Environmental Sustainability

Barking and Dagenham for Fairtrade

What is Fairtrade?

The Fairtrade Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on products as a guarantee that farmers and workers in the developing world are getting a fair deal. Millions of producers depend on selling their crops to survive. Its a risky business - when prices drop it can spell disaster.

Buying Fairtrade products allows farmers and their families and communities to invest in their futures, for example in better education and healthcare so they do not have to suffer the consequences of an uncertain future.

A fair go for Fairtrade in Barking and Dagenham

We are now working towards Fairtrade status. The purpose of becoming a Fairtrade town or borough is to contribute to the Fairtrade Foundation's aim of tackling poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to receive a better deal, through encouraging support for the Fairtrade Mark throughout the UK.

Becoming a Fairtrade borough means 5 things:

We must pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at our meetings and in offices and canteens
A range of Fairtrade products must be available in a number of shops in the area and served in local cafés and catering establishments - we will need 27 cafés/catering establishments and shops in Barking and Dagenham
Fairtrade products must be used by a number of local work places, such as estate agents and hairdressers, and community organisations including churches and schools - we will need 14 in Barking and Dagenham
We must encourage media coverage and popular support for the campaign
We must set-up a local Fairtrade steering group to make sure we keep our commitment to Fairtrade Town status

As a London borough with a growing and diverse population, we think it is important that local residents have an opportunity to be ethical consumers which means that we take into account workers' rights, social justice and environmental issues.

We want to take a 'think global act' local approach. We think it is the role of both us and the community to act locally and use fairly traded products, to make sure we all have a positive impact worldwide.

The Fairtrade campaign represents an important part of this now and in the future.