Fairtrade & Your Business

Fairtrade is the most recognised ethical label in the world today. It represents a partnership between producers, NGOs, consumers and businesses big and small. Carrying the Fairtrade Mark on a product gives assurance to consumers that ingredients have been sourced against the Fairtrade Standards. Fairtrade Labelling is an international system of standards for producers and terms of trade for their goods that ensure the world’s most marginalised farmers, workers and their families in 63 developing countries are adequately protected and can build a more sustainable future. Over 6 million people in these countries are benefiting from increasing sales of Fairtrade Certified products in more than 20 consumer markets across Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.

Range of Products

In Australia and New Zealand a range of products currently carry the FAIRTRADE Mark. Coffee, chocolate, tea, bananas, rice, quinoa, sugar and nuts are among many of the Fairtrade Certified ingredients available to use on their own or in a wide variety of food and beverage products. Meanwhile Fairtrade cotton is being used in t-shirts, hoodies, fashion, bags and even shoes while Fairtrade soccer, rugby and aussie rules balls are kicking goals on sporting grounds all round the country.

Download the Public Licensee Database for a list of businesses currently licensed to use the FAIRTRADE Certification Mark in Australia and New Zealand.

The Fairtrade Market

Australia continues to be one of the world’s fastest growing markets for Fairtrade Certified products with sales tripling in just 12 months to over $120 million in 2010. Shoppers across ANZ are in tune with consumers around the world who believe their shopping choices can make a positive difference for farmers and workers in developing countries.

This is according to a new global survey of 17,000 consumers in 24 countries conducted for Fairtrade International (FLO) by international research consultancy GlobeScan. When it comes to making a decision in the shopping aisle, Fairtrade is now the most widely recognised ethical label globally - with nearly six in ten consumers (57%) across the 24 surveyed countries having seen the FAIRTRADE Mark.

The poll shows that a large percentage of Australians and New Zealanders have high expectations of companies dealing with farmers and workers in poor countries with 93 per cent and 91 per cent respectively believing companies should pay farmers and workers fairly – compared to the global average of 85 per cent.

More than half of Aussie and Kiwi consumers (55%) feel empowered to make a difference through their shopping choices with approximately 80 per cent having high expectations of companies in regard to the important role they have in reducing poverty through the way they do business. Aussie and Kiwi shoppers recognise the role Fairtrade plays in enabling them to make a difference with over half of those familiar with it saying that the FAIRTRADE Mark makes it easier for them to decide if products are ethically produced.

More generally, and in line with the global trend, the study confirmed that 81 per cent of Australian and 76 per cent of New Zealand consumers believe independent, third-party certification is the best way to verify a product’s social and environmental claims. Globally, Fairtrade producer organisations reported receiving AU$63.8 million in Fairtrade Premium income, an increase of 22 percent. Due to volume sales and Premium increases, coffee and cocoa reported the greatest increases in Fairtrade Premium received by producers.

The Premium generated an additional AU$21.7 million for coffee farmers world wide, which producer organisations spend overwhelmingly on investments in their businesses and direct additional payments to their members.

For more information on how your business can get in involved in Fairtrade please visit one of the links below.

I am a retailer, cafe or distributor looking to source and sell products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark.

I would like to source Fairtrade materials (eg green coffee bean) to use in products I manufacture and package.

I am an importer looking to source Fairtrade products from overseas.