Fair Trade

“The culture of prosperity deadens us; we are thrilled if the market offers us something new to purchase. In the meantime all those lives stunted for lack of opportunity seem a mere spectacle; they fail to move us.”

Pope Francis

What is Fair Trade?

Fair trade is an approach to business and to development based on dialogue, transparency, and respect that seeks to create greater equity in the international trading system. Fair trade supports farmers and craftspeople in developing countries who are socially and economically marginalized. At the core of the fair trade model is a direct, cooperative, and in-depth relationship between buyers and sellers that keeps the principles of fair trade at the forefront.

Fair Trade Principles

Fair trade organizations are held to a high standard in order to promote the ideals that fair trade is founded on. The World Fair Trade Organization, one of the leading organizations in the fair trade movement, has laid out ten principles that fair trade organizations must carry out.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PRODUCERS

Fair trade supports marginalized small producers that are negatively impacted by the current trading system. Fair trade organizations work with producers towards sustainable development in their communities.

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Fair Trade organizers work for relationships that are open, fair, consistent & respectful.

FAIR TRADING PRACTICES

Fair trade organizations commit to long term relationships of respect in which the producers needs are met. This relationship revolves around the social, economic and environmental well-being of marginalized small producers.

PAYMENT OF A FAIR PRICE

Fair Trade organizations and producers have agreed upon a payment that benefits both parties. Producers are included at the negotiating table and a minimum payment is set to guarantee the sustainability of cooperatives.

ENSURING NO CHILD LABOR AND FORCED LABOR

Adhering to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, fair trade organizations ensure that no child or forced labor is used in the production of fair trade products.

COMMITMENT TO NON DISCRIMINATION, GENDER EQUITY AND WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

Fair trade organizations do not discriminate in hiring, remuneration, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation, HIV/Aids status or age.

ENSURING GOOD WORKING CONDITIONS

Fair Trade guarantees healthy working conditions that ensure the safety of workers.

PROVIDING CAPACITY BUILDING

Fair Trade opens up opportunities for producers to continue to develop skills to expand business and gain more skills.

PROMOTING FAIR TRADE

Fair trade organizations and companies that support fair trade commit to promoting fair trade and expanding its reach.

RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Fair trade works to promote and expand on sustainable practices in the growth and productions of fair trade products.

Jesuit Communities and Fair Trade

As Jesuit communities we are called uphold justice and be voices for the poor. We must challenge an economy that values corporations and profit over people:

We must “care for the individual” – Fair Trade promotes and empowers marginalized producers through opportunities for socioeconomic growth
We are “men and women for [and with] others” – Fair trade promotes solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are marginalized by an unjust trade system. Fair trade connect consumers and producers in order to build positive relationships for change.
In the words of Superior General Fr. Nicolás, S.J., “We have today an extraordinary opportunity to have a hand in helping to shape the future, not only of our own institutions, but of the world.” In supporting more fair and equitable trade we are supporting a future of opportunity for the poor.
As a community we must pressure our institutions to use our collective voices and voting dollar to support the empowerment of marginalized producers.
Jesuit institutions must harness the power of higher education to raise awareness among student, faculty and staff about the benefits of Fair Trade. Our communities can use our collective voices and voting dollar to support the empowerment of marginalized producers.

Look for the Label

Fair trade certifications guarantee to the consumer that the product they are buying meets fair trade standards. Each fair trade label has similar standards for the products they certify. Look for the labels below and know you are purchasing fair products.

If you are looking for fair trade certified products look for these labels:

If you are looking businesses committed to fair trade principles look for this label:

Quotes Related to Fair Trade

Resources

Commit to Fair Trade

MAKE YOUR SCHOOL FAIR TRADE

Start a campaign to support fair trade at your school or campus. Fair Trade Campaigns has been working with schools and communities to promote fair trade. They have been supporting the fair trade schools movement with tools and resources to bring the conversation to classrooms.

