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Let's be friendsYoung people challenge companies to get serious about Fairtrade
A recent survey by student campaigning organisation People & Planet reveals that young people strongly support ethical purchasing, but are unsatisfied with the current limited supply.
Students in Oxford call for more Fairtrade products
The survey identifies three major concerns:
The current range of Fairtrade certified products is too narrow, particularly with the emphasis on food and drink. Nearly 70% of young people would like school uniforms to be Fairtrade.
Companies should do much more to be socially and environmentally responsible. Making a small number of products Fairtrade, but carrying on with business as usual is not good enough.
Companies need to do more to reduce their environmental impact.
Young people in Britain believe strongly that they can make a difference to the lives of people in developing countries and to the environment through what they choose to buy (75%). Influencing companies is seen as a key way of reducing poverty oversees. The most important reason given by young people for buying products with the Fairtrade Mark is to send a message to companies to increase their practise of Fairtrade.
The survey also reveals the negative impression young people have of corporations, with 96% supporting the statement that corporations could do much more to reduce their negative impacts. Reducing their impact on the environment was the second most popular action that young people wanted companies to take (76%) after ensuring that local workers get a fair deal (91%).
Matt McMullen, student activist with People & Planet commented:
“It’s brilliant that Fairtrade is now so popular, but young people don’t want to stop with tea and coffee. We want workers in the clothing industry to also be treated fairly. Students are demanding that their uniforms are made ethically and now it’s up to clothing suppliers to respond to this demand in the same way as the hot drinks industry has”.
Matt McMullen
Fruit producers who already benefit from Fairtrade
Other interesting results show that the majority of students perceive the quality of Fairtrade certified products as being as good as, or better than, non-Fairtrade products. The survey also demonstrates the demand from young people for chocolate companies like Cadburys and Nestle to make all their chocolate Fairtrade. So whilst the recent announcement by Cadburys that Dairy Milk would be made of Fairtrade cocoa would be welcomed, respondents said they should convert their whole range.
The survey was completed by 662 participants in schools, colleges and online.
Email tradejustice@peopleandplanet.org for more information and full results.
The winner, picked at random, of the Divine chocolate prize draw is Esmi Freeman of Edinburgh. Congratulations! The chocolate is winging its way to you now.
