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In our efforts to buy organic, sustainable products, we must also consider the people who produced those products. Just because the products are free from chemicals and pesticides, does not mean that child labor or excessively cheap labor was not used to produce them.It is important that we make the most ethical choices possible when making purchases. We want to know that we are buying from companies who promote healthy working conditions and pay fair wages to their workers. FAIR TRADE PRICESThe challenge with developing fair trade markets is that shoppers always want the best deal they can find. If the price if right, they tend not to question the origin of a product at all. Shoppers also assume that fair trade products are much more expensive than similar products. This assumption, however, is not always true. A fair trade price must always cover the cost of production and allow for a sustainable livelihood for the people that produce the products. It must also include an additional “social premium” so that growers can invest in their businesses and their communities. As shoppers, we should not just be focused on price, but on ethical choices. We need to move beyond our own selfish interests and embrace a more global point of view.OUR CLOTHING CHOICESWe tend to be especially oblivious when it comes to the clothing we buy and how it effects the world around us. Though eco-designers want their customers to think about the cotton in their clothing and how it was produced, we remain focused on price and fashion.There also remains a lot of confusion about the differences between organic cotton and fair trade cotton and between sustainable clothing and fair trade clothing. Let’s look at the distinctions here. CONVENTIONAL COTTON There is a perception problem with cotton itself. A lot of people tend to think of “100% cotton” as a natural, pure fabric. They don’t have a clue on what a devastating effect it has on our air, water, soil, and global health. Here are just a few important facts that may make you think twice before you buy clothing made with conventional cotton.
FAIR TRADE ORGANIC COTTON Even if we all bought only organic cotton products, this would not mean it is fair trade organic cotton. Just because the cotton or other material is organic doesn’t mean that those who made it were treated fairly or given a just wage for their efforts. On the contrary, children if many third world countries as well as in China and India are subject to cruel and inhuman working conditions even if the cotton is organically grown. As ethical clothing shoppers we must not only buy organic but we must also buy clothes made by workers who receive a livable wage under safe and healthy working conditions in a plant that uses eco-friendly manufacturing processes. SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING We also have to remember that the concepts “sustainable” and “organic” and “fair trade” are not the same. “Sustainable” simply means the clothing was made from recycled products. It does not mean that no chemicals were used in developing the original product, nor does it mean that it was made by workers who were paid a fair price. The term “sustainable,” still, is more environmentally meaningful than organic because it saves on raw materials and natural resources. THE FASHION CHALLENGEThe challenge in getting fair trade, organic, and sustainable clothing all rolled into a single piece of clothing is in sourcing the fabrics which are very limited in terms of color and print. As consumer demand picks up, however, so will the supply and variety of truly eco-friendly fabrics become more available. In the meantime, there must be more and better consumer education. E Magazine said it well: “The more consumers know about the content of their clothing, the more they may begin to see it all of its “life-cycle” from grower to garment. The eco fashion movement on a small or large scale is about drawing the connections between consumers and their clothing and moving away from a disposable mentality. It’s a major shift for a generation accustomed to buying clothes with a shopping cart.”We need a new way of thinking about how we design our clothing, one that is similar to how we design our green buildings. We need to look at every aspect of a product’s lifecycle, making sure that it is being designed for sustainability so that when it reaches the end of its lifecycle it can be reborn into something new. Finally, we need a certification program that takes all factors (organic, sustainable and fair trade) into consideration. We want our clothing to be free of chemicals and pesticides as well as produced in an ethical, sustainable manner. There is no label yet that assures us that all these conditions are met in the clothing we buy. STARBUCKS AND FAIR TRADEAs we have already mentioned with clothing, organic and Fair Trade certifications are two different issues. Though about 85% of Fair Trade coffee is also organic, the reverse is not true with organic coffee. If coffee is not labeled with both of these certifications, don’t buy it. While the above point is important when making coffee purchases from your local retail store, most of us also buy our coffee from Starbucks. To many in the green community STARBUCKS AND FAIR TRADE is an oxymoron. It is viewed as a gigantic, uncaring corporation. Yes, Starbucks is huge. As a large corporation that nets a staggering $10 billion a year, we must realize that they can only be socially responsible to a degree. Afterall, there is simply not a sufficient supply of organic, high quality, fair trade coffee to meet the current the demand for it. Starbucks is still considered a progressive company for its size. They treat their employees well and have fantastic benefits—even for part time employees. The Starbucks Center in Seatlle, built in 1912, is one of the oldest and largest buildings in the nation to earn a LEED Gold rating. Although it is not very obvious on their signage, they even offer organic milk as an option for most of their drinks that contain milk. Starbucks should be commended, not vilified, for their socially responsible practices. Even so, there remain some glaring problems when it comes to their environmental practices. These are problems that can be readily addressed and would enhance their reputation as a socially conscious company. I am puzzled, for example, as to why they choose to give out disposable paper and plastic cups, even if you enjoy your drink inside one of their stores. They should certainly have ceramic, glass, or other non-disposable cups as an option for customers. Though they do use some post-consumer recycled materials in some of their cups, it is not enough. More and more coffee shops are using corn-based, compostible cups and utensils and Starbucks should do the same. Considering the size of their operation, it would make a huge difference for the environment. Though Starbucks does offer a limited selection of certified organic and Fair Trade coffees, they should also offer it as their “coffee of the day” at least once in a while. If you live in a large city or a progressive town, you can also consider finding other more socially responsible places to enjoy your coffee. Look for organic and Fair Trade selections as well as recyclable or compostible cups and utensils. If it’s beans you’re looking for, my absolute favorite source is Peace Coffee out of Minneapolis. The Twin Cities blend is doo-licious and has a rich smoky flavor like that of many Starbucks blends. FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE, BANANAS, CRAFTS, AND JEWELRYThough clothing and coffee make up the majority of our fair trade purchasing, consumers should also consider fair trade issue when they purchase FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE, bananas, and crafts. The best way to make sure you are making fair trade purchases is to buy your products from a fair trade cooperative. There are a growing number of them around the world. |
Learn More
- All About Fair Trade
- Organic Cotton Info & Resources
- Fair Trade Certified Products
- Fair Trade Labeling
- Fair Trade Store Finder