One of the most common fairtrade questions is.....
What is the difference between Fairtrade clothing and Ethical clothing?
Fairtrade is often confused
with ethical trade but they are different. Ethical trading (or sourcing) is a business model that aims to ensure that
acceptable minimum labor standards are met in the supply chains of the
whole range of a company's products. Fairtrade specifically aims to improve the position of marginalized producers, and enable
trade to contribute to sustainable development initiatives that have a
wider community benefit.
Key
unique aspects of Fairtrade are that:
- There
is a focus on disadvantaged smallholders at the bottom of supply chains.
- Producers receive a fair and stable price which covers the
costs of sustainable production a Fairtrade premium for investment in
social development projects.
- It
helps producer groups organize themselves democratically to protect their
rights.
- It empowers producer groups through provision of
information on markets and supply chains
- It uses the FAIRTRADE Mark as a tool to build a social
consumer movement pushing for change in global trading.
International Labor Organization (ILO)
The Fairtade Labelling Organizations International or (FLO) requires that the International Labor Organization’s
(ILO) Conventions must be followed. Fair Trade organizations and cooperatives
must abide by these standards, and take steps to ensure farmer’s workers follow
them as well. Forced or bonded labor is prohibited, as is child labor that is hazardous
or interferes with the child’s education. Children cannot be hired under the age of
15. Workers must enjoy freedom of association and collective bargaining. They
must be employed under fair conditions, and paid at least the national minimum
wage. Hazards in the work environment must be minimized as much as is possible.
- Each stage in the commercial supply chain to process Fair Trade Certified cotton from raw cotton into its final product must demonstrate compliance with ILO international labour standards. In the production of all cotton, company and sub-contracted companies within in the supply chain, including those doing the ginning, spinning, weaving, knitting and dyeing, etc. of the cotton, must clearly demonstrate they are in compliance with ILO Labor Standards. Including holding an International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) membership certificate or demonstrating that
the company is a worker’s cooperative.
Fairtrade Cotton Good For Business Too:
Fairtrade Market Doubles in One Year!!!!
As recently reported here in EcoTextileNews :
"Global
demand for Fairtrade cotton has doubled in just one year according to the
latest figures available from Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International
(FLO) with worldwide sales of all Fairtrade products rising by 47% on last
year."
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