What is Fair Trade?

 

Kizuri and our suppliers follow nine Fair Trade principles from the

Fair Trade Federation:


CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY MARGINALIZED PRODUCERS

Fair Trade creates partnerships with disadvantaged artisans in developing countries. Through these partnerships, artisans have the resources to care for their families and to pursue opportunities for education, community development and the sustainable growth of their businesses. As a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development, producers set their prices - not large corporations.

 

DEVELOP TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE RELATIONSHIPS

Our relationships with you, our suppliers and our producers are open, fair and respectful. Fair Trade ensures transparent trade terms throughout the supply chain. Finances, management policies and business practices are transparent and open to public accountability.

 

BUILD CAPACITY

Long term, respectful trading relationships empower individuals to move more confidently into their futures and create sustainable change within their culture at the grassroots level.

 

PAY PROMPTLY AND FAIRLY

Fair Trade operates within a framework of worker compensation reflecting the true costs of labor, time, materials and sustainable growth. Often times, producers receive pre production (or pre harvest) advance pay.


SUPPORT SAFE AND EMPOWERING WORKING CONDITIONS

Members cultivate safe and healthy workplaces and empower workers to participate in decision making policies. Elimination of all forms of discrimination is a foundation of Fair Trade principles.

 

ENSURE THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

Children have the right to security, education and play. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is supported by Fair Trade members as well as local, regional and national child labor laws.

 

CULTIVATE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Fair Trade supports sustainable practices of reducing, reusing, reclaiming and recycling our world resources. A growing variety of Fair Trade products come from recycled materials and reclaimed wood.

 

PROMOTE FAIR TRADE

Sharing information, artisan stories and networking is done through social media, community presentations and a visit to Kizuri!

 

RESPECT CULTURAL IDENTITY

Through long term respectful business relationships, artisans develop the skills needed to succeed in the global marketplace while honoring the age old traditions of their cultures.