BCBlog

According to FINE, an association of the four main Fair Trade networks:

“Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South. Fair Trade organisations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade. Fair Trade’s strategic intent is:

• deliberately to work with marginalised producers and workers in order to help them move from a position of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency
• to empower producers and workers as stakeholders in their own organisations
• to actively to play a wider role in the global arena to achieve greater equity in international trade.”

According to Wikipedia
Fairtrade advocates generally support the following principles and practices in trading relationships:^[15]

Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers

Fair trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.

Transparency and accountability

Fair trade involves transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners.

Capacity building

Fair trade is a means to develop producers’ independence. Fairtrade relationships provide continuity, during which producers and their marketing organizations can improve their management skills and their access to new markets.

Payment of a fair price

A fair price in the regional or local context is one that has been agreed through dialogue and participation. It covers not only the costs of production but enables production which is socially just and environmentally sound. It provides fair pay to the producers and takes into account the principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men. Fairtraders ensure prompt payment to their partners and, whenever possible, help producers with access to pre-harvest or pre-production financing.

Gender equity

Fair trade means that women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organizations.

Working conditions

Fair trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producers. The participation of children (if any) does not adversely affect their well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play and conforms to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as the law and norms in the local context.

Environment

Fair trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production.

 For BCB, and our yarns, this all boils down to this: Blonde Chicken Boutique only buys yarns that were created by someone paid a fair wage. During the yarn buying process, preference will be shown to yarns created by women, especially those whose options in their culture are limited (like the Nepalese women who spin Banana fibers into Bananiere.) 

Ok, it’s time I come clean about my innate geekiness: I loved school. I love research.

My favorite part of college was the research paper process. What’s not to love: going to the library, surrounding myself with piles of books, taking notes, highlighting, organizing, and then putting it all together. I loved it all, and I still do!

I plan to write a series of articles for the website about why BCB focuses on sustainable and organic fibers and the effect other fibers (and industry practices) have on the environment. However, in preparation for that series I got sidelined with the Ben & Jerry’s book and got to thinking about corporate responsibility. BCB is hardly corporate, yet I still feel I have a responsibility to integrate our values into every aspect of the business.

So the first (and easiest to change) aspect: the office. Ways BCB is commited to an eco-friendly office:

• Recycled or post-consumer paper
• soy ink
• recycling ink cartridges
• recycling batteries
• brewing organic, fair trade coffees and chowing down on fair trade chocolates (this is the fuel of this start-up, baby, so it counts!)

places to find eco-friendly office supplies:

Green Earth

• Recycled and post-consumer papers
• Soy crayons
• All kinds of paper products (journals, printer paper, calanders!)

Dolphin Blue

• lots of info about the environmental effect of common office goods (toner cartridges, paper)
• Links to more office stuff (floors, blinds, printers, gifts, everything!)

I’d appreciate any more suggestions or links!