Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade Fortnight runs from the 21st of February to the 6th of March this year. It is the annual celebration of the Fairtrade movement and all it has achieved. It is a chance for businesses to share the stories of those who work behind-the-scenes. By reminding the public of those who are often forgotten also reminds us to fight against exploitation and unequal pay. All New Kings Coffee products hold Fairtrade certification and we wanted to take a moment to explain why we have chosen to be a part of this movement. 

What is Fairtrade?

In the UK, The Fairtrade Foundation was founded in 1992 by a network of charities including Oxfam and Christian Aid. Over the last 30 years the charity has worked to protect the rights of farmers in developing countries. The Fairtrade Foundation exists as an extension of the international Fairtrade brand which has a significant global presence. They have developed the highly recognisable ‘Fairtrade Mark’ which certifies products as meeting Fairtrade standards.

What are ‘Fairtrade standards’?

Fairtrade standards encompass several factors. Social, economic and environmental factors are considered at every step of the supply chain. They ensure workers’ rights are protected and that companies are held to a minimum pricing system that allows for fair pay at all levels and to protect against market volatilities. There is also an additional Fairtrade Premium which goes towards a bonus for workers to reinvest into their communities. To receive certification, farmers must be joined in a cooperative. The Foundation believes we are stronger when we are united.

Fairtrade also ensures it only works with companies with sustainability schemes that match their own principles. They put an emphasis on lobbying governments for change and the protection of workers’ rights as well as driving awareness globally of the need for fair working standards. It is important to them to personally engage with those who are supported by the scheme to ensure they are tackling the correct issues from the correct angles. You can find out more about The Fairtrade Foundation on their website. 

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What is New Kings Coffee’s history with the Fairtrade movement? 

We achieved our first Fairtrade Mark in 2016 and our relationship with Fairtrade has continued ever since. It was never in doubt for us that we wanted our products to meet these standards. However, The Fairtrade movement has received one consistent criticism in its time: can we do more?

What are the criticisms of Fairtrade? 

In 2005, Dutch company ‘Tony’s Chocolonely’ started to receive international attention for selling ‘100% slave-free chocolate’. Their manifesto is that, while certification is a starting point, the over saturation of the certification market means there is a lack of clarity for consumers. The Fairtrade Foundation sits alongside The Rainforest Alliance and many in-house certification schemes (such as Nestle’s Cocoa Plan) which all have a different set of principles. Tony’s Chocolonely has identified Fairtrade as the most aligned with their business but makes the point that we cannot see this as the end of our fight for workers’ rights.

This is the same principle we share at New Kings Coffee. Fairtrade is a great starting point and baseline for adopting more sustainable methods of producing food, but it is good to always remember that we can take it further. We are proud to be celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight and are excited for the future. We have lots planned to make our business more sustainable and feed back to coffee growing communities. We hope you join us on our journey.