Fair Trade - AlterNativa3

Biocoffice: the fairest option for your office

Posted on 22 de April de 202422 de April de 2024 by factoria

If you are a person who practices responsible consumption, this is the product for you! However, if you don’t know about it or you don’t practice it, this is also for you! And finally, if you are curious about the consumption, but you don’t have time to learn about it, you may also be interested in this!

Fairtrade

AlterNativa3 has been elaborating farirtrade coffee, cocoa and sugar for the last 30 years.

You may have heard about this concept -fairtrade- but maybe you don’t really know the meaning behind those words. If this is the case, pay special attention to the following information:

Fairtrade is an International trading system that respects people and the planet.

There is no abuse. No pollution. It doesn’t tolerate child labor. It doesn’t deforest. It doesn’t involve intermediaries. There are no chemicals allowed during any of the production phases.

In contrast, Fairtrade guarantees decent working terms and conditions. It ensures the production of organic products. It also promotes schools and offers quality products. It does prompt innovation.

And more importantly, it needs to promote all its benefits.

We need your collaboration. If you enjoy Fairtrade products share it! But if you never dared to, go ahead!

Biocoffice: quality coffee and ethical commitment at your workplace

Your coffee break is not only a reloading moment, but also a chance to contribute to a Fairer and more sustainable world. For these reasons, we have created Biocoffice, an initiative that brings an engagement with Fairtrade.

Simple solutions for responsible consume

Coffee for offices: Biocoffice is the perfect solution for offices committed to Fairtrade and sustainability. Your coffee cup will also support the producers and ensures them fair labor standards and a living wage for their work.

Coffee subscriptions: We offer you the comfort to receive your coffee at your workplace without the need to do constant orders. Our monthly subscription allows you to enjoy organic and ethical coffee on a regular basis. You also can adjust your preferences and needs.

Coffee machines for companies: AlterNativa3 can offer you a wide range of options that suits your needs and budget. From automatic machines to re-usable capsules systems, we can offer you the best option for your needs.

Biocoffice can make life easier at the office, you enjoy a high-quality coffee and support the producer communities in the South, guaranteeing fair working conditions and a fair salary for their work.

All AlterNativa3 products are certified as organic, which means that no chemicals have been used. They also promote sustainable farming that protects biodiversity and natural resources. It also promotes transparence and traceability along the supply network. It allows you to know the coffee origins and its positive impact in the producer’s life.

Discover the BioCoffice world: you will be enjoying a quality coffee also at work while contributing to a fairer and more sustainable world.

Join us in this revolutionary action and make choosing your coffee an act of responsibility and solidarity. Together we make a difference!

World Consumer Day: The power of responsible consumption

Posted on 16 de March de 202416 de March de 2024 by factoria

In a world increasingly aware of its impact on the planet, responsible consumption is emerging as a powerful tool to promote change towards a more sustainable future. On World Consumer Day, we are addressing you to remind you of the power and value of your purchasing decisions.

Celebrating collective awareness

On this important date, it is crucial to remember our role as consumers and how our purchasing decisions can have a positive impact on the world. Opting for fair trade products is a powerful way to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

The power of fair trade: every contribution is valuable

Fair trade and responsible consumption go hand in hand, offering a way to a fairer and more sustainable future for all. Many elements that are responsible for promoting more ethical and sustainable practices depend on the awareness with which we play our role as consumers. Our contribution at the time of purchase will improve our planet and the life contained in it.

What we gain by exercising responsible consumption

The beneficial effect of fair trade extends far beyond mere commercial transactions. The most important aspects of responsible consumption are:

Environmental review: By choosing products free of pesticides and chemicals, you are protecting nature and its life cycles.
Quality and health care: Production that respects natural harvest cycles and rigorous quality controls ensure an excellent product that also protects your health.
Dignity for people: Producers and workers receive a fair salary and work in decent conditions, while children can go to school.
A commercial system focused on people and nature: Choosing Fair Trade products, women support a system that prioritises human well-being and care for the environment over economic profit. By opting for fair trade products, we are building a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

We encourage you, if you have not yet done so, to make the change to Fair Trade products. If you share our vision of sustainable human development, this is your opportunity to actively contribute.

