Buying Fair trade Certified products can make a huge difference to people’s lives in developing countries.
When you buy TIANA, you are not only supporting Fair Trade and help World’s poor; you are also getting the finest and most nutritious organic coconut products available.
What is Fair Trade? – Definition of Fair Trade
Fair Trade and Fair Trade Products
About Ecocert Fair Trade (EFT)
TIANA Ltd commitment to Fair Trade
Fair Trade Facts
Guide to ethical symbols to look for when shopping
What is Fair Trade? – Definition of Fair Trade
Fair Trade is trade between developed countries and disadvantaged producers in developing countries.
Fair Trade is a way to help world’s poor every time we buy Fair trade Certified Products. Fair Trade guarantees farmers and workers a fair price for their products that covers costs and enables them to support their families.
Fair Trade also promotes the development of disadvantaged producers, particularly women and people living in poverty and protects children from exploitation in the production process.
Fair Trade defends human rights by encouraging social justice, sound environmental practice and economic security.
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Fair Trade and Fair trade Certified Products
Fair trade Certified Products carry the Fair trade Mark which is awarded by one of the Fair Trade International Organisations to products that meet internationally agreed Fair Trade Standards.
There are several Fair Trade international organisations such as Ecocert SA, FLO (Fairtrade Foundation) and Rainforest Alliance. Fair Trade raises the incomes of workers and farmers boosting local economies; it is the key to a better life for hundreds of thousands of poor families throughout the World.
Fair Trade Certification guarantees fair terms of trade and fair prices for producers and supports democracy and decent working conditions. The fair price is based on local economic conditions, covering production, costs for farm improvements and provision for workers and their families to have a decent standard of living.
Farmers and workers are guaranteed a minimum fair price for their crop. The Fair Trade system is very different, in the supply chain the number of intermediaries is considerably reduced and farmers get a larger share of the export price. A specially developed auditing system checks that every Fair Trade labeled product sold to consumers has been produced by a Fairtrade certified producer where farmers and workers have been paid a fair price.
Fair Trade is long-term trade. Fair trade certified importers sign long term agreements with producers and to place orders well in advance so that even the poorest producers have access to markets in developing countries for their products. When we buy fairtrade certified product we know that buying a product consistently over a long period of time gives the producer stability and assurance of income.
Fair trade farmer co-operatives are estimated to earn between 25% and 60% more than they would without fair trade. This makes a huge difference to the poor families, the farmers and the local economy.
Buying Fair trade certified products helps to overcome poverty. Poverty kills on average 30,000 children a day.
Fair trade certified products are guaranteed not to involve the exploitation of child labour.
The Fair Trade Mark means that children under 15 are not employed at all.
Every time you buy a Fair trade certified product, you improve the lives of the poorest and fair trade is an effective way to help.
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About Ecocert Fair Trade (EFT)
All the premium TIANA range of organic coconut products are Fair trade certified by Ecocert Fair trade (www.ecocert.com). Ecocert is a well known certification body in the field of organic, fair trade, food safety, environmental and social compliance.
Ecocert Fair Trade (EFT) Standards emphasize social and environmental criteria and require consideration of the entire commodity chain:
The Committee on price setting sets the minimum price for the producers.
The Ecocert fair trade certification Committee validates the labels.
The EFT standards are to be implemented in every part of commodity chain to be able to carry the Fair Trade label. Fair trade labels on consumer products can be only allowed if the whole commodity chain complies with Ecocert Fair Trade Standards.
The Technical Committee monitor the standards.
As a key operator and a UK importer - TIANA Ltd is responsible of the EFT upstream.
All upstream and downstream operators are controlled by Ecocert Fair Trade individually.
What is the difference between Fair trade certified and Fairly Traded companies and products
We are Fair trade certified by Ecocert Fair Trade, one of the largest certification bodies in the World. Our certification is traceable with www.ecocert.com and our certificate number is ESR UK 0064.
There are companies that claim their products to be fairly traded certified, this has no legal standing and has nothing to do with Fair Trade Certification. Without a Fair Trade Certificate a company or its products are not Fair trade certified.
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TIANA Ltd commitment to Fair Trade
The complete range of TIANA organic coconut products is in conformity with Ecocert Fair Trade schedule of conditions. This schedule limits the number of intermediaries so that revenue is shared out fairly and transparently along the entire commodity chain. Ecocert Fair Trade conditions impose strict social and environmental standards.
TIANA Ltd is a registered importer and supplier of Organic and Fair trade Certified coconut products and ingredients including coconut oil, gluten-free coconut flour, coconut milk & coconut cream and all varieties of desiccated coconut in retail and industrial packaging.
