TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL FOR INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION WITH JON CONNORS FROM HACK 4 EARTH NETWORK INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION JON CONNORS Jon...
Industry Transformation
Humane working conditions
Humane working conditions
Fair trade describes a controlled trade by which the producer receives a minimum price for their product which is defined by a fair-trade organisation.
The goal is to enable the producer a higher and more reliable income than in the normal trade even though the market price is lower.
The amount of a fair price is a topic that is discussed for a long time in business ethics. Therefore, this form of trade tries to establish long-lasting relationships between the trader and the producer. Moreover, international as well as environmental and social standards should be kept in the production which are provided by organisations.
In 2015, more than 1.5 million farmers took part in fair-trade programs, the parent organisation Fairtrade-International says.
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Transparent supply chains
The strongest-selling product with a vague future is coffee.
With an amount of 32% coffee is still the strongest-selling product of fair-trade. Every 20th cup of coffee which is being drunk in Germany, comes from fair-trade.
Sweet fruit, bitter reality: the banana
Regarding sales, bananas continue being on the first place in fair-trade. With an amount of about 95,000 tons they represented the biggest part in the product category ‘south fruits’. As a result, fair-trade bananas achieved a market share of about 14% in Germany.
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But this positive development is faced with a price fight for bananas which food chains have. Producers who sell their bananas for fair-trade conditions or to fair-trade companies such as BanaFair, profit from better prices and reliable trade partnerships.
For the majority of the banana farmers and plantation workers exploitation and bad working conditions is something they have to deal with every day. And also the cancelation of launching 100 % fair-trade bananas by the discounter chain Lidl makes clear: Voluntary initiatives of companies aren't enough to create faire-trade conditions.
Therefore, the forum fair-trade requires a legal entrepreneural care for German companies along their supply chains. They have to take responsibility for their products being produced under humane conditions. Moreover, their producers should be able to live a humane life from their income or salary. Anyone who does not do this must be able to be held liable by those affected in the event of damage.
Transparent supply chains
Fair wages
Fair wages
The critical situation of the coffee farmers worldwide shows how long the way to fair-trade structures is. Due to low prices in the world market more than half of the coffee farmers can’t cover their production costs in the conventional trade. More and more producers quit coffee growing and see no alternative than migration.
Due to the survey ‘coffee: a successful story covers the crisis‘ the added value for roasters and trader in Germany has increased by 139% in the last 20 years whereas it has been decreased by 10% in the production countries. This injustice can’t be solved only by informed consumers and their consumption behaviour.
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Therefore, the forum Fair-Trade fights for the abolishment of the coffee tax for fair-trade coffee in Germany.
Moreover, legal regulations are needed so that many coffee farmers receive better conditions.
(Sources: www.wikipedia.de, www.fairtradestadt-hamburg.de, www.forum-fairer-handel.de)
Sustainable economic growth
The concept of sustainable development defines “development that safeguards the quality of life of the present generation and offers future generations the choice to shape their lives”. (Brundtland Report).
This model of sustainable development should determine international and national policy and action at regional level, in cities and municipalities.
Economic, ecological and social aspects are to be given equal consideration. The development and environmental needs of present and future generations are to be met in a fair way through a newly defined global partnership.
The Millennium Development Goals adopted in 2000 also focus on the concept of sustainable development. A worldwide development partnership is to contribute to the eradication of poverty and to improvements in the areas of education, health, gender equality and ecological sustainability
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Education is an essential requirement for sustainable development. The United Nations has therefore proclaimed the "Education for Sustainable Development" project for the years 2005 to 2014. The vision is to open up educational opportunities to all people that will enable them to acquire knowledge and values and to learn the behaviours and lifestyles that are necessary for a future worth living and for positive social change (see UNESCO 2004, p. 4).
In their development policy activities, German countries focus on sustainable development. The countries' development cooperation contributes to this in the areas of education for sustainable development, climate protection, renewable energies and much more.
In their resolution of October 2008, the Prime minister stated: "The fight against hunger and poverty, climate change and increasing global migration pose new challenges for development policy.
(Source: www.ez-der-laender.de)