Is it always better to buy fair trade?
Just read something over my tea and toast yesterday which was pretty interesting (sorry, really gonna have to stop this read-something-on-Sunday, blog-about-it-on-Monday thing). It's an article in the ethical living bit of the Observer which talks about a new shopping dilemma - whether it's always better to buy fair trade, given that some of the products will have been flown across the globe to get to our shelves, and will therefore cause damage to our environment. The author gives a decent conclusion: "You'll have your views on whether fair-trade credentials override food-mile transgressions, but there's also room for an ethical consumption strategy: buy fresh produce locally and seasonally (and organic), but for consumables such as rice, chocolate, cocoa and even textiles - which have to be imported anyway - go the fair-trade route." Have a look on the Observer website - it's a quick and interesting read, and ties in with some of our recent ethical living features in our Your say section.
posted at 11:51 AM
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This is a bit like the quandary people face when they choose between fairly traded or organic produce (as the two rarely coincide). Personally, I can't see the point in buying fruit and veg from overseas when it is in season in the UK. But that doesn't mean you should buy it from Tesco. Local markets and farm shops will sell the best produce - and it's worth remembering that many of these independent growers in the UK are far from well off themselves. But when fruit and veg isn't in season here you might as well buy fair trade, since it will all be sourced from overseas in any case.
By ,
January 09, 2006 1:40 PM
It's really tricky isn't it? I think that ultimately, food miles will have to take precedence, but in the short term, not buying foreign goods just makes the producers in the third world worse off - and people will still be buying non-fairtrade imports anyway. As for organic versus fairtrade, I think fairtrade is much more important. One of the criteria for being organic is non-GM. That prevents third-world farmers using new varieties which need less pesticide. Go faitrade every time!
By Edd,
January 09, 2006 6:45 PM
I agree that fair trade normally represents the most ethical option. But as well as environmental considerations, people will buy organic goods because they are healthier for them. With dieticians encouraging people to eat organically whenever they can, you'll need a lot of resolve to stick to fair trade, non-organic products. A pat on the back to those who do.
By ,
January 10, 2006 10:04 AM
It almost seems contradictory doesn't it? The commonsense approach is the best one. Try to buy from the UK where possible. I try to buy fresh veg. from the UK and chuck it in the freezer. :) Of course the environmental impacts of a freezer? Well if you get 100% sustainable energy from someone like http://www.good-energy.co.uk/ you'll be ok :) What more buying fair trade supports poorer farmers and kick starts poverty stricken countries.
By G,
January 12, 2006 8:27 PM
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