Fairtrade OR Rainforest Alliance?
What does the certification mean?
When standing in front of rows of tea, coffee or chocolate products, so many claiming socially and environmentally ethical production, how do we compare the relative merits of Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance?
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.
Fairtrade sets social, economic and environmental standards for both companies and the farmers and workers who grow the food we love. For farmers and workers the standards include protection of workers’ rights and the environment, for companies they include the payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price (which is never lower than the market price) PLUS an additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in business or community projects of the community’s choice.
Fairtrade sets social, economic and environmental standards for both companies and the farmers and workers who grow the food we love. For farmers and workers the standards include protection of workers’ rights and the environment, for companies they include the payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price (which is never lower than the market price) PLUS an additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in business or community projects of the community’s choice.
Rainforest Alliance is a programme focused on conservation of bio-diversity and management of on-farm environmental resources with some social standards for workers on farms. Because of its on-farm focus and lack of trade standards, it is more naturally suited for larger farms rather than the small producers that are at the core of the fair trade movement.
Without a doubt the environmental benefits of the Alliance have a positive impact on productivity and well-being. Their standards help to address four main areas of sustainability:
● Conserving forests
● Advancing the human rights of rural people
● Improving the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities
● Building climate resilience
The Alliance Certification lacks several key components of fair trade programmes including trade standards as there are no requirements for buyers to pay minimum or fairly negotiated prices, develop long-term relationships, or offer financing. Participating farmers are not organised democratically in a co-operative and are not offered a fair trade premium for community development projects.
Without a doubt the environmental benefits of the Alliance have a positive impact on productivity and well-being. Their standards help to address four main areas of sustainability:
● Conserving forests
● Advancing the human rights of rural people
● Improving the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities
● Building climate resilience
The Alliance Certification lacks several key components of fair trade programmes including trade standards as there are no requirements for buyers to pay minimum or fairly negotiated prices, develop long-term relationships, or offer financing. Participating farmers are not organised democratically in a co-operative and are not offered a fair trade premium for community development projects.