What is Fair Trade?

Photo by flydown

Made in China.

What does this bring to mind? Dirty factories, assembly lines, poverty-stricken workers? Unfortunately, this has been a skeleton in American’s closet in our effort to produce more and pay less. But times are changing.

Enter fair trade. According to Fairtrade International

Fairtrade is an alternative approach to conventional trade and is based on a partnership between producers and consumers. Fairtrade offers producers a better deal and improved terms of trade. This allows them the opportunity to improve their lives and plan for their future. Fairtrade offers consumers a powerful way to reduce poverty through their everyday shopping.

Fair trade standards address aspects of business such as fair wages, health and safety standards for both workers and the environment, and fair product pricing.

Inc.com recently interviewed Stacy Fader whose dream it was to create her own line of spa-friendly products. She decided that going fair trade was a “no brainer”.

Fader called Fair Trade USA, hoping to develop the first certified fair-trade salon and spa product line in the United States. The organization suggested existing cooperatives that farmed or produced ingredients she needed for her Kumani Essentials brand of hair, face, and body products, such as shea butter and chamomile. Fader says she visited several cooperatives in West Africa, and talked with workers at farms that were fair-trade certified, and workers at those that were not.

“I visited a lot of places where fair trade practices were not in place, and after doing so, going with fair trade was a no-brainer, seeing how women and children were treated at each,” she says. “I interviewed many of them, and they said that working for a fair trade cooperative really turned their life around.”

If you are interested in making sure that your business positively impacts those communities around the world that supply your products, you may want to look into what it takes to become fair trade certified. Though it’s a somewhat lengthy process, it will give you the peace of mind that your business is fair and beneficial for all involved. See www.transfairusa.org to find out more about how to become fair trade certified.

Photo by flydown.

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