Ethics · Production · Community
A fair-trade ambition.
A historical proposal considered fair-trade principles as part of artisan livelihood development. Formal fair-trade certification was not pursued, so this page is retained as research context rather than presented as an active initiative.
The project did pursue cooperative product development and test marketing. Its separate fair-trade proposal remained an aspiration; there is no certification claim.
GUIDING VALUES
Principles articulated in the archive
Artisan agency
Support makers in deciding how their work and community benefits should develop.
Fairer income
Seek viable wages and durable opportunities closer to home.
Environmental care
Give attention to local materials, reuse and production impacts.
A framework, not a certification claim
The early plan proposed fair-trade certification and monitoring of working conditions, material use, production costs and income. These were project intentions rather than independently verified outcomes.
Read the original documentation below for the research context and the fair-trade criteria discussed at that time.
Read original project documentation (archived)
This is an archived proposal that was not pursued as a formal Fair Trade certification initiative. The statements below are historical planning material, not claims of certification or current trading practices.
Initial project intention
We deeply care about the artisans involved in this project and want to assertain the best possible working conditions for them while also investing in the community. We have therefore decided to follow the fair trade model and will be seeking fair-trade certification in the future.
Contemporary fair-trade reference
About Fair Trade from Co-operatives and Fair-Trade by Patrick Develtere and Ignace Pollet, Higher Institute for Labour Studies, 2005
“Fair-trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, which seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers”.
Fair-trade organizations (backed by consumers) are actively engaged in supporting producers, in awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practices of conventional international trade (www.bafts.co.uk and www.ifat.org )
Goals described in the reference
- To improve the livelihoods and wellbeing of producers by improving market access, strengthening producer organizations, paying a better price and providing continuity in the trading relationship.
- To promote development opportunities for disadvantaged producers, especially women and indigenous people and to protect children from exploitation in the production process.
- To raise awareness among consumers of the negative effects on producers of international trade so that they exercise their purchasing power positively.
- To set an example of partnership in trade through dialogue, transparency and respect.
- To campaign for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.
- To protect human rights by promoting social justice, sound environmental practices and economic security.
Criteria proposed in the reference
The main criteria the fair-trade organisations propose to respect are:
- (for workers:) decent wages, good housing, health and safety standards and the right to join trade unions;
- programs for environmental sustainability;
- (for small farmers’ co-operatives:) a democratic structure that allows members to participate in the co-operative’s decision making processes.
Proposed trading terms
- a price that covers the cost of production;
- a social premium to improve living and working conditions;
- partial advance-payment to prevent small producer organizations falling into debt;
- contracts that allow long term production planning.