Fairtrade

Unless we change where we are going, we may end up where we are headed

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“Throwing money at a problem generally doesn’t work, But throwing money at a proven solution generally does”

Harriet Lamb, CEO of Fairtrade International

This month, the Australian government has committed to invest 4.5 million in developments with Fairtrade ANZ (Australia New Zealand). 87% of the worlds “small farms” are in Asia and the Pacific so this is a really exciting and promising step to support many more communities.

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Sugar Profile [1] Chelsea Sugar

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Did you know? Most of Chelsea sugar is from Queensland Australia! Therefore, the Fairtrade standard does not apply for this part of the sourcing chain. The processing of Chelsea sugar is also carried out at the plant on the North Shore of Auckland as it all arrives in raw form.

But how can we discern what part of their sugar is from other sources? It is still up to us as consumers to question the integrity of brands we purchase, rather than choosing the cheapest or most familiar option. A blanket greenwashing statement “we believe in doing the right thing” does not mean they ARE doing the right thing! and the link to the Fairtrade website is not directly affiliated with Chelsea.

It is near impossible to search for “fairtrade” on their website, and while we can hope they meet ISOs for farming in Australia, there is no way of knowing (as with NZ) whether overseas labourers work on the farms and if they are actually treated fairly.

Also! While researching sugar and veganism for September, I learned that some sugar is processed using bone char and is therefore not vegan and maybe not even vegetarian!! Although most NZ producers use coal not bone, so check their websites if you are unsure!

Fair Friday

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When you go to purchase something with an “ethical label” check two things:

Who is the certifying body, and to what standard is the certification?

Certifications and standards are in place for independent accountability, transparency and legality. Without them, we rely on marketing and greenwashing.

I choose to vote with my wallet and pay a bit more for this standard and support the communities connected to the supply chain. There are also many co-operatives working directly with groups of suppliers who may not be able to afford the certification, or who are working towards it (organic farming takes 3-5 years to eliminate the pesticides from the soil)

Fairtrade Standards for sugar growers ensure that:

  • Producers are organized in cooperatives (or associations) which they govern democratically.
  • Environmental standards restrict the use of agrochemicals and encourage sustainability.
  • Pre-harvest lines of credit are given to the cooperatives if requested, of up to 60% of the purchase price.
  • A Fairtrade Premium is paid directly to the cooperative or association and is used for social and economic investments such as education, health services, processing equipment, and loans to members.

Find out more about the certification on the FAIRTRADE website