Today and every day, we thank all consumers who choose fair trade. With each purchase, you are opting for a more conscious lifestyle and a fairer and more equitable commercial model. Thank you for being part of the change!

Do your consumption habits promote gender equality?

Posted on 6 de November de 20236 de November de 2023 by factoria

Autora: Eugenia González.

Do you know the Sufi story about the two dogs? A man had two dogs: the good dog and the bad dog. And he discovered one thing: if he only fed the good dog, the bad dog would get weaker.
That is to say, every day you get to choose of feeding one dog or the other.
Here I tell you how I realized that, with my consumption habits, I was feeding the bad dog. And also what I did to contribute to gender equality with my purchasing decisions and start feeding the good dog.

The land couldn’t be in my name
When I began to become interested in Fair trade, I was especially struck by one fact: in many places in the world, women cannot have land in their name.
I will say it again, because it was difficult for me to grasp the enormity of this fact: there are many women who will never be able to have the land in their name. Even if it belongs to them, it belongs to their family, they work for it… What’s more, even if a man wanted to give it to them or sell it to them, he couldn’t either. In some places in the world, the land always belongs to a man.
I am trying to imagine this situation.
As I have gone to university, own a business, can vote, and can choose which contraceptive method I want to use, it is difficult for me to imagine the implications of living in a part of the world where even the land I work can never be in my name. And you, can you imagine that?

Today, 8 men own the same wealth as the poorest half of the world’s population, 36,002 million people.
One third of people living in poverty have a job and earn a salary. The data does not record women who work at home, without receiving any salary.
Women earn, on average, 24% less than men.

Data from the United Nations Development Program
Did you know that Fair Trade promotes gender equality?
For a product to be Fair Trade certified, it must meet 10 criteria. And one of them is that gender equality is promoted in its cultivation, production and trading. And that is not a petty matter, but something truly extraordinary.
That is why supporting Fair Trade with my shopping choices seems to me to be the easiest, most effective and, why not say it?, comfortable form of activism.
When a product is Fair Trade, the women who have participated in the creation of the product:

Receive a salary on equal terms with men.
Work in environments where they will not feel threatened.
Have conditions that protect their health (especially during pregnancy).
Their voice is heard: they are an active part of the cooperative, they have a voice and a vote, and they can access management positions.

Which Fair Trade products promote gender equality?
That’s the beauty and power of Fair Trade. ALL Fair Trade products contribute to change. All of them.

Does Fair Trade suggest that you change all your consumption habits?

No, Fair Trade suggests that you look for ethical and sustainable alternatives to commonly consumed products. The most typical are coffee, cocoa and sugar, but there are many more (cereals, clothing, jewelry… even mobile phones).

Fair Trade is a tool you can use to promote change and achieve gender equality..

Look: every day I consume. For example, every day I get up and drink my coffee and put sugar in it. Well, Fair Trade works with that reality: consume, I am going to consume. In that case, I decide that when I buy coffee or sugar my money goes to a place where equality between men and women is promoted.

Shall we take action? Here you have several ideas

Do you prefer coffee or tea? Or do you prefer infusions such as roooibos? In Aternativa3 online shop you have dozens of options to find a fair trade alternative to your favorite drink.
And in your office, what coffee do you have? Alternativa3 has a coffee system for offices proposing organic and Fair trade options. Switching to Fair Trade coffee is a powerful action within your company’s corporate social responsibility plan. In addition, it is a great coffee … And everybody likes that!
Is your birthday coming? Do you have to send a gift? Christmas is coming? In Spain there are more than 100 neighborhood stores dedicated to fair trade. Surely you will find the perfect gift you need.

And if you have no time or no will to go shopping, on AlterNativa3’s website you will find many options:

Coffee, cocoa, panela and lots of delicious options (all organic)
Super cute Zero Waste items
Gift sets with very tasty organic products
Bamboo tableware for babies…

ALL products on AlterNativa3’s website have the Fair Trade seal.

