NFP Wins Fairtrade Award

Some of Australia’s leading brands and retailers have been recognised with 2014 Fairtrade Awards including a retail outlet operated by Not for Profit aid organisation, Oxfam.

Now in their second year the Fairtrade Awards recognise businesses that have helped grow Fairtrade in Australia.

Oxfam’s retail store in Melbourne was named Speciality Retailer of the Year.

Australian consumers voted for their favourite Fairtrade products and cafes, and an independent judging panel consisting of representatives from NAB and the Salvation Army.

The winners of the 2014 Fairtrade Awards include:

Product of the Year (National) – Ben & Jerry’s Choc Fudge Brownie ice-cream

Product of the Year (Specialty) – Etiko’s This Shirt Frees Slaves t-shirt

Café Chain of the Year – San Churro

Café of the Year – Fresh St@rt Organic Café

National Retailer of the Year – Coles Supermarket

Specialty Retailer of the Year – Oxfam Melbourne

“We are so excited for our Oxfam Shop in the Walk Arcade in the Melbourne CBD to be named 2014 Specialty Retailer of the Year,” General Manager of Oxfam Trading Julia Sumner said.

“The team in the Walk Arcade are such a passionate group of people who work tirelessly to campaign for fairer working conditions for Oxfam’s producers, it’s great to see their hard work be publicly recognised.”

The award came as Oxfam announced the launch its first ever range of Fairtrade certified, organic and biodegradable coffee capsules.

Sumner said the new range was an exciting development for the Oxfam fair brand.

“Not only do our capsules taste great, they also provide Australian shoppers with a convenient, ethical and environmentally friendly option in the market,” she said.

“Oxfam has been working hard to develop a range of capsules that are not only Fairtrade certified and organic, but also reduce the environmental and waste impacts often associated with capsules.”

Sumner said the brand also allows Australians to be part of a movement for global change.

“Not only do purchases of the product support Oxfam’s goal of delivering a future free from poverty, they also ensure farmers and producers around the world are earning a fair wage and that funds are provided for community development projects,” she said.

“Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (OCFCU) is one of the Fairtrade coffee cooperatives whose beans are used in the capsules, and works with 274 farmers across Ethiopia.

“Through the Fairtrade premium received by OCFCU, the cooperative has been able to build primary schools, high schools and kindergartens and has also funded community projects such as health clinics and the building of roads and bridges in local communities,” Sumner said.”

Molly Harriss Olson, Chief Executive Officer of Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, said the winners show that it is possible to source their products fairly, be successful, and have a life changing impact on farmers and workers in developing countries.

“We are delighted that Australian shoppers are continuing to reward companies for their ethical leadership and we hope that this inspires more businesses to look at their own supply chains,” Olson said.

Olson said Fairtrade is the only certification scheme that sets out to tackle poverty and empower farmers and workers in developing countries

“Fairtrade is the world’s most widely recognised ethical label.There are more than 2100 Fairtrade products available for purchase in Australia and New Zealand,” she said.

Retail sales of Fairtrade Certified Products in 2013 were AU$259 million.

“In 2014, 53 per cent of Australians recognise of the Fairtrade label 73 per cent of people want third party verification of claims made by companies,” Olson said.

“Consumers are willing to pay more for products and services from companies that are committed to positive social and environmental impact. On average, 55 per cent of consumers said they were prepared to pay more, a 5 per cent rise on a year ago and an increase of 10 per cent since 2011.

“Today, more than 1.4 million farmers and workers across 74 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system. Worldwide, shoppers spent €5.5 billion on Fairtrade products in 2013, and an estimated €86 million in Fairtrade Premium was paid to be invested in social, economic and environmental development in Fairtrade farmers’ communities.”