I like being given gold stars. We all like being rewarded – but merit should only be given where it’s really due.
As Fairtrade’s presence and product ranges extend, it is vital the accreditation system be stretched to encompass the entire supply chain and not just the seed. That’s why I am calling for Fairtrade to aim higher – Fairtrade Plus higher.
At the moment you can’t have a fully Fairtrade T-shirt, only a T-shirt made from Fairtrade cotton seed. Fairtrade currently certifies the seed, rather than the supply chain or the end product.
Supreme Creations, of which I am chairman, is the largest ethical manufacturer of re-usable bags in the world. We use only natural products to produce bio-degradable bags, such as jute and Fairtrade champion cotton. My factory in Pondicherry in India is Fairtrade accredited, and our clients include Tesco, The Co-operative Group, Sainsbury's, Debenhams, Topshop and Boots.
To gain such a foothold in the UK retail market was not easy. Our Fairtrade status helped, but the audits carried out by our clients were stringent, and smaller organisations do not have the means to do them. Fairtrade Plus could be the answer.
Balancing ethics and economics is hard. In these difficult times the temptation will be to drop the ethics, but there are many cases where companies have embraced ethics, and invested heavily in doing so.
My own company has employed more than 2,000 individuals in the Pondicherry region. Most of the workers are women, and the sole breadwinners for their families. We provide transport, meals, career counselling and – most importantly – training that gives them transferable skills. High-investment institutions such as ours should be lauded officially. Again, Fairtrade Plus could be the answer.
It is heartening to see consumers making demands on ethical standards. Charitable causes are increasingly being linked to products on the high street, bolstering the case for Fairtrade Plus. In pure economic terms, ethics don’t have to cost the earth – but effort should be rewarded. A*s shouldn’t be just for students. Isn’t it time for Fairtrade Plus?
Dr R Sri Ram (PhD FRSA) is chairman of Supreme Creations.
As Fairtrade’s presence and product ranges extend, it is vital the accreditation system be stretched to encompass the entire supply chain and not just the seed. That’s why I am calling for Fairtrade to aim higher – Fairtrade Plus higher.
At the moment you can’t have a fully Fairtrade T-shirt, only a T-shirt made from Fairtrade cotton seed. Fairtrade currently certifies the seed, rather than the supply chain or the end product.
Supreme Creations, of which I am chairman, is the largest ethical manufacturer of re-usable bags in the world. We use only natural products to produce bio-degradable bags, such as jute and Fairtrade champion cotton. My factory in Pondicherry in India is Fairtrade accredited, and our clients include Tesco, The Co-operative Group, Sainsbury's, Debenhams, Topshop and Boots.
To gain such a foothold in the UK retail market was not easy. Our Fairtrade status helped, but the audits carried out by our clients were stringent, and smaller organisations do not have the means to do them. Fairtrade Plus could be the answer.
Balancing ethics and economics is hard. In these difficult times the temptation will be to drop the ethics, but there are many cases where companies have embraced ethics, and invested heavily in doing so.
My own company has employed more than 2,000 individuals in the Pondicherry region. Most of the workers are women, and the sole breadwinners for their families. We provide transport, meals, career counselling and – most importantly – training that gives them transferable skills. High-investment institutions such as ours should be lauded officially. Again, Fairtrade Plus could be the answer.
It is heartening to see consumers making demands on ethical standards. Charitable causes are increasingly being linked to products on the high street, bolstering the case for Fairtrade Plus. In pure economic terms, ethics don’t have to cost the earth – but effort should be rewarded. A*s shouldn’t be just for students. Isn’t it time for Fairtrade Plus?
Dr R Sri Ram (PhD FRSA) is chairman of Supreme Creations.
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