Fair Trade

An alternative approach to conventional trade

Fair trade is all about a greater equity in international trade. Fair trade also contributes to sustainable development by offering better training conditions helping to secure the rights of, marginalised producers and workers - especially in low-income developing countries. Fair trade ensures the minimum price paid for their product covers the cost of production, a living wage and a social premium that is invested back in the local community, contributing to community health care, education, infrastructure and sustainable development. 

Fair trade is a growing international movement which ensures that producers in poorer countries get a fair deal. This means a fair price for their goods one that 

  • covers the cost of production
  • guarantees a sustainable livelihood;
  • long-term contracts which provide income security;
  • support to gain the knowledge and skills that they need to develop their businesses and increase sales.

pdf format Key Principles of Fair Trade (70.29 KB) 

Next Fair Trade Market

Saturday 10 May 2014
9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Manly Council Forecourt
 

Come along to celebrate Manly's 15th Fair Trade Market! Featuring over 35 fair trade market stalls, fair trade and organic food and drinks, music and entertainment.

By supporting Fair Trade, you are making your gifts more ethical and more sustainable.

More Information

If  you would like to see your business, school, faith group, restaurant or cafe support Fair Trade, contact Manly Council on (02) 9976 1500 to learn more.

Alternatively visit fairtrade.com.au for further information on Fair Trade.

Why Fair Trade?

Current international trade practices can disadvantage those in developing countries, as profits are unlikely to return to the farmer or original producer. For small farmers, access to market or price information is difficult and as a result, many become increasingly dependent on middlemen and receive smaller and smaller returns for their work. In bad times, many lose their only property - their land - and thus, their livelihoods. 

Consequently many plantation workers endure low pay, unsafe working environments and poor living conditions. Too often they lack the opportunity to participate in decisions that affect their lives on the plantation. 

The way that many products are produced, traded and consumed is simply unjust; this is a major cause of continuing world poverty.  

Fair trade is about empowering producers in developing countries - 

  • by paying producers and workers fair prices for their work
  • by helping producers gain the skills and knowledge they need to develop their businesses
  • empowering producers to operate in the global economy
  • by challenging unfair trading practices.

Fair trade - It is about providing fair go, not charity. 

Fair trade in Manly

In November 2005 Manly Council passed a resolution to encourage fair trade in Manly, with an initial focus on coffee. The Fair Trade campaign was launched in Manly during Fairtrade Fortnight in May 2006. 

There are several parts to implementing this council resolution: 

  • Focus on cafes and restaurants that serve coffee and retailers that sell coffee. Encourage them to offer Fairtrade coffee to their customers.
  • Educate the Manly community on the issue of fair trade and encourage them to ask for fair trade products when purchasing.
  • Council to lead by example and purchase Fairtrade coffee for use in its facilities.
  • Council to work towards being awarded Fair Trade Community status by the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ). 

Where to buy Fair Trade products in the Manly area 

As a member of the Manly Community or a visitor to Manly you can easily take part in Fair Trade promotion. Consumers have the power to promote Fairly Traded products simply by choosing these products, or asking your local café if they have Fair Trade coffee. 

The following businesses stock Fair Trade Certified products. Or see the 'Where To Get Fairtrade In Manly'  map for info  

pdf format Fair Trade Map (856.87 KB)

  • ALDI (Manly)
  • Arlingtons Fresh Foods (Seaforth)
  • Barefoot Cafe (Manly)
  • Belaroma (Manly Vale)
  • Coles (Manly)
  • Fairlight Gourmet (Fairlight)
  • Forty Baskets (Balgowlah)
  • Foundry Fifty-three (Manly)
  • Harris Farm Markets (Manly)
  • Manly Food Co-op (Manly)
  • Manly Health Foods (Manly)
  • Manly West Organic Market (Manly West Primary School)
  • Oxfam Shop (Warringah Mall)
  • Pure Whole Foods (Manly)
  • Saltmotion (Manly)
  • The Perfect Gift (Fairlight)
  • The Village Grocer (Stocklands Mall, Balgowlah)
  • Wild Bean Cafe (Balgowlah) 

For more information about encouraging your local café to offer Fair Trade products see the Oxfam Website or contact Manly Council for support. 

