Fairtrade St Austell

What is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade.  It is a trading partnership which aims at suistainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers.  It seeks to do this by providing better trading conditions, by awareness and campaigning.  For more information please visit the Fairtrade Foundation website. The Fairtrade Mark is the UK version of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) certification label.  Distinctive and colourful, it is easy to pick out on grocery shelves.   The Mark may be used only in direct relation to products that are certified in accordance with Fairtrade standards.  There are now over 1500 products now available in the UK.

What is a Fairtrade town?

The purpose of a Fairtrade town is to contribute to the Fairtrade Foundation's aim of tackling poverty to enabling disadvanted producers from poor countries to receive a better deal.  This is done through the use of the Fairtrade Mark, which is awarded to products that meet the strict criteria laid down by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO).

What does this mean for St Austell?

Making Fairtrade products more widely available in town by encouraging traders to stock them means the people can choose to shop in a way that benefits producers and their communities across the world whilst supporting local businesses.  Encouraging local businesses and community groups to use Fairtrade products means that people can support disadvantaged communities in poor countries at work, school or in places of worship as well as at home.

What did we do?

The Fairtrade Foundation sets out 5 critiera for Fairtrade towns.  Here is how we met those in St Austell:-

• The local authority passed a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and agreed to serve Fairtrade tea and coffee at all meetings and in offices and canteens.  The local authority now has various Fairtrade beverages in its canteen.
• A range of Fairtrade products are now readily available at shops, cafes and catering establishments within the town centre.  It is now easy for local people to find Fairtrade products as they do their everyday shopping.  To find out where you can buy Fairtrade products in St Austell please refer to the full and comprehensive Fairtrade Town Guide.
• A number of local work places and community organisations now have Fairtrade products.
• In order to raise awareness of Fairtrade and to increase the availability and purchase of products, it was essential to attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign.  This we did in the form of the website www.fairtradestaustell.org.uk. This is now combined with the St Austell town website to up the profile of St Austell and get more promotion of Fairtrade.  We are also lucky to have the backing of the St Austell Voice and The Co-Operative who have been fully supportive of our campaign over the last couple of years.
• Set up a local Steering Group which convenes every 2 months to ensure continued commitment to its Fairtrade Town status and discuss progress and the way forward.

We were awarded our Town status in June 2008 and had a declaration ceremony to celebrate and award each Fairtrade stockist with a certificate in recognition of their commitment to Fairtrade.  We then held successful events over Christmas and during Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 and 2009 where we were part of the Fairtrade Producers Tour.

What next?

Our next aim is to renew the status for the town so we can carry on the good work done so far to raise awarenss of Fairtrade.  If you have any ideas for promoting Fairtrade or would like to be involved on the Steering Group and be connected to this worthwhile campaign then please contact us.