Where does Nestle take Fairtrade?

Posted by Sophi:

While the world powers battle it out in Copenhagen over who should commit what to combating climate change, the poorer countries yet again are objecting to being both unequally affected, and unfairly pressed to reduce their carbon footprint.  A subtext to this summit, as with all other world summits these days is – is it Governments or global business with the most power and capability to make real change happen?

In the Fairtrade world, the power of global business to effect change is currently back in the spotlight too, with the announcement that Nestle is to be awarded the license to carry the Fairtrade Mark on its four-finger KitKat  bars.

While everyone welcomes the increase in income promised to smallscale cocoa farmers and sugar farmers, even those who are deeply committed to fairer trade are conflicted over this development – see Rob Greenland’s  blog , but many, such as Michael Niemann and Joe Turner  are concerned about where these global companies will take Fairtrade.  Fairtrade London is hosting a debate about it too.

We see Fairtrade as part of a bigger movement to fundamentally change the way business is done, shifting money and decision-making into the hands of the many, and out of the hands of the few. Activists have worked hard to see that happen, and consumers deserve to see real commitment, and not lip service to fairer trade and better business practice.