Showing Off Our (Assessment) Label
Posted: February 23, 2011 Filed under: Editorials, Uncategorized | Tags: Ethical shopping, Fair Trade Fortnight, Fairtraders Cooperative, Show Off Your Label 2 Comments »At The Fair Traders Co-operative we are 100% supportive of the work done by the Fairtrade Foundation in bringing many types of product to the Fairtrade standard. Of the products we stock we always offer a Fairtrade certified product where one is available.
However, The Fair Traders Co-operative has taken a step further. For many products there is no Fairtrade standard and therefore we have committed to offer customers our own unique Sustainability Assessment Label for every product we sell. This labelling provides customers with at-a-glance information about the most significant social, environmental and economic impacts of the products and suppliers involved. What is more, in assessing a product, we try to examine the complete supply chain from the basic raw materials to manufacture, transportation and end-life disposal.
A panel of our members compiles and researches the story behind every product and supplier to produce a final assessment score in several key areas – economic progress, environmental damage, impact on people, traceability to raw materials and supplier transparency. The information is then shared with our suppliers and placed into the public domain in a bid for complete transparency.
When choosing new products, we select exclusively from suppliers that are committed to maximising the positive and reducing any negative impacts resulting from their activities before we even begin the assessment process.
In our online shop at http://www.thefairtraderscooperative.co.uk, the assessment information is detailed on every product page, with a link to a forum where customers can discuss, challenge or comment on the assessment. When customers make a purchase, a printed Assessment Label showing the star rating and summary information is sent out with the order.
Many products do not lend themselves to rigid standards, and the costs of auditing and certification are beyond the means of the smallest suppliers. Best practice is also continually changing, so a dynamic, open system, exploiting modern technology, is the approach we have adopted.
It is not a perfect system, and the information is far from comprehensive, but it does give consumers a better understanding of, and influence over, the effects of their purchasing choices. It can provide a local context and, if desired, connect them directly with those making the products.
Recent world events have shown that well-informed and networked young people can even topple governments. No wonder then, that brands are increasingly aware of the opportunities and risks they face as a result of the growth in social networking.
We are ‘showing off our label’ this Fairtrade Fortnight in the hope that consumers will start to ask more searching questions about the effect of products on people and the environment and demand that major brands and retailers also provide this sort of information. After all, if a tiny co-operative like ours can do it, then why can’t they?
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- Assessment Label for Recycled Sari Notebooks
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- Recycled Sari Notebooks and albums
Fair Traders Visionary Event
Posted: February 16, 2011 Filed under: Press Releases Leave a comment »Fair Traders Co-operative in Holmfirth will be hosting an inspirational evening led by the co-founder of The Visionary Soap Company, the UK’s leading Fairtrade body care and beauty company.
The event will take place on Friday 4th March, as part of The Fair Traders Co-operative’s Fairtrade Fortnight programme, which will include stringing up Fairtrade bunting on the shop and across the river in the centre of Holmfirth on Saturday 5th as part of a national record-breaking attempt.
The ‘Visionary Evening’ will be led by Visionary Soap Co-Founder, Monica Norley, and showcase the company’s pioneering work with communities in South Africa. It will also provide an opportunity to hear the inspirational human stories behind the ingredients in their products. The Visionary Soap Company’s products are on sale at The Fair Traders Co-operative.
“It’s a real boon to The Fair Traders Co-operative and to Holmfirth that Monica has agreed to come all the way from Hastings to talk to us about the company and its super products” said Helen Robinson, Founder Director of The Fair Traders Co-operative. “Hearing about the people and communities who are producing the ingredients and products we sell is always fascinating, and The Visionary Soap Company has in many ways set the standard for relationships with their suppliers – it will be a very interesting evening.”
Monica Norley will also be involved in events at The Fair Traders Co-operative on Saturday March 5th, when bunting decorated by visitors to the shop’s ‘design-a-bag’ workshops in February will be strung across the river.
ENDS
For more information contact: Helen Robinson, Director, The Fair Traders Co-operative
tel: 01484 690515 email: info@thefairtraderscooperative.co.uk
Notes for Editors
1. The Fair Traders Co-operative is a non-profit community enterprise based in the West Yorkshire town of Holmfirth. It has a shop in the Old Toll House on the main Huddersfield Road as well as an online shop at www.thefairtraderscooperative.co.uk.
2. All the products sold by The Fair Traders Co-operative are subject to a unique ‘sustainability assessment’, which results in a star rating allowing shoppers to see at a glance the impact of their purchases on people, communities and the environment.