Fair Trade Campaigns strives to “grow a nationwide community of passionate, lifelong Fair Trade advocates. Their commitment will inspire others to support the Fair Trade movement in its efforts to seek equity in trade and create opportunities for economically and socially marginalized producers. Fair Trade Towns, Colleges, Universities and other communities embed Fair Trade values and purchases into mainstream business and institutional practices.”

To become a fair trade school with Fair Trade Campaigns there are simple steps

Steps for Elementary and High Schools include:

Build a Team
Commit to Fair Trade Education & Events
Source Fair Trade Products

Steps for Colleges and Universities include:

Build Your Team
Reach Out To Campus Outlets
Source Fair Trade at Events & Meetings
Commit to Fair Trade Education
Pass A Fair Trade Resolution

Jesuit Fair Trade Schools

JESUIT FAIR TRADE SCHOOLS

Jesuit High Schools

Loyola Academy became the first Jesuit fair trade high school December 2015 through the organizations Fair Trade Campaigns. To achieve this distinction, Loyola had to create a student committee, conduct awareness campaigns to educate the school on how fair trade is involved in their everyday lives, and offer products in the cafeteria and the bookstore that have been certified fair trade. Learn more here.

Jesuit Universities

Creighton University became the first Jesuit university make the commitment to being a fair trade university in 2012. They have acted as an inspiration to other campaigns in the Jesuit community.

Loyola Marymount University is the 2nd Jesuit university to make the commitment to fair trade in the spring of 2014. The fair trade committee at LMU worked for years to promote fair trade on their campus and bring more fair trade products to the university. The committee focused on bringing awareness of the impact each persons purchase has.

Saint Joseph’s University became the 3rd Jesuit fair trade university in the spring of 2014. In a statement about the university’s commitment SJU’s president Rev. C. Kevin Gillespie, S.J. said, “this designation directly aligns with the University’s mission and Jesuit heritage.We strive to embody the ideals of engaged citizenship, social justice, and living as men and women for others. These principles are clearly reflected in the tenets of fair trade.”

Seattle University is the 4th Jesuit University become a fair trade university. The university’s campaign culminated with a resolution signed by the student government in the fall of 2014. The resolution was supported by Rev. Stephen Sundborg, S.J., president of Seattle University and passed by the student government. Before signing the agreement, Father Sundborg spoke of the people directly impacted by Fair Trade practices, saying, “You only need to be among the people where coffee is grown to realize what a difference Fair Trade means for them and their families, their livelihoods, their futures and their hopes.” Learn more here.

John Carroll University is the 5th Jesuit University to commit to being a fair trade university in the fall of 2014. When commenting on John Carroll’s commitment to fair trade, the University’s president Rev. Robert L. Niehoff, S.J. said, “as a Jesuit University committed to human dignity, environmental sustainability, and economic justice for all, the decision to become a Fair Trade University is a natural expression of our mission…What was begun as advocacy developed into educational engagement, and this is an important step for our learning community.” Learn more here.

Blogs

Resources

RESOURCES

Fair Trade Federation: “The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is the trade association that strengthens and promotes North American organizations fully committed to fair trade.”

Fair Trade USA : “Fair Trade USA enables sustainable development and community empowerment by cultivating a more equitable global trade model that benefits farmers, workers, consumers, industry and the earth. We achieve our mission by certifying and promoting Fair Trade products.”

InterReligious Task Force on Central America: “The InterReligious Task Force on Central America (IRTF) is a Cleveland-based interfaith group that promotes peace and human rights in Central America and Colombia.”

World Fair Trade Organization: WFTO’s mission is to enable producers to improve their livelihoods and communities through Fair Trade. WFTO will be the global network and advocate for Fair Trade, ensuring producer voices are heard. The interests of producers, especially small farmers and artisans, should be the main focus in all the policies, governance, structures and decision making within the WFTO.

