The Price of Tea - How Parishes can become Faitrade

Eileen McQuade looks at how our buying habits can help change the world though ethical purchasing and how parishes can become Fairtrade

A cup of tea or coffee or a square of chocolate... simple wee pleasures that brighten our day! Wouldn’t it be good if the profits from their global sale improved the living conditions of those in the developing world who produce them? The reality, however, is that large multinational companies and middlemen often take most of the profit leaving little for the small farmers and workers growing the crops. The result is family poverty, poor housing and healthcare as well as children missing school because parents cannot afford the fees.

Justice Matters

In parts of West Africa, child labour and forced labour is involved in cocoa production. Children can work long hours carrying heavy loads, using dangerous tools and missing out on school. The lack of health and safety regulations leaves workers at risk. They have no entitlement to sick pay or job security and work long hours for little pay. 

Forests are often destroyed to grow coffee, tea or cocoa cheaply and quickly. The soil is exhausted, and rivers become polluted by chemicals, affecting community access to safe drinking water. In addition, food security is threatened, wildlife is endangered and the global climate is impacted. 

Governments could certainly do much to address these injustices but often lack the will to do so. We, however, are called to act for justice through our faith. In his encyclical, Laudato Sí, Pope Francis reminded us that “everything is connected". The choices we make as consumers can either support justice and human dignity or contribute to exploitation and environmental harm. We can promote dignity, fairness and stewardship of creation simply by what we choose to put in our shopping basket. 

The Power of the Customer 

Twenty to thirty years ago, it was difficult to buy ethical products in Britain. Choices were limited, prices were higher and complaints were made about the quality of the coffee. Enough ordinary shoppers, however, chose to buy according to their conscience. 

They created a demand for affordable, ethical goods and the supermarkets responded. Today, supermarkets carry a range of ethical products. They are competitively priced, good quality and have ethical labels, making them easily identifiable. 

The scale of injustice in the world can seem overwhelming and make us feel like snowflakes. Pope Francis, however, told us that when snowflakes come together, they form avalanches. In Motherwell Diocese alone, there are over 140,000 Catholics. We have enormous purchasing power. We can create a demand for businesses and governments to act more responsibly. Together, by buying through our conscience, we can help build a world where trade is fairer, creation is respected, and human dignity comes before profit. 

Reading The Labels 

Before making a purchase, check for an ethical or environmental certification. Look for trusted certification marks rather than vague claims like “natural” or "eco-friendly", which may not be independently verified.

Fairtrade is often considered to be the gold standard because it guarantees a minimum price for farmers and gives “Fairtrade Premium” money to communities. It also has strong rules against child labour and forced labour. It secures better working condition, long-term trading relationships and environmental protections

Rainforest Alliance is particularly strong on environmental protection, forest conservation, biodiversity, reducing harmful pesticides and sustainable farming. It is less strong than Fairtrade on guaranteed minimum pricing for farmers.

Organic certification mainly focuses on avoiding harmful pesticides, soil health, animal welfare and environmental sustainability. 'Organic' does not automatically mean fair pay or ethical labour conditions.

The combination of Fairtrade and organic together is often the most ethical choice.

Taking Ethical Purchasing Into The Parish 

There are essentially two main commitments required to register as a Fairtrade Place of Worship:

• Use Fairtrade products wherever possible — especially tea, coffee and sugar at parish events.

• Promote Fairtrade in parish life through education, worship, events or campaigns such as Fairtrade Fortnight.                     

The Fairtrade Foundation requires an application form to be completed online, which will require a main and secondary contact person, information about how your parish meets the commitments and future plans for promoting Fairtrade.

Does Ethical Purchasing Change Lives?

The Community of Peace was formed by a group of farmers in Colombia who wanted to oppose drug wars and the exploitation of their land. They didn’t want to give in to violence or the revenge that goes with it but to offer a better future to their children. They grow products for their own subsistence and organic cocoa that is fairly traded to England, Germany and Italy. The profits boost their economic security and allow them to invest in training and education for the future. 

The community’s commitment has not spared them from the violence. Since its founding, approximately 200 members have been killed. The community lives under the protection of international human rights organisations in an attempt to help it avoid further violence. The community continues to be intimidated and abused by those who seek control of their land. Jose, who coordinates the selling of cocoa, said, “Our community is founded on justice and fraternity. We thought up and put into practice a new way of life, a new economy that comes from saying no to war." Jose continued, “We must fight together to protect our common home, as the Holy Father has called it. To defend the earth, to curb the advance of exploitation of our territory. To choose non-violence every day and have the courage to denounce all violations of human rights. This is the legacy we want to leave to our children."

The young people from the Community of Peace are aware that their community represents hope, not just for them, but for the whole world. A hope that we can nourish every day by simply buying ethically produced products. It is surely the least we can do to support their efforts.