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FairTrade: Must work both ways
By RickMeasham | December 23, 2010
I like to buy products that offer a fair trade. The Fairtrade Foundation has done a great job of building brand awareness through their logo so it makes it easier to decide which products are going to be a fair trade and which might not be.
However I’ve had a bad experience.
For a trade to be fair, it has to be fair in both directions. The source producers need to be paid a fair price for the product the produce, but I too need to pay a fair price for the item I’m purchasing. This price is, understandably, normally higher than the price you pay for non-fair-trade items — so that’s not my problem.
My problem comes from the product I take from the supermarket shelf compared to the product I find inside the container. Here’s my problem:
This is the second container of Republica Drinking Chocolate I’ve purchased, and I made sure the batch numbers were different. Both were just over half full. Even accounting for ‘air’ and ’settling’ during transport, there’s no way you can call that a fair trade. It’s deceptive.
Though to be fair .. it is the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted.
Republica: Change your packaging to match what you’re selling
Fairtrade: Change your licence to mandate a fair trade on both ends of the transaction
(I have contacted both companies for comment, and if I get a response, I’ll update this post)
Topics: Issues | 4 Comments »
December 23rd, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Hmm, that IS deceptive, aside from the baseline being the weight of the content (leaving aside the marketing/customer perception issue for a tick): have you got accurate kitchen scales?
Weights and measures laws are pretty tight.
The ACCC will be on to them quicker than a journo with a teenager’s mobile phone gallery if the product is underweight.
December 23rd, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Thanks for the idea. Kitchen scales found. The product appear to be correct weight (it’s over the nett weight by enough to account for the container). While there’s no mention of settling during transit on the packaging, I imagine they’re well within the letter of the law.
January 10th, 2011 at 11:58 am
Hi Rick, As promised I’m making contact today first day back at work.
Thanks for your comment ‘it’s the best tasting chocolate you’ve ever tasted’. It’s from the Dominican Republic where the farmers are paid as you rightly point out a Fairtrade price & there’s the bonus of being organic.
We’re fastidious about the quality, taste and of course packaging of Republica products. So as per your scales, the weight is correct.
And you can be happy that it’s pack is made from 100% Australian recycled cardboard!
If you have any other questions or issues please call me direct, 02 9700 7755. As the founder I love getting feeback, good or bad.
Again Thank You and hope you have a brilliant 2011.
Jacqueline Arias
January 10th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Thanks for your reply, however you haven’t addressed my point: The size of the packaging is misleading. When I purchase a sealed package from the shelf at the supermarket, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume the package is actually full.
I’m sure your Australian recycled cardboard supplier could supply you with a smaller package .. or you could put more of the product in the existing package.