Sustainable and Fair Local Trade – Webinar Series

In 2022, the Fair Tade Advocacy Office (FTAO) conducted a global overview of existing local Fair Trade initiatives. It explored different approaches that were adopted across the world.  

According to the research, local Fair Trade initiatives multiplied during the last decade. Different local developments include pilots on North – North (N-N) and on South – South (S-S) Fair Trade as well as proposing national, regional and international labels. While these developments clearly show that there is a global need to expand the application of Fair Trade principles, the diversity of initiatives presents the Fair Trade movement with new challenges. Additionally, there is even a larger shift to local production and consumption outside of the Fair Trade Movement.  

Fairness in local spaces is a concept that has been developed in different ways by different actors in the Fair Trade movement – looking at local initiatives the concept of fairness is more important than ever – and Fair Trade actors have experience in developing / applying it. This is true both in the context of a specific product and in the context of entire enterprises that adopt business models entirely shaped to be a part of the sustainable transition. 

To explore the existing experience, good practice and challenges faced by actors working on existing local sustainable and Fair Trade initiatives, the FTAO is starting a series of exchanges around the key issues identified by the 2022 overview of local initiatives.  

Based on these considerations we aim to map out what is the potential for an inclusive approach to sustainable and fair local trade. 

1. What are good practices and difficulties of local Fair Trade in « Northern » and « Southern » contexts? 

5.10.2023, 14:00 – 15:30 CET 

In this session, we explore existing local Fair Trade initiatives. We learn how in France, the Fair Trade movement joined forces with the organic movement and local farmers organisations to develop a unified national understanding of local Fair Trade. What are the right standards of Fair Trade? What can be taken over from the traditional N-S model and what/if anything needed to be adapted? Are there differences between Northern and Southern approaches and why?  

Speakers:  

Link to the recording: What are good practices and difficulties of locals FT in “northen” and “southern” contexts? 

2. Mapping and strategizing around unintended impacts of local Fair Trade 

26.10.2023, 12:00 – 13:30 CET  

After learning about existing good practices in localising local sustainable and fair trade, we will dive into questions around unintended consequences that such initiatives could produce. What are some of the myths around localising Fair Trade and what challenges must be addressed so that the move ultimately benefits local smallholder producers and workers. In moving to local production, we need to be careful about mapping the true cost of associated with it – is a local raspberry from a northern EU country better for the environment than one imported from a Latin American country? Will the development of local Fair Trade in Global North crowd out existing Fair Trade farmers from the Global South? 

To address these questions, we are joined by:  

Link to the recording: Mapping and strategizing around unintended impacts of local Fair Trade 

3. From international fair and sustainable trade to local: a way to decolonize the fair and sustainable trade movement? 

Date: 28 November, 16:00 – 17:30 CET

While the traditional Fair Trade model was developed as a trade partnership and as an alternative model based on fairer distribution of value, we can still observe entrenched colonial patterns in its design and implementation. One key example is the distribution of value added across traditional Fair Trade value chains where in most cases, the raw materials are exported from origin countries and then processed in a Global North country where most value added is retained. How can the move to local sustainable and Fair Trade address the unfair distribution of value? What is its potential to support the development of local trading communities in the Global South? 

To address these questions, we are joined by: 

  • Bernard Outah, Regional Director, World Fair Trade Organization-Africa and the Middle East (Kenya) 
  • Kate Nkatha Ochieng’, Commercial Director, Fairtrade Africa
  • Pierre Johnson, International consultant, study and sustainable development of natural products value chains 
  • Leida Rijnhout, Chief Executive World Fair Trade Organisation 
  • Copavic, Fair Trade producer of hand-blown glass products made of recycled glass from Guatemala

Link to the recording: From international fair and sustainable trade to local: a way to decolonize the fair and sustainable trade movement? 

4. What is the role of “short” supply chains in local sustainable and fair trade? What can local production learn from the Fair Trade movement? 

Date: 7 December, 13:30- 15:00 CET

Traditionally, the concept of Fair Trade is designed for long supply chains as it focuses on a just distribution of value in the context of multiple actors across multiple countries. When starting to also use it in combination with ‘local’ supply chains new questions arise. What is the role of Fair Trade when speaking about local value chains? What is the use of the term local by Fair Trade actors and by non-Fair Trade actors? Can they learn from each other to ultimately build upon each other instead of compete? 

To address these questions, we are joined by: 

  • Živa Lopatič, Director of the Institue for Fair Trade 3MUHE, Slovenia
  • Ilias Ziogas, Syn Allois
  • Andrea Cantieri, Altromercato
  • Elena Sandrone, Slow Food

Register here