You must realize that your power as a consumer is huge. And with your daily actions you can contribute to gender equality.
Shall we feed the good dog?

Yes, show me all the Fair trade products.

COCOA FARMING AND CHILD EXPLOITATION

Posted on 20 de October de 2023 by factoria

Autora: Eugenia González.

It is very likely that some of the products that are commonly consumed promote child exploitation and slavery. Are you aware of it? Here I give you some tips to avoid this situation and promote change.

What do your consumption habits say about you?

I was once told that every time I buy a product, the manufacturer interprets my action in a very specific way: “she likes my product.” The logical consequence?Let’s manufacture another product. And do it the same way all over again.

Well, when I buy a chocolate bar that promotes child labor in Africa, the manufacturer interprets my action in a very specific way: “she likes my product.” The logical consequence? Let’s make another one. And do everything exactly the same way all over again.

What can you do?

I’m sure you don’t want to contribute to this situation. I am clear and, if you are like me, you will feel terrible. Cocoa, in all its forms, is one of my favorite products and is never missing at home. I love chocolate! And you, how many years have you been consuming chocolate? Do your children have some regularly? Do you always have some at home?

Honestly? It hurts to talk about child exploitation. But I have come to the conclusion that the only way to change this situation is for us to become aware of it. If we don’t speak, we are making the situation invisible, we are denying reality and we are closing the door to change.

Data made me vividly aware

Child labor exploitation affects 11% of children in the world. That is 168 million minors (data from the UNDP – United Nations Development Programme). And the crisis caused by COVID-19 only makes this situation even worse.

These are some facts to reflect on:

More than a million boys and girls work in cocoa farming in West Africa.
Between 200,000 and 800,000 boys and girls under 18 years of age are trafficked each year in West Africa.
The cocoa industry moves millions of euros in Europe.

Child labor is a violation of Human Rights:

It directly affects the development of boys and girls.
It causes physical, psychological, and emotional damage for the rest of their lives.
It perpetuates poverty for generations, since with no education it is practically impossible to climb the social ladder.

The International Labor Organization states that: “under current conditions, unless measures are taken to alleviate it, poverty could be perpetuated from generation to generation.”

What are the causes of child labor?
It is a complex issue, but it is clearly rooted in poverty and the unfair conditions of Conventional International Trade.
That is why Fair Trade, an ethical alternative to conventional trade, is a solution.

WHAT SHOULD YOU ASK YOURSELF BEFORE BUYING COCOA?
2 THINGS: WHETHER IT IS ORGANIC AND WHETHER IT IS FAIR TRADE

Is chocolate organic? When talking about organic products, the emphasis is often placed on whether they have more nutrients than conventional ones, but I prefer to focus on what they do not contain: chemical fertilizers, synthetic herbicides, industrial fungicides… An organic product does not contain chemicals and for that reason it is good for your health as well as your family’s.
On the other hand, if no harmful chemicals have been added, that means that the people involved in its cultivation or production have not been exposed to those harmful substances either.

Is it Fair Trade?

What is the real deal? Look, if a chocolate is conventional and does not have a seal certifying that it is fair trade, it is more than likely that in its cultivation, production, transportation or trading there have been children in situations of forced labor, slavery or human trafficking.
However, if it has the Fair Trade seal it means that the cooperative (association of farmers) that wants its products to be certified has adhered to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which assures us that there is no forced labor. Conditions will be implemented to ensure the well-being, safety, education and need to play of minors.
And, thanks to the “premiums” that the producers receive, the children of the community have access to education, health, drinking water… and not only the boys and girls, but also the adults. Fair Trade benefits the entire community.

Could Fair Trade be the solution?

Don’t be fooled: those of us who support Fair trade are not a handful of idealists, we are millions of consumers. Yes, we are not the majority, and the road ahead is long, but we exist and with our actions we really change the lives of thousands of people every day.

