The concept of fair trade has really taken off in recent years, with â€Fairtrade†and â€Organic†becoming buzz words among ethically aware foodies. The demand for fairly traded food and beverages is definitely on the up, and it seems only logical that workplaces should switch to fairtrade products if their workforce requests it of their office drinks. I would wholly support the uptake of fairtrade produce being used in my workplace coffee vending machine, and I’m sure many others would feel the same! So what exactly makes a coffee or tea fairly traded? According to UK based Fairtrade Foundation â€Fairtrade is a tool for development that ensures disadvantaged farmers and workers in developing countries get a better deal through the use of the international FAIRTRADE Markâ€. Fairtrade labeling was established in the 1980’s in the Netherlands, and the Fairtrade Foundation was set up in the UK in 1992. For a product to display the Fairtrade mark it must meet standards set by the Fairtrade Labeling Organisations International (FLO) body. The standards set by the FLO have been agreed through consulting with producers of the products, traders, NGO’s, academics and Fairtrade labeling organisations. The Fairtrade minimum price is the minimum that the buyer pays the producer for their product. It isn’t fixed, but is the lowest point that the negotiations should start at, and is set at the level at which the producer is paid a price which covers the cost of sustainable production. If world markets fell below a sustainable level, the fair-trade producer would be safe, but if the market price is higher than the fairtrade minimum the buyer has to pay the market price. Most offices and other work places have beverage vending machines or provide coffee and tea supplies for their workers. Many beverage providers for offices and public spaces now offer environmentally friendly, and fairtrade tea and coffee supplies, to keep up with recent demand. Purchasing these is also a way for management to show that they care about the same issues as their workforce do, and are an ethically driven company. The cost of fairtrade produce from vending machine suppliers does not have that great a price variation from those without the fairtrade certification, and the more they are purchased the stronger the market for them becomes. It is vital that the fairtrade industry is supported on all levels, from domestic use through to industrial and public use. I personally buy fairtrade coffee for use in my coffee machine at home, and as a supporter of fairtrade would be thrilled to see my workplace and other public vendors of hot beverages switch to more ethically traded produce. Many nationwide chains of coffee house now offer fairtrade alternatives, and some have wholly switched to fairtrade produce. This I see as a great success and hope to see more improvements along the same lines in the future.
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