3. The Visionary Soap Company (www.visionarysoap.co.uk), based in Hastings, was established in 2005 and is recognised as one of the most successful Fairtrade body care companies in the UK. Its products are made using a very high percentage of certified Fairtrade ingredients and no synthetic chemicals – simply the finest vegetable oils, butters, essential oils and botanicals.
4. Fairtrade Fortnight (28th February – 13th March 2011) is promoted by the Fairtrade Foundation (www.fairtrade.org.uk) and this year’s theme is ‘show off your label’, encouraging people to shout about their commitment to Fairtrade. The Fair Traders Co-operative’s assessment labels are a perfect way to do just that.
5. Groups around the country will be putting up bunting decorated with Fairtrade messages. These will be stitched together afterwards by the Fairtrade Foundation, in an attempt to break the world record for the longest continuous piece of bunting.
The Story of Tagua – Showing of our label for Fair Trade Fortnight
Posted: February 16, 2011 Filed under: Editorials | Tags: Artisan Life, Faio, Fair Trade Fortnight, Fair Trade Gift ideas, Fair Trade Jewellery, Tagua, Vegetable Ivory 1 Comment »Beautiful jewellery inspired by nature, hand-crafted by artisans, fairly traded by Artisan Life. The ideal product to ‘Show off our Assessment Label’ in Fair Trade Fortnight.
Tagua Necklace - Tairona
At The Fair Traders Co-operative our passion is to find out as much as we can about who makes the products we sell and how people, communities and the environment have benefited as a result. We pass this information to you in the form of an Assessment Label giving scores out of 5 for social, economic and environmental impact, so that you can buy in the knowledge that your purchase will have a positive impact on people and the planet. Many of the stories behind the products are so engaging and empowering that we just have to share them with you: our members and customers. Here we tell the story of Artisan Life’s tagua seed jewellery.
The Fair Traders Co-operative is proud to stock a beautiful and striking range of jewellery made from the tagua seed, or vegetable ivory as it is otherwise known. This stunning range of rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings are supplied to us by Artisan Life, a UK company established in 2004 with the aim of promoting, developing and supporting Colombian artisans and their craft.
Tagua Necklace - Wayuu
The tagua jewellery is produced from a seed that comes from the Phytelephas Macrocarpa palm tree, an endangered palm tree that only grows in the tropical rainforests of the South American Pacific coasts. The ‘ivory’ from these seeds is close grain and very hard – similar in structure to elephant ivory, but more dense and resilient. It resembles the finest ivory in texture and colour and is slightly softer than mammal ivory. The benefits of crafting this natural product are many: not only does it replace the slaughter of mammals for ivory in the textile and fashion industries and provide livelihoods for local artisans, the fine dust produced by working the seeds can also be used to enrich livestock feed. In addition, Artisan Life’s products are made from raw materials sourced only from areas where environmental conservation is prioritised. Their suppliers are certified in Colombia by the Administrative Department of the Environment and comply with all environmental conservation policies.
Producing jewellery from tagua seeds takes time. When ripe, the seeds fall to the ground and are gathered and left to dry for a period of up to two years, after which they become extremely hard and separate from their shells, leaving a dark skin which must be removed to reveal the beautiful ivory colour beneath. With a bit of polishing the seeds have a fantastic finish, and can then be cut into different shapes and forms and dyed in a variety of natural colours. This process reveals the structure and veins of the seed, giving each piece an individual aspect and a natural look.
Tagua Bracelet - Chambazz
The jewellery supplied by Artisan Life is designed in the UK and made in artisan workshops in Columbia. The artisans and Artisan Life are in constant communication, and all of Artisan Life’s products are sourced on a fair trade basis, using only natural and sustainable materials. Last year the company received full membership accreditation from the World Fair Trade Organisation, showing just how far their commitment to fair trade principles and policies goes. Their mission is to provide Colombian artisans with opportunities to expand beyond their local markets while striving for the sustained development of the environment and the progress of artisan communities. They aim to develop trusting relationships with the artisans in order to understand the skill and passion that goes into their craft, and so that they can supply unique, modern and high-quality hand crafted products.
Artisan Life is committed to improving the quality of life of its suppliers by promoting artisan crafts as a profitable income generation alternative. In Colombia, hand crafts continue to provide an important source of income, especially for women who have limited options for productive employment. Their suppliers have established employment programmes exclusively for women who are also the main providers of their households. Artisan Life provide advanced payments of up to 50% in order to ensure the continued development of artisan communities and seek to work with artisans who aim to preserve and recover the cultural heritage of Colombian crafts.
