FAQ

Being proud of the company you work contributes to feelings of satisfaction. Introducing ethical principles and products into the workplace has the potential to have a great impact on the morale of its employees.

Why should I ask my employers to change their purchasing politics?

Our everyday activities have an impact on the world around us. Fortunately more and more people have come to realize this fact. Separating waste, saving water and conserving electricity have become common practices. Also, considering how much time we spend at work it is worthwhile considering the possibilities of how we can change our habits, in our workplaces as well as in our homes.

By using Fairtrade products, you help fight poverty in developing countries every time you take a coffee or tea break. You support women and men who would be otherwise be helpless against unfair trade conditions, unacceptable working conditions and low salaries. The special benefits that Fairtrade growers receive have been used to build new wells, which can increase the supply of potable water and stop long everyday journeys to a polluted, disease infested lake. Other special benefits could be the enabling on a cooperative to pay high school teachers or school fees so that their children could get higher education, which is rare in many parts of the developing world.

In essence, you decision to by a responsible Fairtrade product helps protect the environment and discourages exploitative work practices. Fairtrade is not a charity. It helps poor people in developing countries to be able to become more self-sufficient and to regain control over their lives.

Are Fairtrade products really high quality?

Fairtrade farmers have to follow strict rules of ecological farming. Their quality can only be assessed by tasting them. People often find out that they prefer the taste of Fairtrade products over regular ones. Why don’t you and your colleagues try blind taste tests? You can see for yourselves that many times Fairtrade products win over conventional products. And remember: there are more than 250 products on offer. If you do not find one kind of tea of coffee particularly appealing to you, there are some other kinds you can choose from.

If you prefer to get some inspiration from independant advisors while deciding on your choice, click on reviews and recipes – Fairově.

How can I convince my employer to introduce Fairtrade products into our workplace?

Find a person responsible for supplies in your company and provide them with sufficient information. Organize a taste test for them and your colleagues and find out for them about the products prices. Provide them with a list of organizations that have already introduced Fairtrade products into their workplaces and inform them about benefits switching for Fairtrade products has brought them. Talk about the ways Fairtrade in which Fairtrade proves to be beneficial to farmers in developing countries.

At the end of the presentation (taste test) hand out a short survey to your colleagues to find out about their view of Fairtrade products. Hand over the results of the survey to teh person responsible for the company’s supplying.

I do not want to be labeled the office tree-hugger by my colleagues ! How can I avoid this?

Many well known organizations offer Fairtrade at work. Businesses have made the switch for different reasons – either they decide to be part of a worldwide movement fighting poverty or they feel that Fairtrade fits in with the ethos of their company. Explain to your colleagues that Fairtrade is not charity, there is real commercial sense behind Fairtrade which should help colleagues see that Fairtrade is not about tree-hugging but about changing lives of farmers in developing countries. For a less serious message, you can email your colleagues with our short video to show how Fairtrade can help bring passion into the workplace!

Why do some Fairtrade products cost more than conventional products?

There is a number of reasons as to why some Fairtrade products are more expensive than conventional products. Here are some of them:

In the case of Fairtrade products there is a guarantee that even though prices of certain foods go significantly down on the world market, the producers get always paid such a price that covers their production costs and enables them to lead „decent“ lives. When prices in the world markets are low, the farmers still receive prices twice or up to three times higher than under usual trade conditions.

The independant system of certification, controls, a program that monitors products out on the markets as well as fees charged for using the licence and Fairtrade labels are all costs that get included in the price. All the costs are reflected in the final retailer price.

Many organizations withing Fairtrade system invest money into long-term relationships with suppliers and/or finance their agricultural technology development.

When there is a new Fairtrade product out on the market, the profits gained on its sale is small and also expenses spent on its production, trasportation, packaging and marketing are lower, especially with regard to the small volume of production.

Would it be better for us, as consumers, to buy the cheapest products instead of Fairtrade products and donate the saved money to charities?

Coffe, tea, bananas, cocoa, cotton as well as other goods producers do not expect charity – they simple ask to get a fair price for their products. They can do business within Fairtrade with a higher confidence as they know that a minimal price and social bonuses are ensured. Thanks to these, they can start up their own social and environmental projects to solve problems of their communities. Raymond Kimaro, manager of a cooperative in Tansania, said at a G8 conference in Edinborough: „Give us a fair price for our coffee and the poverty in Africa wil disapper with our own doings.“ Quite simple, isn't?

How should I organize a taste test?

Conact us!