How to get down to business today?

Start replacing commonly consumed products with alternative, ethical and sustainable ones. To make sure that cocoa (or coffee, sugar, etc.) protects children, you should make sure that the product has the Fair Trade seal.
.

You will find these products in some supermarkets, although it is more common to see them in organic, diet and herbal product stores.

On AlterNativa3’s website, you have a lot of options for products made with cocoa (and they are all very delicious): pure cocoa powder, instant cocoa, cocoa with superfoods, chocolate bars, single-origin chocolate, chocolate drops and toppings… And they are all organic and Fair Trade. And you are supporting a company that has been committed to change for more than 40 years.

Start with a small action. And then go ahead with something easy. But don’t stop there, keep making changes, even if it’s just one little thing each month: the drinking chocolate that your children have in the morning, that chocolate gift you bring when visiting someone, your baking chocolate option, the chocolate chips you use on your muffins…

Start with a small action. And then go on with something easy. But don’t stop there. You (and I and so many other conscious consumers) are the engine that makes change possible.

Yes, I support respecting children by buying Fair Trade chocolate

What is the connection between fair trade and the 2030 agenda

Posted on 9 de October de 2023 by factoria

Author: Eugenia González.

What are the Millennium Development Goals? Are they the same as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? And the 2030 Agenda? And what about you, do you contribute to development?
I am about to tell you what those goals are, what their connection is with Fair Trade and I will suggest 3 actions that you can do today to contribute.

What are the Millennium Development Goals?

Surely you remember: in 2000 the United Nations agreed on the eight “Millennium Development Goals” (MDGs).

The agreement was a global call to governments and citizens to change course and focus on:

Eradicating poverty and hunger
Extending education and health to all inhabitants of the planet

What is the connection between the MDGs and Fair Trade?

Goal number 8 (“Promote the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development”), a call to “continue to develop an open trading and financial system, based on established rules, predictable and non-discriminatory.”

And what has Fair Trade promoted since its birth in the 1950s? Well, just that, a fairer and more equitable trading system. An alternative system to conventional international trade (which perpetuates poverty and increases inequalities).

As you may know, fair trade is a movement that offers fair payment to producers in Southern countries, so that they can participate in World Trade and have access to the markets of Northern countries on equal terms.

We are talking about products grown and made by farmers who work their own small pieces of land in Africa, Latin America and Asia. If these people could not group together in cooperatives and certify their products as Fairtrade items, they would have no other alternative than to sell their products to conventional trade companies, which perpetuate their situation of poverty and exploitation.

But, then… What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

They are the Goals within the 2030 Agenda. The Agenda is a different document: it was signed by representatives of 193 governments in 2015, at the Sustainable Development Summit at the United Nations.

The idea that motivates this document from 2015 is the same as the document from 2000, but with a much more urgent and dangerous element: climate change.

These are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Goals are a call to collective action, a great challenge at a global level and must be fulfilled before 2030

The Agenda is a very detailed document: 17 objectives, which are broken down into 169 goals and 231 indicators to monitor, measure evolution and verify the achievements obtained.

I won’t lie to you, when I read all this I feel overwhelmed. Sometimes it seems to me that it is just another document, more paper full of good intentions. It is clear that the most important role in achieving the goals lies with governments. How are we citizens going to change the course of the world? In other words, how am I going to change the direction the world has taken on my own?

But this is where Fair Trade comes in and what you and I can do.

What is the connection between the MDGs and Fair Trade?

The Agenda proposes moving towards prosperity by eradicating poverty. What is the strategy? Prioritize people and the planet.

And what does Fair Trade promote? Exactly the same: move towards prosperity by eradicating poverty. And its strategy is to promote the development of people and their communities and to protect the planet by betting on sustainability.

It makes sense, don’t you think? Development, if it is not sustainable, is doomed to failure. An entrepreneur friend told me the other day that, if the planet is not doing well, his business cannot do well either. He’s absolutely right, don’t you agree?

