Fairtrade in Bath and North East Somerset
A Fairtrade Zone and Fairtrade Towns
In December 2003 the whole of Bath and North East Somerset
was awarded Fairtrade Zone status by the Fairtrade Foundation,
having demonstrated commitment to the principles and practice
of Fairtrade by businesses, employers and individuals.
Since then action on Fairtrade has continued to grow in our
district. We have not only maintained Fairtrade Zone status
but built on this, with Keynsham achieving Fairtrade Town status in
2005 and Bath achieving City status in 2007. An
active group is currently campaigning in Norton Radstock
hoping to achieve Fairtrade Town status there, as is a group in
Chew Magna, aiming to be the district's first Fairtrade
Village.
Fairtrade Directories
In March 2007, local publishers Faragher Jones produced the
first Fairtrade Directory for the whole of Bath & North East
Somerset. This follows the publication of a Directory for
Bath in 2005 and 2006, and for Keynsham in 2006.
The 2008 Directory was launched during Fairtrade Fortnight and
was supported by Bath and North East Somerset Council,
Keynsham Town Council and the Co-operative. Copies can be
obtained from Council Offices and Fairtrade outlets while stocks
last!
What is Fairtrade?
International trading in commodities may be far from your mind
when you buy a jar of coffee or a chocolate bar but fluctuations in
market prices can have a catastrophic impact on the farmers who
grow the raw products such as coffee beans or cocoa.
Development agencies and charities realised that farmers could
get a much better deal if they could sell their produce directly to
these charities at a fixed and fair price. Over the past
twenty years this idea has developed into an international
labelling system run by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO).
FLO ensures that all products that bear the Fairtrade logo meet
strict standards, including the following:
- Buyers must pay a price to producers that covers the cost of
sustainable production and a decent standard of living
- This price includes a ‘premium’ that producers can invest in
development
- Buyers must sign contracts that allow producers to plan ahead
and invest in sustainable production processes
Producers also have to meet strict environmental and
sustainability standards, reducing or elimintating use of
pesticides and using sustainable farming methods.
So, in a nutshell, if you buy a chocolate bar or a banana that
has a Fairtrade logo on it you can be sure that the farmer has been
paid a fair price that has been fixed by FLO, ensuring they have
enough money to feed themselves and their family, and to send their
children to school. This makes a huge difference to small-scale
farmers who are dependent on such crops for their
survival.
How can I support Fairtrade in Bath and North East
Somerset?
If you are a member of an organisation or church or a
member of staff in a school or company that uses Fairtrade products
– we want to hear from you! We need to know
how many organisations and companies are supporting Fairtrade in
order maintain our Fairtrade status. If your company or
organisation does not currently use Fairtrade, why not try and
convince your colleagues to make the switch? There are many
different brands of tea and coffee to try and they don’t
necessarily cost more than other non Fairtrade brands.
To register your commitment to Fairtrade (if you are a shop,
café, community group, church, school or company), or to find out
more about how you can switch to Fairtrade please contact
www.bathfairtrade.org.
If you would like to join one of the local groups, they would be
delighted to welcome you.
The Bath Fairtrade Network meets every third Monday in the
month, usually at Bath Guildhall in a room provided by the
Council. For further information on their activities and
other related news and events, visit www.greenbath.org or contact
Alison Wells on 01225 396446, e-mail alison_wells@bathnes.gov.uk
Keynsham Fairtrade Group meets in the Keynsham Town Council
offices. For details, contact Rachel Ward on 01225 395360or
e-mail rachel_ward@bathnes.gov.uk
For information about Norton Radstock Fairtrade Group, please
contact Sara Banks on 01225 477807or e-mail sara_banks@bathnes.gov.uk
For information on Fairtrade in Chew Magna, contact Pat Roderick
on pat@dovetail.co.uk
If you would like to know more about Fairtrade please see the
Fairtrade Foundation website www.fairtrade.org.uk.
Other useful information is available from Somerset Fairtrade
Network, please view at www.somersetfairtrade.org.uk
Where can I get Fairtrade products from?
Most supermarkets now sell a range of Fairtrade Products.
For your comprehensive guide to outlets and suppliers in the Bath
and North East Somerset area, see the district wide Fairtrade
Directory. If you would like your business to be added,
please visit www.bathfairtrade.org
How does Bath & North East Somerset Council support
Fairtrade?
In order to gain and maintain its Fairtrade Zone and
Town accreditations, Bath and North East Somerset as an area
must show a genuine commitment to Fairtrade. This includes having a
number of shops and cafés that sell Fairtrade products and raising
public awareness about Fairtrade. Various campaiging organisations
in the area regularly help to raise awareness of
Fairtrade by holding stalls and special events, particularly during
Fairtrade Fortnight (the first two weeks in March every year) and
the Council supports these groups in their work. The Council
has also demonstrated its commitment by passing a motion supporting
the use of Fairtrade products wherever possible within the
council. A vital part of maintaining our accreditation is
also the support of local organisations, schools, churches and
businesses who use Fairtrade. This is where you can help!
