1 October 2015 (Culemborg) - Fair Trade breaks the chain of poverty.
Fair traders around the world, together with small producers and backed by
consumers, are breaking the chains of poverty.
Fair Trade is growing
and that is our proof that we are gaining our fight against extreme poverty.
The WFTO membership count doubled from 155 Fair Trade organisations in 2005 to
355 in 2014. In the same period, the turnovers of these members quadrupled from
136 million euros to 448 million euros.
To ensure their way
out of poverty, producer-beneficiaries of WFTO members receive fair prices for
their products, long-term income security, capacity-building and life-skills
trainings, no discrimination, no slavery, and good working condition.
“It is unacceptable
that there are still over 1 billion people living in extreme poverty and deep
deprivation. That is why at WFTO we fight poverty together with the small
producers through sustainable solutions. The 10 Fair Trade Principles are our
weapon. It is important that the eradication of poverty is done together with
those affected. And with the support of consumers and businesses Fair Trade can
go even further in its contribution to poverty eradication.”
– Rudi Dalvai,
WFTO President
WFTO believes that
poverty can be effectively eradicated by empowering small producers, giving
them fair and sustainable means of livelihoods.
WFTO requires its members to comply with the 10
Fair Trade Principles through the WFTO Guarantee System, which regularly verifies
organisational practices of trading organisations to ensure Fair Trade is being
respected.
Products that are
Guaranteed Fair Trade can be recognised by the WFTO Product Label. Products
carrying the WFTO Label are made and traded by Guaranteed Fair Trade
Organisations dedicated to the sustainable Fair Trade economy. Every purchase
of products with the WFTO Label supports small producers and their
communities.
Notes to Editors:
The
World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)
is a global network of organisations
from over 75countries across Africa and Middle East, Asia, Europe, Latin
America, North America and the Pacific Rim, representing the entire Fair Trade
supply chain. Membership of WFTO provides Fair Trade organisations
with credibility and identity by way of an international guarantee system; a
place of learning where members connect with like-minded people from around the
world; tools and training to increase market access; and a common voice that
speaks out loudly about Fair Trade. WFTO is the home of fair traders:
producers, marketers, exporters, importers, wholesalers and retailers that
demonstrate 100% commitment to Fair Trade and apply the 10 Principles of Fair Trade of WFTO in their daily operations. The
works and achievements of its members make WFTO a global authority on Fair
Trade and a guardian of Fair Trade values and principles.
The coming years will
witness a whole variety of products carrying the WFTO Product Label, from handicrafts, to fashion, to food products.
Behind the Product
Label is a revolutionary Fair Trade system – the WFTO Guarantee System.
Consistent with the goal of Fair Trade, which is to enable producers to improve
their livelihoods and communities through trading within agreed set of
principles, WFTO’s route to equity in trade is ensuring that organisations
follow the WFTO’s 10 Principles of Fair Trade.
The WFTO Guarantee System is based on
time-tested best practices of Producer Group Internal Control System (ICS),
Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) and WFTO membership system experience. To
learn more of the WFTO Guarantee System, visit our website www.WFTO.com.
For high resolution images, interviews and other queries, please
contact WFTO
Michael Sarcauga, Communications Coordinator
E: Michael@wfto.com T: +31345535914.
