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Fair trade: what's behind the label?

Article Excerpt
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ROB CAMERON

Position Chief Executive

Organization Fairtrade Labelling

Organizations (FLO) International

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We put 10 questions to Rob Cameron, Chief Executive of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO).

F: What is the difference between Fairtrade and fair trade?

RC: 'Fairtrade' specifically describes the certification and labelling system governed by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO). The broader term 'fair trade' refers to the movement as a whole and encompasses other fair trade organizations.

F: What is the scope of the market for ethical products?

RC: The evidence suggests that the public appetite for ethical products is extremely strong. Sales of Fairtrade products have grown at an average of 40% over the past five years, with an estimated retail value of 2.4 billion euros (US$3.2 billion) in 2007. As a result, consumers are helping to support over 1.5 million farmers and workers in over 60 countries in the developing world. And when you include families and dependents this is over 7.5 million people.

We expect this growth to continue as Fairtrade reaches new markets, develops new labelled products and matures in relatively young markets such as the United States and Japan. We also expect the market to broaden in terms of the product range, the countries in which Fairtrade operates and the countries in which Fairtrade...

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