Courtesy of Tex Dworkin
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Of course it's all well and good to imagine that, this year, all your gifts will be carefully chosen for each person on your gift list; all made of sustainable materials; all one-of-a-kind and, well, simply perfect. The reality, usually, is that your husband's aunt gets bubble bath (again), your coworker unwraps a candle (again), and your grandmother ends up with a picture frame (again). But by focusing your efforts on finding items that are produced using Fair Trade practices, you'll complete your list with a variety of ethical, sustainable, unique items. We asked Tex Dworkin from Global Exchange for her tips on how to make your gift-giving—dare we say it?—perfect.
Planet Green: What is Global Exchange?
Tex Dworkin: Global Exchange is a human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. We have a wide variety of programs under the umbrella of our organization, including socially conscious Reality Tours and campaigns including the Freedom From Oil Campaign and our Fair Trade campaign. We also operate Fair Trade Stores throughout the US and Online, which is a great way to show in action that the fair trade is a viable business model. And as though that weren't enough, Global Exchange also does a lot of green economy work, including co-founding the Green Festivals with Co-op America that just had its 7th birthday!
What makes Fair Trade so important?
Fair Trade is an ethical way of doing business. It's an economic model where producers work in healthy, safe conditions, are paid fairly, and employ environmentally sustainable practices. You can find the Fair Trade Certification label on items including coffee, chocolate, tea, and sugar. For items where there is no certification (yet!) like clothing and crafts, supporting businesses who are members of the Fair Trade Federation is a great way to make sure that their product offerings are Fair Trade.
It goes beyond just honoring profits by addressing the environmental impact and the treatment of workers as well. While traditional businesses judge their success according to how much profit they make, I am a firm believer that all businesses should value people, planet and profit equally. The Fair Trade model does just that.
How do Fair Trade practices affect the lives of the people who make the products?
Fair Trade impacts thousands of lives around the world. When producers are treated with dignity and respect the quality of their lives improves greatly. Children who were once forced to work in fields get a chance to receive an education. Eco-friendly production practices lead to healthy sustainable environments for future generations to enjoy. Profits are invested into communities where schools and health clinics are built. The list goes on and on when it comes to the lasting benefits of the Fair Trade model. What I find most appealing is that the positive impacts are not a result of charity, but rather the result of hard work. Fair Trade is not about charity, it's about fair treatment.
What makes Fair Trade eco-friendly?
One of the key criteria of Fair Trade is that businesses engage in environmentally sustainable practices. Harmful chemical pesticides are strictly prohibited for all Fair Trade products, while environmentally sustainable farming practices are encouraged.
How does the quality of Fair Trade items compare to the quality of goods from a chain store?
Well, you're talking about the difference between products made by workers who have a personal stake in the business vs. products often pumped out of machines powered by sweatshop laborers. The end product just becomes a completely different animal, in my opinion. How can you compare a hand-blown glass vase made from recycled glass bottles to a cheap, made in China vase? It's beyond apples and oranges, it's more like apples and.a deck of cards.
When Fair Trade items are more expensive than other items, why is it worth it?
In many cases, Fair Trade prices are comparable to standard prices. For instance, Fair Trade coffee is comparable in price to other gourmet coffees. In other cases, it's hard to compare prices because the end products are so different. If you compare a sweater made by hand in a Fair Trade cooperative to a mass-produced sweater made in a sweatshop factory, then of course the Fair Trade sweater is going to cost more. But the end product is higher quality, so it is hard to compare based solely on price.
How can we incorporate Fair Trade into our shopping?
Well, for coffee, chocolate and other products that Fair Trade Certification covers, the easiest way to incorporate Fair Trade into your shopping is to simply buy products that have the Fair Trade Certified label. They are easy to identify so there is no excuse not to choose them at the store. For products like crafts where there is no certification at this time, make sure to shop with businesses who are members of the Fair Trade Federation. And if you're shopping for Fair Trade products and are having trouble finding them, ask ask ask! The more consumers demand Fair Trade products from businesses, the more likely they are to offer them in the future.
A great way to find Fair Trade products in your area is to go to the website of Fair Trade Federation and TransFair USA, the only third party certifier of Fair Trade products in the US. They both have a feature where you can input a zip code and out pops sources for Fair Trade products in that area.
What's one easy, go-to Fair Trade item that everyone can put on their list, whether for hostesses, babysitters, family, or coworkers?
I'd say all of the products that are Fair Trade Certified. They are easy for consumers to identify and readily available throughout the US. In this day and age, there's no reason to buy coffee and other items that are not Fair Trade Certified. Here's the complete list, although it's growing every year: coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, sugar, rice, vanilla, flowers and honey.
What about kids who are just dying for something with Dora the Explorer on it—is there a way to balance that with a parent's Fair Trade goals?
There is not a Fair Trade version of every product available on the market. If you're looking to buy a hammer for your favorite carpenter, for instance, you'd probably come up dry because to my knowledge they don't exist (yet). What I recommend to folks looking to make socially conscious holiday gifts is to shop locally, shop for Fair Trade products when available, and do your best to stay away from big box chains that pump out sweatshop made unsustainable products. For kids that just have to have the popular mass produced toy of the hour, as a parent talk to kids about how things are made. Invite children to question where products come from, how they are made, and what the conditions are like for workers overseas. The more they know, the better. Our Fair Trade chocolate campaign does a lot of work with children to inform them about the conditions of children in Africa who work in cocoa fields. We actually engage kids in the US to spread the word about the importance of choosing Fair Trade chocolate.
I think children in the US need to be brought into the discussion about working conditions, the environment, etc. so they can be part of the solution. When all they hear are commercials about plastic toys, of course that is what they are going to request come holiday time. It's up to adults to teach children about where products come from.
What are some of your favorite Fair Trade gifts for this holiday?
Well, not to toot my own horn, but one of my favs is the Utensils to Go that we sell at the Global Exchange online Store. It's basically a utensil set that has a fork, spoon, chopsticks and napkin that rolls up into an easy to use carry case. I think I've given one to every person in my family by now. It's made by a terrific group in Vietnam called Craftlink, and since it eliminates the need for plastic utensils, it's as green as you can get. Shameless plug.
Beyond actual physical things, I am big fan of creative gifts like planting a tree in someone's name, giving to Kiva.org, the micro lending organization that I just think is amazing, and then there's Oxfam's Unwrapped program that is a funny way to give people things like a can of worms.
For you, what's the most rewarding part of your job and Fair Trade?
I would have to say it's when I travel to visit with producer groups around the world. Like last May, I traveled to Africa for the first time. It was just amazing, and really reminds you of just how impactful the Fair Trade model is. You see firsthand what positive things come out of this buying relationship. Sitting in a village community center that just didn't exist before the group started selling their wares.it's truly amazing. And seeing the pride that artisans have for the products they create. It's really touching and stays with you.
More green gifts:
Simplify the Holidays: Inexpensive, Creative, and Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas
Treehugger's Give Green to Save Green Gift Guide
Last Minute Gifts: Homemade Bath Salts
Want to know what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint? Find out on Planet Green TV's Wa$ted.
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