Fairtrade

Why Fairtrade?

Fairtrade provides real benefits to the people who produce every day products such as tea, coffee, bananas, cotton and many more.  However the benefits also extend to the consumers of those products, and to the natural environment.

Benefits to the producer:

• Fairtrade gives farmers access to a fair and stable income
• Fairtrade encourages self-sufficient and sustainable producer organisations
• Fairtrade assists small farmers to stay out of high interest debt
• Fairtrade enables producers to build infrastructure in their communities

Benefits to the consumer:

• Fairtrade provides consumers with high quality products at a fair price
• Fairtrade gives consumers the confidence that the producer is working to social and environmental standards
• Fairtrade enables consumers to assist and empower others with their buying power
• Fairtrade allows consumers to participate in a global movement that is shaping a fairer and more sustainable world

Benefits to the environment:

• Producers use environmentally friendly and sustainable farming methods
• Supporting small farmers encourages varied land use and biodiversity
• Products such as shade grown coffee play a key role in protecting natural habitats
• The existence of small farmers helps prevent the factory farming of larger estates

How to become a Fairtrade church

1. Download the Fairtrade Church Application Form. Please complete one form per church/parish.
2. Discuss it and decide at your next PCC meeting. The three commitments you need to make are shown on the application form.
3. Either
   • complete the downloaded application form electronically (it's an MS Word document) and email it as an attachment to David Potter.
   or
   • print the downloaded application form to complete on paper and then post it direct to The Fairtrade Foundation, Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London, EC3N 1DY. 
4. Thank you!

Suppliers of Fairtrade tea, coffee and other supplies

If you already have a wholesale supplier, initially ask for Fairtrade supplies - because of the increase in demand for Fairtrade many suppliers are likely to be able to respond positively. If not there are a number of wholesalers available. See the Fairtrade Foundation website for a directory of wholesalers – click on Products, Catering Products and then East & South-East England.

Traidcraft

Traidcraft, one of the first Fairtrade wholesalers, has recently extended its small order wholesale facility, to churches. If you don’t have a Fairtrade supplier at the moment (or even if you do) we recommend this Traidcraft facility.

For information go to their website, or telephone 0870 444 1543 if you have any queries.  You can browse their full catalogue online or order a printed copy.

In an emergency of course all major supermarkets and many smaller outlets, including most Oxfam shops, now stock Fairtrade products e.g. tea, coffee, sugar and biscuits at competitive prices – look for the Fairtrade logo.  Our research shows that Fairtrade products are not normally more expensive and quite often cheaper than their non Fairtrade counterparts.

Fairtrade Communion Wine

Fairtrade Communion Wine has been introduced this year and is available from Whitebridge Wines, Unit 21, Whitebridge Estate, Stone, Staffs, ST15 8LQ or from their website.

Diocese becomes Fairtrade during 2009

Pauline and Ben Jupp with the Archbishop of York in Ely Cathedral © Caroline Jupp

Becoming Fairtrade was one of the aims of the Diocese during 2009, its 900th anniversary year. This was achieved in an almost record time of 15 months, after at least 50% of the churches in the Diocese applied for and were granted Fairtrade Church status.

There are 4 other commitments made by the Diocese which are to:

• Support Fairtrade and serve only Fairtrade tea & coffee at its own meetings;
• Encourage other churches who have not done so to adopt a Fairtrade policy;
• Attract media coverage and continue raising awareness of the Fairtrade mark;
• Set up a steering and monitoring group. It has decided that this will be the Board for Church in Society.

The Board wishes to encourage other churches to adopt a Fairtrade policy where it does not already do so, as per commitment 2 above. Even if, for example, you already serve Fairtrade tea and coffee after your services, you still need to apply (details below).

Useful reading

Two best books are:

• 50 Reasons to buy Fairtrade: Miles Litvinoff and John Madeley. £7.99
• Fighting the Banana Wars and other Fairtrade Battles: Harriet Lamb. £10.99

There are many excellent books available on the subject including some wonderful cookery books!

Useful documents to download:

• Fairtrade Church Status Questionnaire
• Fairtrade Church Application Form

Useful links:

• Fairtrade Foundation
• Traidcraft: Fairtrade wholesaler
• Fairtrade communion wine supplier