Fair Trade places respect for people and the planet at the center and promotes a fair and equitable relationship between producers and consumers. It is a powerful tool, capable of generating the change we need.

Isn’t it a fascinating topic?

As you may know, Fair Trade is based on 10 criteria. That is, for a product to obtain the seal that certifies that it is Fair Trade, it must meet 10 requirements.

Well, if you take the 10 principles of Fair Trade and compare them with the 17 Goals, you will see that Fair Trade matches and promotes 8 of the Goals.

If you are interested in delving deeper into this topic, the “Coordinadora Estatal de Comercio Justo” (State Fair Trade Coordinator) has a document that analyzes in detail the relationship between Fair Trade and the SDGs. Here you can download it:

http://comerciojusto.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Comercio-Justo-y-ODS.pdf

Shall we take action?

Would you like to contribute to “Goal 1: Eradicate poverty”? By purchasing Fairtrade products you ensure that producers receive fair payment for their work.
Are you more interested in supporting “Goal 5: Gender Equality”? By purchasing Fairtrade coffee, sugar, teas, cocoa… you ensure that the cooperatives work to promote gender equality.
“Goal 4: Quality Education” affects the lives of many people, especially boys and girls. If a product has the Fairtrade seal, it means that the cooperative that wants its products to be certified has adhered to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. If you buy Fairtrade cocoa, you ensure that there will be no minors in forced labor and you contribute to the protection of minors in Africa.

Yes, I want to buy Fair Trade products

But can Fair Trade really be the solution?

Fair Trade is not aid, it is Trade.
And, therefore, it is governed by the law of supply and demand.
That is, if demand increases, the market produces more. As simple as that.
In practice, what does it mean? That if you and I and more consumers increase the demand for Fair Trade products, the market will adapt to the demand and produce more. I’m not saying it’s easy, or fast… but it is possible. Consumers have great power. The key is to use it.

The United Nations Declaration is an OPPORTUNITY.

And responsible consumption is a POWERFUL FORM OF POLITICAL ACTIVISM.

And you, what do you choose?

I choose Fair Trade

12 practical ideas to get started in fair trade

Posted on 9 de October de 2023 by factoria

Author: Eugenia González.

What is Fairtrade? Who certifies the products? How can I contribute? Here I tell you what I have discovered, and I will give you 12 ideas so that you can start TODAY.

When I started getting interested in the subject of Fair Trade, many questions arose:

It is said that the products are certified with a mark. Who certifies that mark? Can I trust it?
Is it not another way of marketing to convince me to buy one specific brand and not different one?
Can all products be Fair Trade? Where can I find them?

And, the one that worried me the most: given the amount of injustice and pain in the world… is it really useful at all? I mean, I am fully aware of my power as a consumer. But, if I buy Fairtrade products, does it really have an impact on the lives of farmers?

I have been researching about this topic for a while and I will share with you everything I have learned, so that you can judge for yourself.

What is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade is an alternative to conventional international trade. That means a trading system with different rules.

What is conventional trade looking for? The maximum profit for the seller. And it does so without considering two factors:

The human cost. That is, the living conditions of the people who have grown, made or manufactured the product
The cost to the planet

And another aspect that I find especially interesting is: how does conventional trade promote its products? With all the available marketing techniques. It doesn’t matter if the advertising is misleading, or sexist or promotes values that do not build a more critical and equitable society. You must sell (the more the better). The end justifies the means.

This trade is one of the key elements of capitalism. Capitalism, you know, this widespread system that consolidates poverty and inequality worldwide.

I do live in a capitalist society. It is very clear to me. And you also know it, right?

Does Fairtrade mean “helping”?

No, Fairtrade is not “help”, it is TRADE.

It is an alternative to conventional International Trade: a solidarity and responsible trade system that seeks to eradicate poverty through the development of producing communities and people.

In Fairtrade, the price that is paid goes beyond the price offered by the capitalist market. This system promotes equity, which means establishing respectful relationships between people who produce and grow crops, and consumers.

