How does fair trade affect consumers?

How does fair trade affect consumers?

A new study conducted at the University of Bonn and published in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience found consumers are willing to pay on average 30 percent more for ethically produced goods, such as chocolate, fats and oils, fruit and sugar, compared to their conventionally produced counterparts.

Why is fair trade important?

Fairtrade enables consumers to demand a better deal for those that produce our food. Through choosing Fairtrade consumers can demand the highest standards from business and government, ensuring people and planet are not exploited to create the products we enjoy.

How does fair trade benefit producers?

Economic benefits This can enable them to negotiate a higher price for their product than the conventional market price. Fairtrade improves access to agricultural services like organic training and premium markets. As a result farmers have an incentive to farm better and sell more.

What are the problems of fair trade?

Critics of the Fairtrade brand have argued against the system on an ethical basis, stating that the system diverts profits from the poorest farmers, and that the profit is received by corporate firms. It has been argued that this causes “death and destitution”.

Do farmers really benefit from fair trade?

They’ve found that, in fact, small farmers in Latin America and Africa do benefit from the minimum price that Fair Trade guarantees and the extra money it delivers to farmer cooperatives. Researchers have documented higher wages, greater participation in community decisions, and even greater gender equity.

Is Fair Trade successful?

The number of farmers and workers participating in Fairtrade grew to over 1.66 million. We estimate that over the last 25 years the number of farmers and workers who have benefitted from Fairtrade has quadrupled.

How does fair trade benefit the environment?

Fair Trade standards increase the quality of the end products by incorporating a premium for community investment. According to Fair Trade USA, this premium allows producers to spend money on “environmental education, training, quality testing, and equipment efficiency”. This promotes sustainable agriculture processes.

Is free trade good or bad?

Free trade is meant to eliminate unfair barriers to global commerce and raise the economy in developed and developing nations alike. But free trade can – and has – produced many negative effects, in particular deplorable working conditions, job loss, economic damage to some countries, and environmental damage globally.

What is Fair Trade trying to achieve?

Together with Fairtrade farmers and workers we have a vision: a world in which trade is based on fairness so that producers earn secure and sustainable livelihoods. Fairtrade has a network of dedicated supporters who help to raise awareness of the issues of unfair trade and fundraise to support us in our work.

How can we help fair trade?

PROMOTE FAIR TRADE

1. Buy Fair Trade products from your local stores and supermarkets, and encourage your family, friends and colleagues to do the same.
2. If your favourite store or supermarket is not selling Fair Trade products, ask the store manager/owner to include Fair Trade merchandise.

How can you support the fair trade initiative?

Ways to get involved

• In your community. With thousands of local campaigning groups across the UK, including Towns, Schools, Universities and Faith Groups, there are lots of ways to get involved with Fairtrade in your community.
• Fundraise for Fairtrade.
• Campaign with us.