criteria and standards.<\/p>\n There are several options for sourcing fair trade materials, products, and ingredients. Several fair trade organizations provide sourcing or wholesale programs to help companies obtain quality fair trade items. The Fairtrade Foundation and Fair Trade Federation both have wholesale sourcing programs for just that purpose.7, 8<\/sup><\/p>\n
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\nFair trade food trends<\/h3>\n
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Further food trend reading:<\/h3>\n
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References and resources<\/h3>\n
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