Key Principles of Fair Trade 

Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers

Fair trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system. 

Transparency and accountability

Fair trade involves transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners. 

Capacity building

Fair trade is a means to develop producers’ independence. Fair trade relationships provide continuity, during which producers and their marketing organizations can improve their management skills and their access to new markets. 

Payment of a fair price

A fair price in the regional or local context is one that has been agreed through dialogue and participation. It covers not only the costs of production but enables production which is socially just and environmentally sound. It provides fair pay to the producers and takes into account the principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men. Fair traders ensure prompt payment to their partners and, whenever possible, help producers with access to pre-harvest or pre-production financing. 

Gender Equity

Fair trade means that women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organizations. 

Working conditions

Fair trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producers. The participation of children (if any) does not adversely affect their well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play and conforms to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as the law and norms in the local context. 

The environment

Fair trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production. 

Fairtrade Labeling

The FAIRTRADE logo is your guarantee that the product you are purchasing meets the requirement of internationally agreed Fairtrade standards. Use of this logo is backed by a certification and trade audit system that applies to all companies in the supply chain up to the point of final packaging. Look for the Fair Trade Label (on the right) on products when you shop. 

iTO Mark identifies registered Fair Trade Organizations worldwide 

Currently there are about 150 registered FTOs, and the number is steadily growing. The FTO Mark is a quality mark which means standards are being met regarding working conditions, wages, child labour and the environment, and demonstrates that an organization's trading activity is dedicated to the development of disadvantaged producers, and is sustainable and committed to continual improvement. 

The FTO mark is a means of identification which sets FTOs apart from other commercial businesses, making them recognizable to consumers as mission driven organizations whose core activity is fair trade. It also gives FTOs definable recognition amongst existing and new business partners, governments and donors who wish to support fair trade activities - providing wider market opportunities for producers. Registered organizations identify themselves as FTOs by displaying the FTO Mark on stationery, websites, posters and other promotional material.  Unlike the FAIRTRADE Label, the FTO Mark is not a product label - it has not been designed as a label to appear on handcrafts or other products. It is a mark to identify Fair Trade Organizations.  

Information: www.ifat.org/theftomark.shtml  

A list of registered members can be found at: www.ifat.org/registeredftos.shtml  

Publicity and promotional events in Manly

Fair trade was launched in Manly during Fairtrade Fortnight in May 2006. A free coffee tasting event “Taste and Go” was run on the Corso on 9th May 2006 for local residents, commuters and business owners. A highlight of the morning was a talk by two woman, Erica Kyere and Agnes Abrafi, who were in Australia from Ghana as guests of the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand. They are cocoa producers and outlined how fair trade has changed their lives. Local school students were also able to listen to Erica and Agnes when they visited Stella Maris that same morning. A good deal of Fairtrade chocolate was given to the girls for tasting. 

In November 2006 we held an event for local business and café owners, inviting them to a ‘trade your afternoon for coffee’. Business owners had the opportunity to hear a presentation from the Chairperson of Fair Trade Association for Australia and New Zealand Natasha Lewis, who was able to provide a very interesting presentation of the benefits of Fair Trade, we also provided coffee tastings and chocolate samples. 

Since December 2006, Fair Trade markets have been held twice a year in Manly.  The first market of the year is held in May, followed by the Christmas Market in December.  These markets, with around 40 stalls, showcase to the community the diversity of Fair Trade products ranging from tea, coffee, chocolate, clothing, toys, jewellery, shoes and homewares.  The markets are located in the forecourts outside Manly Council Town Hall. 

Businesses

If you a business interested in selling fair trade products there is more information and supplier details available at  www.fairtrade.com.au 

Schools and Community groups

For more information on how to become fair trade friendly contact the Volunteer Coordinator at Council 9976 1658 

Links

Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand - www.fairtrade.com.au  

Oxfam www.oxfam.org.au/fairtrade  

The global network of Fair Trade Organizations - www.ifat.org  

Contact:  

Manly Council Events
(02) 9976 1500 or email: records@manly.nsw.gov.au