It is a type of economy in which exploitation is no longer an option.

Then, the only difference is what people get paid in Southern countries?

No, Fairtrade goes beyond that:

It promotes associativity and the empowerment of people
It ensures respect for the environment
It promotes respect for local cultures, with their traditional cultivation and production.

Every time you buy a Fairtrade product you are supporting a deep change and you are part of the solution.

The 10 principles of Fairtrade

The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) is a global network of Fairtrade organizations present in more than 70 countries. This association decided what are the 10 principles of Fair Trade.

That is, if a product wants to obtain the mark that certifies that it is Fair Trade, it must comply with these 10 principles.

And I want to make it very clear to you … it should not meet 1, 2 or 3 principles… no. You must meet ALL of them. The principles are these:

What products can be Fairtrade?

On paper, all products can be Fair Trade.

We generally think of coffee, cocoa and sugar. Why? Because historically they are related to people exploitation, slavery, and all kinds of abuses.

But currently the list of Fairtrade products is much longer: cereals, pasta, nuts, spices, jam, honey, cookies, sweets, juices, soft drinks, sweets, snacks, alcoholic beverages, clothes, toys, children’s material, household, costume jewelry, accessories, stationery, cosmetics and hygiene…

Do you know what is the last product that has been added to the list? Fairtrade smartphones.

Actually, everything that is bought and sold can be produced sustainably and traded ethically.

How do I know if a product is Fairtrade?

Because it has a mark that certifies it. The mark will be on the packaging or on the label. Sometimes it is clearly seen, sometimes it is a little more hidden… but what is clear is that
IF IT IS NOT MARKED, IT IS NOT FAIR TRADE.

Who certifies a product as Fairtrade?

As I have already told you, the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) is the most representative entity of the Fair Trade movement internationally.

But to ensure that the certification is transparent and reliable, it is not this organization who gives the seal, but other independent bodies. For example, the Fair Trade organization.

All products from Alternativa3 are Fairtrade certified

Explaining in detail how a Fair Trade product is certified would take… forever! But after researching on the subject this has become clear to me:

The certification process is long, laborious and completely transparent
It lasts at least 3 years
The certification is updated with periodic controls
Surprise audits are common

We are talking about very sensitive issues: avoiding child exploitation, preventing human trafficking, ensuring gender equality…

The controls are exhaustive and you can relax:

IF IT HAS THE FAIRTRADE MARK, IT IS FAIR TRADE.

Why should we support Fair Trade?

Do you agree that we need to work towards a change of model? Well, Fair Trade is a tool that you can use to create a more equitable world.

Currently, there are millions of people living in poverty
A third of the people who have a job live in moderate or extreme poverty (yes, they work, but they don’t earn enough to make a living!)
Forced labor and slavery directly affect 21 million people
Child labor exploitation affects 11% of the children in the world. That is 168 million children

These data come from the United Nations Development Program. And the data is from before the start of the pandemic (today’s figures must be worse).

What can you do?

Choosing Fair Trade is a very powerful form of activism.

Every time you buy a Fairtrade product, producer groups living in Africa, Latin America and Asia receive direct benefits:

A fair paycheck for their work
Health and education
Eradication of child labor
Gender equality
Protection of the ecosystem

In short, the development of people and the community is encouraged. It is one more example of the strength of cooperativism and solidarity economy. I think people regain their dignity.

Daily activism

In addition, consuming Fair trade products is a form of daily activism.

Every day I drink my coffee, every day I eat sugar, I get dressed…

If you choose to support Fair Trade with daily actions, your impact in the short, medium and long term is huge.

Is it worth it? How can I make sure it works?

Oh, discouragement: they tell you that it cannot be done, that it is useless.

When you say you want to consume Fair Trade, someone will consider it a whim.

I know that look: “OMG, she thinks that by buying that chocolate she is going to make the children in Africa improve their lives.”

But what if it were true? What if by buying one kind of cocoa and not another one you are saving the life of a boy or a girl in Africa?