Our Week …Cakes, Fair Trade Sock Puppets, and more!
Posted: February 11, 2011 Filed under: News | Tags: co-operative, Fair Trade Fortnight, Yorkshire Fair Trade Leave a comment »Welcome to the first of our regular news round-ups, bringing you the latest from The Fair Traders Cooperative community.
Staff attended the huge retailing exhibition, The Spring Fair, at Birmingham NEC this week, to seek out the best in fair trade, ethical gifts, homeware, toys, and all round beautiful objects. Our favourites will now be discussed, assessed and brought to you as new products throughout the year.
Watch out too for our own range of local Fair Trade cakes – discussions and tastings are in progress and we hope to launch soon!
Meanwhile, directors Mark Lewis and Peter Beetlestone joined local teachers, education representatives, MP Hilary Benn and MEP Linda McAvan in a ‘ Yorkshire Get Ready for Fair Trade Fortnight’ event at Leeds University.
Hilary Benn and Peter Beetlestone
The event launched Fairtrade Yorkshire’s Sock Puppet competition, and gave participants the chance to plan Fair Trade Fortnight events. Our School Resource Packs, which support this vital area of learning, continue in popularity with new orders this week, ahead of Fair Trade Fortnight. We are also pleased to welcome our newest member, Dalton Junior School, to the co-operative.
Ahead of the ‘Visionary Soap Evening’ on March 4th, the Fair Traders online shop have launched a multi-buy 10% discount offer on all Visionary Soap products – a perfect chance to sample the range, or stock up on your favourites. Tickets for the event are also available online.
In the press, the co-operative movement received a welcome focus in the form of Ed Mayo’s article in the Guardian. Read more about the original social network here …
The David Lawton ‘Sunset Stories’ Exhibition will run to 13th February, so call in at the shop this weekend if you have missed it so far. Thank you to David for his inspirational photography, which has really lifted our spirits throughout January!
Congratulations to Banana Quiz winner, Margaret Platt, who receives a Fair Trade Goodie Bag. The answers are revealed below this post.
And don’t forget, ‘Say it ethically this year’ …. Happy Valentines Day!
- Who is the first European to be credited with discovering the banana? Alexander the Great
- What type of plant is the banana? Herbaceous
- Which country is the world’s largest banana producer? India
- What is the main industry on the island of St Vincent? Banana production
- Do bananas float? Don’t know, have a try!
- What is Panama with reference to bananas? Fungal disease
- Who invented the ‘Banana Split’? David Evans Strickler
- What are the ingredients of a ‘Banana Split’? Ice Cream, banana, cherries, chocolate, nuts
- What is another name for a bunch or cluster of bananas? A hand
- In which year was the song ‘Yes, we have no bananas today’ released? 1923
- What makes a banana radioactive? High potassium content
- Which Japanese poet was named after a banana plant? Matsuo Basho
- Where were women forbidden to eat all but two varieties of bananas until the early 18th century? Hawaii
- What was Bananaramas first single to reach the UK chart top ten? Really Saying Something UK No 5 with Fun Boy Three, May 1982
- What gas, which causes other fruits to ripen more quickly, does the banana emit? Ethyelene
- What does the Arabic word ‘banan’ mean? Finger
- What was the name of the hurricane, which devastated the banana crops on St Vincent in October 2010? Tomas
- Name the 4 main characters that appeared in the late 60’s/early 70’s children’s show, ‘The Banana Splits’? Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky
- Bananas ripen better off the plant – True or false? True, if left on the plant they split and become cottony in texture and flavour
- Name a banana fibre product, which can be found at www.thefairtraderscooperative.co.uk
. cricket, elephant, zebra, frog, turtle
Review: For the FOLK of St Vincent gig
Posted: February 10, 2011 Filed under: News Leave a comment »Enjoy a light-hearted review of our benefit gig in January, written by The Fair Traders Cooperative member Nick Batty.
What a great night Friday 28th January was! Hepworth Village Hall packed full of local folk fans. Stefan Melbourne was an impressive first act and got the audience in the mood before the multi-talented Owen Philips took to the stage. A veritable one-man-band, Owen played a guitar, a banjo, a saw and about every other instrument that you can think of. At one point he was playing notes on the underside of a live dog’s tail!….ok, so I made that last one up, but judging by the way Owen had mastered every music making device around, I’m sure that if it could have been done, Owen would have done it (assuming that it didn’t hurt the dog in any way).
