Cost of coffee.indd - RISC

actionpage: a brief history
[Fair trade is concerned with] change in international relations in such a way that
disadvantaged producers can increase their control over their own future, have a fair and
just return for their work, continuity of income and decent working conditions through
sustainable development.
Fairtrade Foundation, Operating Manual
1964 oxfam set up bridge trading
In the late 1950s Oxfam shops sold pin cushions made by Chinese refugees in Hong Kong.
Bridge Trading grew out of solidarity with the countries surrounding South Africa during the
apartheid years, and reflected a general shift from aid to ‘development’ projects.
Through buying crafts and foodstuffs from trading partners committed to economic and
social justice, Bridge aims to help poor people in developing countries improve their
standard of living.
Bridge Trading Policy Document, 1985
1969 first fair trade shop opened in the netherlands
During the 1970s fair trade shops sprung up all over Europe. There are now over 3000 in
18 European countries. Many Alternative Trading Organisations (ATOs) were also formed to
source, process and market fair trade products. ATOs such as Oxfam Trading (formerly Bridge),
TWIN Trading, Equal Exchange and Traidcraft were the foundation for present day fair trade.
They developed their operations outside mainstream production and marketing systems, with
products largely sold through own shops, mail order, churches etc. Limited access to markets
limited the scale of such alternative trading.
1988 max havelaar set up in the netherlands
First Fair Trade Mark, Max Havelaar, set up as a licensing organisation following the successful
introduction of ‘solidarity coffee’ imported from Mexico. The label has spread to 17 countries.
1988 conference
A major conference of British ATOs agreed that the limitations of operating outside mainstream
markets should be addressed if fair trade was to become more than a marginal activity. To help
move fair trade into the mainstream it was agreed to set up a fair trade labelling organisation
and a new company, Cafédirect. Earlier labelling initiatives, eg environment friendly, had shown
that consumers will pay more for a product when a certain set of standards is guaranteed.
1989 fairtrade foundation set up
14 ATOs agreed to establish the Fairtrade Foundation as the British licensing organisation for a
fair trade label – the Fairtrade Mark. It assesses suppliers for production standards and trading
relationships, and licenses the distributor to use the Mark. Any product meeting the criteria,
marketed by any company can be licensed – to provide a “development friendly consumer
guarantee in the economic mainstream”. www.fairtrade.org.uk
1989 international association for alternative trade (ifat) formed
An information network of Southern producers and 30 Northern ATOs was transformed into a
trading network. IFAT is a partnership organisation that promotes and facilitates co-operation in
areas such as marketing, product development, importing and financing. www.ifat.org
Most of the world's poor people live in the South – in Third World, or developing, countries
– and are frequently exploited by the wealthy, powerful trading nations of the North. As a
representative body of the worldwide alternative trade movement, IFAT works to correct this
imbalance. Through IFAT, handicraft and agricultural producer organizations in developing
countries and alternative trading organizations from both the North and the South unite to
offer a just alternative to unfair trade structures and practices. The people of IFAT educate
consumers about how their choices can help world neighbours build a better future.
IFAT
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