That is the reality of all Fairtrade products. Every time you choose a product with the Fairtrade mark, you can be certain that your gesture improves someone’s life.

And that is not an opinion, it is a fact. A wonderful fact. Fair Trade is one of the most powerful forms of activism that exists.

Shall we get down to business? Here I give you 12 practical ideas to get started in Fair Trade:

Here you have the website of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the global network present in 70 countries. Powerful info
https://wfto.com/
“La Coordi” is a Catalan entity that promotes Fair Trade and ethical Finance (veeery interesting) https://lacoordi.cat/
In Spain, there is the Coordinadora Estatal de Comercio Justo. The sections “Resource Center” and “News” are a mine of information https://comerciojusto.org/
Are you interested in getting to know what is the international definition of Fair Trade and what exactly are its principles? https://comerciojusto.org/que-es-el-comercio-justo-2/
If you are a teacher, this “Manual Educativo para acercar el Comercio Justo a jóvenes de 12 a 16 años” could be interesting to you. It has been edited by the Coordinadora Estatal de Comercio Justo.

https://comerciojusto.org/publicacion/manual-educativo-acercando-el-comercio-justo-a-jovenes/

Do you fancy some responsible shopping?

Here you have a list with more than 100 Fairtrade shops in Spain https://comerciojusto.org/tiendas/
And here, just a click away: a list with some online Fairtrade shops:

https://comerciojusto.org/tiendas/tiendas-on-line/

Are you more of a bookworm? I suggest you start with these three:

“Paraules d’Arcadi: Què hem après del món i com podem actuar”. The last book of the economist Arcadi Oliveres, who promoted ethical financing and was a leader in social movements for peace and equity. Edited by Angle Editorial in 2021.

“Café amargo. Por un comercio Norte-Sur más justo”. This one is a classic to get started. Written by Setem and edited by Icaria in the collection Más Madera (Barcelona, 1999).

““Y AHORA YO QUE HAGO: Cómo evitar la culpa climática y pasar a la acción”. In this book from 2021, edited by Capitán Swing, the environmentalist Andreu Escrivà gives you practical ideas to get down to business.

Would you rather watch a video?

In the following link you will find 12 short videos (ranging from 1 to 5 minutes) about what Fairtrade is and how you can get involved https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/2854922
“La Coordi” also has a couple of cool videos https://lacoordi.cat/materials/

Get to know, understand, think: that is the root of change.

Do you know any other resource to get start on Fairtrade?
Please feel free to share them with all of us!

Naterra, AlterNativa3’s new project

Posted on 2 de October de 2023 by factoria

This project aims to revitalize the rural economy of social agroecological cooperatives, promote the sustainability of traditional agricultural practices, and reverse emigration and depopulation in rural areas.
The distribution of products is focused on Catalonia, the rest of the country, and, especially, the international arena.

AlterNativa3 is launching its new project, Naterra, to open up the fair trade market to northern countries. It has been five years since the World Fair Trade Organization Assembly made the decision to address this goal, a need that was further emphasized in light of the pandemic.

In addition to this, due to some recent scandals,
consumers in central Europe are increasingly opting for products elaborated by following the local fair trade values and respecting human and labor rights.

Given this combination of factors, AlterNativa3, a cooperative based in Terrassa and founded in 1992, decided to join forces with Bionsan. The latter, also a cooperative, brings its 35 years of experience in the production and marketing of local ecological products to the project.

Products made in Catalonia for national and international distribution

This project brings together AlterNativa3’s extensive experience in the international marketing of fair trade organic products and Bionsan’s expertise in producing local proximity products, as well as its relationships with various agroecological producers in the region.

The result is a range of products – including oils, olives, fermented products, and more – produced in Catalonia with the local fair trade values, distributed both in Catalonia, the rest of the country, and internationally.

In this way, it is possible to promote agricultural production that respects labor, social and environmental rights at all stages., while revitalizing the economy of small producer groups in the sector and reversing rural emigration.

All the details about Naterra’s domestic fair trade products are available on their new website.

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