Why your next coffee fundraiser should be fair trade

What does it mean to be fair trade? Fair trade standards follow 10 principles that fall under four simple parent categories: Income sustainability, empowerment, individual and community well being, and environmental stewardship. When your coffee fundraiser is fair trade, it empowers good—not only in your community, but across the world.

Income Stability in a fair trade coffee fundraiser

Income stability means that wages paid to farmers and workers can fulfill basic human needs, regardless of the constant fluctuation of market prices in their industry. Fair trade standards dictate a price, and regardless of volatile market prices, farmers are paid in a way that helps them cover their product cost, as well as some of their costs of sustainable practices. The coffee industry in particular has a long history of marginalizing native people, and taking control of their land and resources while barely paying them enough to live. This tradition has continued through generations, but fair trade companies like Equal Exchange make sure that workers are paid a livable wage. Through fair trade distributors, workers are able to invest in their families and futures. Fair trade principles mean that buyers are required to pay their suppliers at a predetermined fair trade price that not only covers the cost of their goods, but also covers overhead costs related to sustainable farming.

Why Environmental Stewardship matters in your coffee fundraiser

Fair trade environmental standards work to make sure that farming practices carried out by fair trade suppliers protect the environment so that the land can be utilized for long term purposes. Fair trade partners also seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and attempt to increase their use of renewable energy. Fair trade partners have to follow certain environmental protection guidelines in order to be truly considered fair trade. Fair trade also work to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals they use in production, and the overall carbon footprint of organizations that produce some of our favorite goods. When you purchase coffee from a fair trade coffee fundraiser, you know that the company did their best to reduce their environmental impact, and you can feel good about that.

Empowerment and your coffee fundraiser

What does empowerment mean to you? Being able to make choices for yourself and better your life? Feeling in control of your circumstances? Fair trade principles allow people to make choices for the good of themselves and their community regardless of factors like gender, status, and class. The strict guidelines that fair trade principles lay forward give small farmers, workers, and more a voice to speak up with in their community and in their workplace, which we can sometimes take for granted. A fair trade coffee fundraiser is a great way to teach kids about the importance of empowerment in the work place, and what that means.

Individual and community well being and how it affects your coffee fundraiser

Fair trade gives farmers and workers the ability to invest in their futures, and in better lives for themselves, their families, and their workforce. When workers can invest in themselves and their communities, the result is a healthier happier workforce, and ultimately a superior set of goods. When your coffee fundraiser is fair trade, you know that the beans were harvested and roasted by a group of people who are paid well, and who are on their way to better living conditions and stronger communities.

Start a fair trade fundraiser today

What does it mean to be fair trade? Fair trade standards follow 10 principles that fall under four simple parent categories: Income sustainability, empowerment, individual and community well being, and environmental stewardship. When your coffee fundraiser is fair trade, it empowers good—not only in your community, but across the world. Income Stability in a fair…