Fair Trade Colleges and Universities: “The mission of Fair Trade Colleges and Universities is to inspire institutions of higher learning to support the Fair Trade movement in its efforts to seek equity in trade and promote sustainable development. Fair Trade Colleges and Universities harness the power of higher education in the United States to both raise awareness among students, faculty, and staff about the benefits of Fair Trade, and leverage the significant institutional buying power to purchase Fair Trade products. Achieving Fair Trade status means securing institutional commitment to embed Fair Trade principles and practices within administrative/procurement policy and the social and intellectual fabric of academic communities.”

Equal Exchange: “Equal Exchange’s mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and fair trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.”

Fair Trade Resource Network: “Fair Trade Resource Network (FTRN) seeks to build a more just and sustainable world by gathering, developing, and disseminating educational resources about Fair Trade. FTRN is the only non-profit organization in the world focused exclusively on Fair Trade education, helping people to better understand the impact of their buying decisions.”

Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade: “Our faith us calls us to live out our Gospel values on a daily basis. The Catholic social teaching principles of respecting the dignity of work and caring for the poor are key ways in which we can do this. Through fair trade, we can use our economic power to contribute to the common good and live out these values.”

Fair Trade International: Fair Trade International is a global organization working to secure a better deal for farmers and workers.

Multimedia

Lesson Plans

The following lesson plan resources have been created by Fair Trade Campaigns, you can find the entire set of lessons here or link to individual lessons below.

Changing the Rules of the Global Economy: An Introduction to Fair Trade (Grades 6-12, Fair Trade Schools): This foundational lesson introduces the basic values and ‘operating rules’ of two approaches to global trade: the dominant model, characterized by winner-take-all competition to increase profits and lower costs, and Fair Trade, characterized by win-win strategies that benefit consumers, businesses, workers, and communities.

Gender Equity and Fair Trade (Grades 6-12, Fair Trade Schools): This lesson focuses on the relationship among gender, education, and economic opportunities. This requires that students have an understanding of key concepts including gender, sex (i.e, boy/girl), equity, and equality. Students must also understand that improving outcomes and rights for girls and women does not mean reducing outcomes and opportunities for boys and men.

Environmental Sustainability and Fair Trade (Grades 6-12, Fair Trade Schools): Students should have a basic understanding of environmental concepts including ecosystems, biodiversity, and water quality. The lesson explores how the environment is impacted by coffee production, and how specific growing practices can lessen the impact and benefit the community.

Child Labor and Fair Trade (Grades 6-12, Fair Trade Schools): It’s not uncommon for children to ‘work.’ Chores, babysitting, helping on family farms, restaurant jobs, and paper routes may all be considered work. In contrast is ‘child labor,’ defined by the International Labor Organization as “work that children should not be doing because they are too young to work, or – if they are old enough to work – because it is dangerous or otherwise unsuitable for them.”

An Educator’s Guide to Fair Trade (Grades 6-12, Fair Trade Schools): This document is a guide to accompany a curriculum series on Fair Trade designed for grades 6-12. The series offers teachers four collections of differentiated lessons for use in economics, geography, language arts, or social studies courses. Each collection is provided in a single document that contains Teacher Notes followed by complete student materials for all activities. The Educator’s Guide includes a comparison of Free Trade versus Fair Trade, a master vocabulary list, a master resource list, and resources on effective instructional strategies.

Fair Trade

“The culture of prosperity deadens us; we are thrilled if the market offers us something new to purchase. In the meantime all those lives stunted for lack of opportunity seem a mere spectacle; they fail to move us.”

What is Fair Trade?

Fair Trade Principles

Jesuit Communities and Fair Trade

Look for the Label

Quotes Related to Fair Trade

Resources

MAKE YOUR SCHOOL FAIR TRADE

JESUIT FAIR TRADE SCHOOLS

Jesuit High Schools

Jesuit Universities

BLOGS

RESOURCES

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