Fair Trade in Scotland: review

Appendix 5: International Fair Trade Towns Conference 2019 - Review

Prepared by Naima Fenderl, Member of Scottish Fair Trade Young People's Network and master's student in Development Studies at University of St Andrews.

Abbreviations:

FT = Fair Trade

WFTO = World Fair Trade Organisation

XR = Extinction Rebellion

SDGs = Sustainable Development Goals

Background:

The IFTTC took place 18^th-20^th of October 2019 in Cardiff, Wales became the first Fair Trade Nation in 2008

Theme: 'The Future of Fair Trade'

Key messages:

• Fair trade is a human rights issue - this should be made clear to consumers
• More emphasis needed on the link between fair trade and current global issues such as climate change - this can increase understanding and grow sales
• Engaging the youth is crucial in growing public knowledge of fair trade - popularity has decreased due to other issues in the spotlight
• Systemic change comes from grassroots - but government action is key for fundamental, long- term and effective advances
• Transparency and engagement are becoming ever-more important and strongly benefit organisations' appeal
• Policy aims should include fair trade becoming embedded into the system rather than acting as an 'extra'

1. Raising awareness/growing sales:

• Consumers should be pushed to ask more questions/engage with companies to show that they care - increased demand = increased supply
• Encouraging reconnection between those in cities and farmers/the countryside - where does your food actually come from?
• Consumer must understand what the Fairtrade mark stands for/how it is linked to current issues
• buying FT products helps to fight climate change
• Hope needs to be made practical - show consumers they can make a difference by buying FT In places that offer both FT and non-FT products: make FT the standard option so you must ask
  • for non-FT, e.g. when buying coffee
• Giving FT groups a physical space to work in is essential for effective and productive promotion

2. Engaging a younger demographic:

• Fair Trade Schools - curriculum changes can pressure movement to FT - children can heavily influence parental buying habits
• Cross-year teaching of FT involves all ages & promotes inclusion Germany: 648 Fair Trade Schools
• Set up 'Fairtrade-Schools Academy' to engage & empower the youth and help with promotion, organisation & education
• Put on many events e.g. fashion revolution, FT breakfasts, Fairtrade fortnight, FT days, competitions, surveys, art & selling of FT roses

France:

• 'Service civique' (civil service) at Artisans du Monde (French fair trade network) - small compensation given so young people can afford to help the community
• Young Ambassadors of Fair Trade - scheme to give associative experience, promote education, advocacy, selling & consuming of FT products e.g. through tuck shops
• Fair Trade Schools: https://www.label-ecoles-equitable.fr/

Scotland:

• Scottish Fair Trade Forum & Young People's Network - developed toolkit to help campaigners
  • http://www.scottishfairtradeforum.org.uk/take-action/campaign-toolkit.html Promoting FT opportunities as work experience could engage more young adults
• Connecting FT to current issues such as climate change, single-use plastics etc. is vital - young people are very involved as seen in climate strikes & XR movement, but need to educate on links between all of these causes
• Young people believe in Fairtrade, but do not buy it in stores - issue of price - but they can still support the movement through campaigning, lobbying etc.
• Use of social media is key in engagement with young people

University:

• Integrating FT into academia - not just at a school level - to increase awareness & knowledge
• Comprehensive FT research (not spot/debunk research) is needed - opportunities to work with universities
• Can be linked to many disciplines such as economics, business, fashion etc.
• Finland: students receive Fairmakers training - integrated into university studies
• US: universities given their own page on Fairtrade campaigns website - important for recognition & transparency
• https://fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign-type/universities/

3. Alignment to SDGs & Climate Crisis Agenda:

Producer perspective - Nimrod Wambette (MEACCE Uganda)

• Future of Fair Trade lies in efforts to combat climate change - SDG13
• Crops depend on rain & climate conditions - mudslides & droughts can heavily affect farmers - SDG15
• FT Premium buys mosquito nets, provides water etc. - SDG3, SDG6
• School curriculum changes can pressure movement to FT - SDG4
• Sustainable public procurement is essential for successful implementation of the SDGs - relevance to UNGP business & human rights agenda
• Relevance of FT in relation to SDGs should be emphasised more - trade not aid approach is key

4. Government Policy:

• Trade agreements are powerful tools but detached from FT values - can override climate agreements and affect health, digital and legal aspects of life - this needs to be examined
• 2014 EU Public Procurement Directive - extra points given to fair trade products

Wales:

• All Wales Catering contract & 2009 One Planet Wales strategy have driven procurement opportunities - policies state buy local and fair trade
• 60 Fairtrade items in welsh government
• Government action is vital as legislation from the top will have the biggest impacts

Saarbrücken (Germany):

• Fairtrade procurement for catering of 16 kindergartens - parents were surveyed and agreed on importance of investment in sustainable procurement

Finland:

• 2017 campaign to get sustainability criteria in public procurement
• 15 organisations involved (including Worldvision, Unicef, FSC & more)
• Launched a guide for public procurers
• Started market dialogue about textiles with FT towns - one town wants to remove child labour from procurement - campaign involved contacting FT towns & sending guides to councillors, participate in steering group meetings, tell decision makers about guide

5. Case Studies:

Oxfam 'Behind the Barcodes' campaign

• Rating & ranking of supermarkets based on 93 indicators linked to human rights throughout the supply chain
• Stores have made commitments due to campaign but have also taken them back (e.g. Lidl + Aldi) - 'Big on talk | Lidl on action' - use of slogans is effective
• https://oxfamapps.org/behindthebarcodes/

Ghent: winner of first 'EU Cities for Fair and Ethical Trade' Award

• First Belgian FT Town
• 3 pillars: leading by example, supporting pioneers, promoting ethical consumption
• Involved consumers, businesses & the international community
• Organised public awareness-raising events such as the Fair Fashion Fest
• Active engagement of public and private stakeholders in the 'Ghent Fair Trade' group - a partnership between the city and civil society organisations which is the driving force behind Ghent's awareness-raising efforts
• Cross-border collaboration to exchange best practices
• Developed a multilingual toolbox to guide purchasers in sourcing sustainable clothing:
• http://platforma-dev.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Toolbox-VVSG-EN.pdf

6. Innovative products/organisations:

Zero waste shop Ripple (founded by Sophie Rae)

• Not for profit/profit for purpose - all workers on minimum wage
• Business is thriving
• https://www.rippleliving.co.uk/

Fairebel - Belgium

• organic and fairly traded milk (and other products)
• https://www.fairebel.be/a-propos/

The FIG Tree

• Social enterprise providing information & workshops with a focus on chocolate
• http://fairtradecentre.org/about/

Fair Tax Mark

• Certification scheme to encourage transparency around corporation taxes
• https://fairtaxmark.net/who-we-are/

7. Other interesting points:

Fair Trade vs. local - which is better?

• Locally integrated businesses more likely to follow fair trade principles in general - do not need it as much?
• Carbon footprint of imported FT products can be lower than when locally grown due to energy usage, climate etc.
• However: people are left behind everywhere, including 'global north' - WFTO starting to work with European businesses too

Certified Fairtrade vs. fairly traded/own-label

• 80% of British public trusts the Fairtrade mark (Fairtrade Foundation)
• Authenticity matters
• Transparency is key: all schemes should show & tell (e.g. supply chains)