Fair Trade Fortnight… AND THEN WHAT?

I made myself laugh, reading the first posts I wrote about fair trade (and its fortnight), this commitment, this desire for purchases to change by becoming a civic act. My rants against large retailers... Hahaha, the LOL is intense.

I assure you, I'm still the same (in terms of convictions), but my perspective has changed a lot.

We always work in a fair and ethical way, that hasn't changed our way of working at all, but today I see that fair (or responsible) purchasing, which used to motivate buyers, is starting to disappear. I hear that people no longer necessarily buy out of conviction for a militant purchase (yes, that's the anti-capitalist hippie in me speaking, we'll excuse her)

I don't know why. I tell myself it's because they live in fear of being cheated. That the product sold with a fair trade label might not be produced to super standards, that ultimately paying more isn't necessarily a guarantee. That a label no longer means anything. That ultimately, why buy fair trade, in France too we need purchases...

I'm tired of always hearing the same arguments. I haven't changed my consumption habits, yet I still don't particularly like the Max Havelaar label, but a good 50% of my products are MH certified, so fair trade (tea, chocolate, coffee, sugar, juices, cakes...)

Copyright Peau-Ethique

I too have seen a multitude of reports on fair trade. I too have wanted to cry every time, telling myself that things have really changed. But deep down, that's globalization... I'm not proud or happy about it, it's an observation. Fair trade has its limits. For example, now an MH labeled product no longer has to be 100% fair trade, a small percentage is enough. Does that make me happy because it means there will ultimately be greater access to fair trade products? Not at all, actually. I think it's even an open door to everything. But that's just my consumer opinion. I take my example, which is organic clothing produced fairly (or ethically). This means that if the fabric is fair trade, it will be labeled Fair Trade, but what about the manufacturing? Well, nobody cares. Manufacturing can be done in sweatshops and they'll still get the MH label. It's an absurdity, but that's how it is. Let's prepare ourselves for a long period of GreenWashing.

The example that MH gives constantly is Mars. Mars will be a fair trade product even though only 20% of its cocoa comes from fair trade production. MH's response to this is to give more opportunities to producers. But they don't see the discomfort at all. I must admit I'm a little shocked... But hey, business is business...

Nevertheless, I know that what Peau-Ethique has been doing for several years in Cambodia, Peru, and India, these actions are concrete and real actions. With a real impact on the lives of the employees in the workshops.

Copyright Patrick Piro

However, let's not forget that despite everything, we are doing business and not providing assistance. Everyone is there to move forward with the other, not one at the expense of the other. That's the big difference with traditional trade. Well, I'll remind you just in case, but each order is pre-financed so that the partner doesn't go into debt to buy the raw material (if we don't supply it). So yes, it's outsourced. Yes, I know. It's bad. But the employees are paid much more than the country's minimum wage (which, yes, I know, is not a French salary). Social actions are implemented depending on the workshops (schools, daycare, clinic...) So yes, it's not much. But we are not a big company with millions in profit!

So don't think that buying a fair trade product changes nothing. It changes a lot.