As a direct importer TIANA Ltd signed long-terms agreements with suppliers, sharing commitment to raise incomes farmers and workers and boost local economies.
By buying TIANA coconut products the consumers get a double benefit – Fair trade and Organic certified products. The Premium TIANA coconut products are Fair trade Certified by Ecocert Fair Trade; they are fully certified Organic by Organic Farmers and Growers (UK) and also Ecocert SA within EU.
When you buy TIANA fair trade organic virgin coconut oil, flour, milk, cream and desiccated coconut you are not only getting the finest, delicious and nutritious coconut products available, you actively support to Fair Trade and help world’s poor.
TIANA Ltd pays fair prices for all TIANA Fair trade Certified coconut products. The purchase price is also including a profit margin called Premium. Fair trade prices follow the increase in market prices as soon as they exceed 10% and as soon they become a firm trend.
Fair trade price is based on cost of production (taken into account the living wage) and Premium margin to enable farmers and workers to invest in social and environmental projects to support local schools, health clinics, community centers, pay for office equipment, buildings or improving roads and farm improvements in the Philippines. Education is one of top priorities and the premium goes to set up schools and nurseries. Additionally, fair trade price is encouragement to produce higher quality products.
Financing of development projects through setting up Partnership funds.
TIANA Ltd and our partners in the Philippines set up a Partnership fund to support the development of the communities of coconut farmers and factory workers. This joint contribution is to raise the quality of life of the farmers and workers involved in the commodity chain and the quality of life of their families; community-owned equipment, health and education.
Each year TIANA Ltd must submit details of their annual turnover realised from products produced by EFT commodity chain. The amount of the fund is calculated on annual turnover that is why by buying TIANA fair trade products you actively engaged in helping farmers, workers and their families to have a better life. The breakdown of the allocation of this fund has to be submitted annually to Ecocert Fair Trade.
The Ecocert Fair Trade Mark on TIANA product labels is your guarantee:
- All products checked and certified
- A fair and stable price to farmers and workers`
- Increased income for farmer’s and workers families to improve their lives
- Proof that the products being offered are in fact those which have been certified as conforming to fair trade standards (by observing a process of control, certification and traceability.)
TIANA organic products are certified as fair trade on the basis of the following:
- Non-GM, Fair Trade Standards prohibit the use of genetically modified ingredients
- Testing on animals is banned at all levels of the commodity chain.
- Irradiation of foodstuffs is prohibited and the following additives are prohibited: E124, E127, E 128 and E129.
- Standards to packaging: PVC, polystyrene and bio-fragmentable plastics are prohibited.
- Optimum management of waste
- Protect and improve the environment: buying fair trade certified products helps to promote more environmentally friendly farming methods. Fair trade use mainly biological or organic fertilisers and natural pest control.
- The products are only shipped to the UK using responsible shipping lines which have strict environmental protection policies in place. Air freight is not permitted for Fair Trade and Organic products.
Farmers and Consolidators guarantee:
- Avoid the child labour the detrimental their education and schooling
- Avoid employing expectant women and children for heavy or dangerous work
- Respect bio diversity and sustainable agriculture
Buying Fair trade Certified products means a better live for poor people in the developing countries. By buying TIANA Organic & Fair trade Certified Coconut Products, you enjoy the taste, quality and health benefits of the finest coconut products and farmers, workers and their families get a better life.
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Fair Trade Facts
The first Fair Trade shop was opened in 1958 in the USA selling goods from Puerto Rico in the South. In Europe Oxfam is the first who started to sell crafts made by Chinese refugees in the late of 1950s. In 1973, Fair Trade Organisation in Netherlands imported the first fair trade coffee from co-operatives of small farmers in Guatemala.
The European Fair Trade Association was founded in 1987. The International Fair Trade Association started in 1989 and now has a global network of 270 fair trade organisations and is still growing. The British Association of Fair Trade Shops promotes fair trade in the UK.
Fairtrade certified products can now be found in 55,000 supermarkets all over Europe and the market share has become significant in some countries.
In 2002 around 100 Fair trade Certified products were available in the UK. By 2006 there were 2,000. In 1994 Green & Black’s Maya Gold organic chocolate become the first UK Fair trade Certified product.
There are more than 2,000 Fair trade Certified Products on the market including chocolate, teas, coffee, bananas, clothes, coconuts but the TIANA Premium organics range is the only complete range of Fair trade Certified Coconut Products & Ingredients available in the UK.
Article below extracted from Your Healthy Living Magazine Jan/Feb. 2010
