Fairtrade in Brent

We are delighted that our status as a Fairtrade Borough has been successfully renewed for another two years, with very positive feedback from the Fairtrade Foundation:

“It’s been fantastic to hear about everything that you have achieved in the past few years. Your group has demonstrated dedication to take your campaign forward and ensure Fairtrade becomes part of daily life in Brent.”

This means that, as a council, we are committed to sell, serve, use and promote Fairtrade products.

How we became a Fairtrade Borough

To become a Fairtrade borough we did several things to raise awareness and promote Fairtrade including:

• passing a resolution to support Fairtrade and agreeing to serve Fairtrade products
• at least two Fairtrade products be readily available in numerous retail and catering outlets 
• local workplaces and community organisations supporting Fairtrade and using products wherever possible
• media coverage and events that were organised to raise awareness and understanding of Fairtrade across the community
• setting up a local Fairtrade steering group, the Brent Fairtrade Network.

Fairtrade for producers means a Fairtrade Price that at least covers the costs of sustainable production, even when world market prices fall. If market prices rise above the Fairtrade Price, producers get the market price. On top of that, producers receive a Fairtrade Premium for community projects that help them to improve the quality of their lives. Producers decide democratically how to use this Premium. Typically they invest it in education, healthcare, farm improvements or processing facilities to increase income.

Esperanza Dionisio, a coffee farmer from Peru, explained how this works. A quintal (100 kg) of coffee makes only about $100 in the market but with Fairtrade her cooperative gets $140 as the guaranteed minimum price plus an extra $30 because their coffee is organic. The Fairtrade Premium then adds another $20, making a total nearly double the market price. Fairtrade has transformed the lives of members of the cooperative.

On top of these financial benefits, the Fairtrade terms include environmental and social conditions such as minimising waste, no child labour and trade union rights. The whole Fairtrade package is independently and regularly audited – a feature rarely seen in company schemes that claim to be “fair trade”.

Every time you buy, sell, serve and promote Fairtrade, you are helping producers across the world to get a fair price for their products. What’s more, you are also helping them to become more sustainable and to improve the quality of their lives and their local community. Here are just a few ways you can do your bit:

Buy Fairtrade 

Look for the Fairtrade mark in shops, cafes and restaurants. Wide ranging product are available including tea, coffee, chocolate, cakes, biscuits, cereals, beer and wine, fruit, sugar, nuts, flowers and clothing.

If your favourite café or local shop doesn't stock Fairtrade, ask for it.

Visit the Fairtrade Foundation website to see the full range of Fairtrade products and where you can buy them.

Promote Fairtrade

Encourage your friends, workplace, community group, religious group, school or university to use Fairtrade products.

Speak to whoever organises the catering supplies and ask them to investigate Fairtrade alternatives.

The Brent Fairtrade Network can help or you can visit the Fairtrade Foundation website.

Sell or serve Fairtrade products

If your shop, cafe or restaurant doesn't already sell or serve Fairtrade, consider doing so.

You can find suppliers of Fairtrade products at the Fairtrade website. Once you do stock or serve Fairtrade products, let us know and we'll add your details when we publicise Fairtrade in Brent.

Join the Brent Fairtrade Network

Help to promote the use of Fairtrade products to businesses and workplaces across the borough.

The Brent Fairtrade Network campaigns to:

• encourage shops, restaurants and workplaces in Brent to serve Fairtrade products
• encourage people to buy Fairtrade products
• raise awareness of social justice and trade-related poverty issues.

The Network does this by:

• canvassing
• going into shops
• liaising with local schools, businesses and faith groups
• hosting stalls at community events
• celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight

You can join the Brent Fairtrade Network as an individual, school, business or faith group.
For more information, please contact: Cllr Janice Long, Steering Group member, Brent Fairtrade Network