Fair Trade in Some Simple Terms pt 2

by ckburnam

Fair trade has a few key values, one of which being sustainability. Sustainability socially, which they achieve through the fair trade premium. The fair trade premium is an additional payment made by the buyers with which the co-op invest back into the community. They will vote on whether to build a school, improve sanitation etc. Fair trade brings economic sustainability by paying workers fair wages, providing economic training, micro-loans, and creates long term relationships between buyers and producers. Fair trade seeks to be environmentally sustainable which means that they educate about and require agricultural practices that won’t damage their future. This also means workers aren’t going to be exposed to any dangerous toxins or pesticides (and neither are we,) So what does sustainability have to do with Human Trafficking? Many fall prey to human trafficking and poor working conditions out of desperation. Laborers come from poverty stricken villages with no chance of upward mobility or economic opportunity. Sustainable practices invest in communities so that they are no longer vulnerable or taken advantage of. You fight extreme poverty and you are fighting human trafficking.

Lastly Fair Trade certification gives consumers like you and I a chance to be heard. To a company, nothing says “hear me” like the sound of our dollar being spent. We all know good business is finding what consumers want and selling it to them. I am a consumer and I want integrity and justice. When I stop putting my money towards companies with dirty supply chains and start putting it towards companies who stand for justice, the global market takes notice. You are essentially voting with your dollar.

There are some sacrifices for the consumers but there are also some benefits. In most cases fair trade products will cost more, but this can only be expected when we consider that entire work forces are now being paid, that money has to come from somewhere. I was once challenged to think of it this way “Someone’s gotta pay” Either I am paying 2 dollars more for my ice cream or someone is paying with their freedom for that very say bowl of ice cream. Either way someone has to pay. On the other side of things it has been my experience and the experience of others that in most cases fair trade is of a very high quality, which also makes me feel its worth my extra 2 bucks.