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The Fair Trade movement: Emerge and development
Early examples of Fair Trade organizations are Ten Thousand Villages (U.S.) buying needlework from Puerto Rico in 1946 , Oxfam (U.K.) from Chinese refugees during the 1950's.
The 1960's and 70's:
NGO's and individuals in both the South and the North advocated a fair, responsible trade in order to achieve development. Also within political forums is this pointed out, for example during the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Delhi 1968, where the Southern countries requested "Trade not Aid".
Fair Trade was during this period focused on development . The Northern organization where mainly larger development and sometimes religious agencies. Alongside this there where organization that for political reasons wanted to support, why also the term solidarity trade was used.
Production and sales of crafts gives opportunities and empowerment to what is often the most marginalized. This was an important reason for Fair Trade to focus on crafts.
For global cooperation, definitions and standards, the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) was founded 1989.
The organization was formed in Europe, but has today 450 member organizations within over 70 countries. The majority of the organizations are based in the South.
Following decision at IFAT AGM Oct 2008, the name has been changed to the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the website address has changed to www.wfto.com
To inform and raise awareness is important for the Fair Trade movement: The products should be delivered with a message. The shops has here an important task.
The first Fair Trade shops emerged in the 1950's. In 1984, the first conference for European Worldshops where organized and in 1994, the Network of European World Shops (NEWS) was created. Network of European Worldshops Since then, the organization was coordinated yearly European campaigns for Fair Trade. The World Fair Trade Day was initiated by NEWS in 1996. World Fair Trade Day has since become a joint campaign run by NEWS-members together with WFTO-members.
During 2009, NEWS has ceased to exist as an individual organization. Its tasks has been taken over by World Fair Trade Organization-Europe.
Fairtrade product label:
With the initiative to label products (Fairtrade Labelling), food sales has rapidly increased in absolute terms as well as proportion of Fair Trade. The introduction took place in 1988 with "Max Havelaar"-labelled coffee in the Netherlands. Similar labelling organizations where set up in more Northern countries. In 1997, the Fair Trade Labelling Organization (FLO) was created in order to internationally coordinate the product labelling. Fair Trade Labelling Organization
Fair Trade Organization mark:
The World Fair Trade Organization (former IFAT) defined the Fair Trade standards in 2001. The year after, it introduced a monitoring system for Fair Trade Organizations.
In 2004, the Fair Trade Organization Mark was launched. The Fair Trade Organization mark can be used by Fair Trade organizations which have passed the monitoring system and been approved by WFTO. The Fair Trade Organization mark can be used on information materials; websites, catalogues, posters (but not on products.) WFTO is working on the development of a product labelling system.
A Fair Trade Town is a community that makes a collective commitment to Fair Trade. It engages local government, schools, businesses, community organisations and activists to work together. Since April 2000 when Garstang, U.K. declared itself Fair Trade town, there is now more than 1000 Fair Trade Towns spread over more than 20 countries. The commitment is generally formulated in five goals; Local council passes a resolution supporting Fair Trade. A range of Fair Trade products are available locally. Community organizations support FT and use FT products. Media coverage and events raising awareness about FT. A FT steering group representing different sectors is formed to co-ordinate.
In Sweden, FT Towns are called "Fairtrade cities". Since the first was declared in 2006, there are now more than 45. Fairtrade Sweden is coordinating etc
The global Fair Trade movement has achieved a lot and continues to grow. (See the statistics below.)
However, compared with the gigantic challenges raised by world poverty and environmental problems, much more is needed. This calls for extensive cooperation. An example of such comprehensive cooperation is the Fair Trade Advocacy office in Brussels, which has been jointly established by WFTO (former IFAT), NEWS, FLO and EFTA. Fair Trade Advocacy Office
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