Leo Brazil sounded polished,
Leo Brazil and Dave Haigh performing
as regular listeners have come to expect. Leo’s bassist Dave Haigh made it a particularly memorable performance with his enthusiastic mimes. These included Dave impersonating both a drunk and a tiger at different points in the set.
Sail Pattern were an interesting lot. Nothing like a sea shanty or two to end the night. We don’t get enough nautically themed bands from Halifax for my liking.
Ben Doherty was a compere without compare, but it was disappointing that the banana costume we had all heard rumour of wasn’t on show! For the FOLK of St Vincent was a very enjoyable and entertaining night, and I hope it raised a lot of money for the cause.
We would like to say a big thank you to all the musicians who performed, and to everyone who came along and made this event such a success.
From a vision to a reality
Posted: February 8, 2011 Filed under: Editorials, News | Tags: Fair Trade Fortnight, fair trade soap, Organic soap Leave a comment »The amazing story of Fairtrade startup, The Visionary Soap Company’s pioneering work with communities in Africa and the UK.
In March The Fair Traders Co-operative will be hosting an inspirational evening led by the co-founder of one of our suppliers, The Visionary Soap Company, which is the UK’s leading Fairtrade body care and beauty company. Based in Hastings, The Visionary Soap Company was established in 2005 and is recognised as one of the most successful Fairtrade body care companies in the country.
Rosemary & Lavender Gardener's Hand Salve
Its whole range carries the Fairtrade Mark, and its products are made using a very high percentage of certified Fairtrade ingredients and no synthetic chemicals – simply the finest vegetable oils, butters, essential oils and botanicals. What’s more, the range is safety assessed, Vegan Society approved and cruelty free. All packaging is as environmentally friendly as possible too,
The ‘Visionary Evening’ will be led by Visionary Soap Co-Founder, Monica Norley, and showcase the company’s pioneering work with communities in Africa and here in the UK. It will also provide an opportunity to hear the inspirational human stories behind their products. The Visionary Soap Company has made it its mission to improve livelihoods for disadvantaged communities both in Africa, and back home in Hastings. According to the company’s website, “the production of handcrafted soap presents several opportunities for supporting sustainable development, particularly in places such as Africa. Aside from the natural ingredients involved (often locally sourceable), there is a low barrier to entry in terms of equipment needed, water and energy usage is minimal – highly important in communities where these resources are often scarce – and it provides a relatively safe, holistic working environment for all involved. Production also requires a team effort and plenty of helping hands, thus the potential to create a lot of jobs in marginalised, isolated areas with high unemployment.”
Most recently, the company has launched new projects with two communities, one locally and one in the northeast Bolgatanga region of Ghana. Both projects involve training local women in soap making and management skills, so that ultimately jobs can be created through social enterprises which will aim to lift women and their families out of poverty. Hear more about these and other Visionary projects at The Fair Traders Co-operative on Friday 4th March.
Organic Lavender Soap
“It’s a real boon to The Fair Traders Co-operative and to Holmfirth that Monica has agreed to come all the way from Hastings to talk to us about the company and its super products” said Helen Robinson, Founder Director of The Fair Traders Co-operative. “Hearing about the people and communities who are producing the ingredients and products we sell is always fascinating, and The Visionary Soap Company has in many ways set the standard for relationships with their suppliers – it will be a very interesting evening.”
This event is being held as part of The Fair Traders Co-operative’s Fairtrade Fortnight programme and Monica Norley of Visionary Soap will also be involved on Saturday March 5th, when we will be stringing up Fairtrade bunting on the shop and across the river in the centre of Holmfirth as part of a national record-breaking attempt. Groups around the country will be putting up bunting decorated with fair trade messages. These will be stitched together afterwards by the Fairtrade Foundation, which promotes Fairtrade Fortnight, in an attempt to break the world record for the longest continuous piece of bunting. Come along to our ‘design-a-bag’ workshops between 23rd and 26th February in the Community Room and as well as taking away a Fairtrade cotton bag with your own design on the front, you can decorate a piece of Fairtrade cotton bunting with your own fair trade message for adding to our bunting string.
The theme of Fairtrade Fortnight (28th February – 13th March) this year is ‘show off your label’, encouraging people to shout about their commitment to Fairtrade. All the products sold by The Fair Traders Co-operative are subject to a unique ‘sustainability assessment’, which results in a star rating allowing you to see at a glance the impact of your purchases on people, communities and the environment. A printed assessment label is available with every purchase – a great way to ‘show off your label’!
