Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Battle is brewing over ethics of the coffee trade
A battle for coffee drinkers' consciences is about to begin with the launch of a rival to the Fairtrade label. Now that nearly half of shoppers consider the ethical dimension of goods, competition for the moral high ground is big business.
The Rainforest Alliance certificate
Fair trade coffee's big selling point is that it offers small coffee farmers in the developing world a guaranteed price for their beans if commodity prices fall below $1.26 (68p) a pound.
Its competitor, Rainforest Alliance Certified, guarantees that coffee is produced in a way that preserves the forest and its wildlife and ensures that workers, who are often temporary, enjoy good working conditions, housing and pay. It pays a premium of a few pence a pound. Read full article.
The Rainforest Alliance certificate
Fair trade coffee's big selling point is that it offers small coffee farmers in the developing world a guaranteed price for their beans if commodity prices fall below $1.26 (68p) a pound.
Its competitor, Rainforest Alliance Certified, guarantees that coffee is produced in a way that preserves the forest and its wildlife and ensures that workers, who are often temporary, enjoy good working conditions, housing and pay. It pays a premium of a few pence a pound. Read full article.
# posted by Buck @ 9:16 PM 
