Aussie Fairtrade Purchases Soar - Survey

Eight in 10 Australians would buy products that supported people in need, assuming product price and quality was similar, new data on Fairtrade products has revealed.

The national survey of 1025 people conducted by McCrindle, also found that supporting animals or the environment also ranked highly, with 77 per cent of shoppers indicating they were more likely to buy products that supported these causes.

According to Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, Fairtrade sales figures in Australia have experienced massive growth over the past eight years with total sales figures at $4.1 million in 2005 jumping to $198 million in 2013.

It also said average growth across Fairtrade chocolate, tea and coffee at Coles has been 40 per cent in the past year.

“Purchasing ethical products is high on the shopping list. As a market based system of trade which supports farmers in developing countries, we must do what we can to continue to fuel this demand from consumers,” Molly Harriss Olson, CEO of Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, said.

“As changes to government aid mean there is less budget for development programs, Fairtrade and its partners are rolling up the sleeves to help fill the gaps with almost $3.5 million raised for

community infrastructure projects in 2013 alone, on top of sustainable pricing and on ground support in these farming communities.”

The data also revealed that seven in 10 Australians agreed ethical products such as Fairtrade were good value for money.

The survey comes as Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand launches its campaign “Power of You”, which highlights the relationship between everyday purchases and the farmers that grow the products.

 “Just by choosing a Fairtrade product over a non-Fairtrade product, shoppers can make a huge difference to the working standards for farmers and workers in developing countries, giving them the opportunity to improve their lives, develop their communities and plan for the future,” Harriss Olson said.

Esther Ephraim, 28, a cocoa producer and member of the Kuapa Kukoo cooperative in Western Ghana said not only had her family benefited from receiving a fair price for their cocoa, their community had benefited from development projects funded through the Fairtrade Premium.

“My life has really improved. At first my family and the whole community were facing water problems, but now we have been provided with a hand dug well which will help us get clean drinking water even in the dry season. This has prevented us getting waterborne diseases,” Ephraim said.

Her community has also benefited from the establishment of a mobile healthcare clinic.

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