Bulletin
EASTER HAS ARRIVED
SPOTLIGHT ON: EARTH SQUARED
WASTE LESS WATER
T R A I D C R A F T S H O P. C O . U K
MARCH 2020
in this issue...
4
9-11
14-16
9-11 E ASTER HAS ARRIVED AT TRAIDCRAFT 4 T RANSPARENCY COFFEE 'COSTS' EXPLAINED
25%
12-13 BY ROBIN ROTH
7-8 PRODUCT UPDATE
Traidcraft Big Brew During Fairtrade Fortnight, we hosted our very own Big Brew here at Traidcraft HQ, joined by some of our wonderful colleagues from Traidcraft Exchange. We had a fantastic event, with coffee, cake and even a Fairtrade quiz! We raised a total of £85.00 for Traidcraft Exchange. We hope your events up and down the country went just as smoothly! 2
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MEET THE PEOPLE
18-20
W ASTE LESS WATER
21
R OADSHOW ITINERARIES
22-24 TX UPDATE
OFF!
5-6 E XCLUSIVE CATALOGUE OFFERS
17
12-13 F AIR TRADE A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME 14-16 S POTLIGHT ON: EARTH SQUARED
25 D OES MY TEABAG CONTAIN PLASTIC? 26 E ASTER COMPETITION REMINDER
Robin at Durham Uni Our Mission and Transparency Lead, Robin Roth, visited Durham University this week to talk to some of the wonderful Business Management students about the revolutionary infrastructure change within the our company in favour of holacracy, where there is no management hierarchy, simply self-organisation and flexibility. Members of staff are their own boss, trusting one another and holding each other accountable weekly – which was a real eye opener for some of these students!
Welcome,
Friends
March sees us hitting the road again with two roadshows in London (March 14th) and Midlands (March 21st). The team are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the events, where, as well as displaying our latest stock, you will be able to grab a bargain in our end of season sale. There will also be other offers available on the day and we will also have a talk from our friends at Zaytoun. There is still some space left at both roadshows, so if you have not done so already please do sign up here: LONDON SIGN UP
MIDLANDS SIGN UP
Last month our buyer Kirsty and I got to visit Spring Fair at the NEC Birmingham. As well as clocking up an impressive 18,000 steps in a day, we met with several new fair trade businesses that we hope to introduce to you later in the year. It was really encouraging that despite the difficulties facing retail at present, there were still so many folk wanting to be part of the fair trade world. We have been really encouraged by the feedback you have been giving on the developing nature of bulletin. This month’s issue is packed full of interesting articles, including an update on plastic free teabags.
A huge shout out to Corpus Christi School, Glasgow! We are always delighted to see future generations getting involved in fair trade! Here, students from P7 are phoning our Sales Support Team, ordering fair trade essentials for their Macmillan Cancer and Fairtrade Fortnight coffee morning. We hope your coffee morning went down a treat!
Happy Fair Trading… Matt
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TRANSPARENCY COFFEE 'COSTS'
explained...
A couple of weeks ago, we received a message from a
£0.15** £2.45** £1.03
customer asking if we could explain what the £2.45 ‘costs’ included in our Transparent Coffee, and also who gets the 15p ‘profit’ stated on the front of the packaging.
£1.32
PROFIT COSTS
SHIPPING ROASTING PACKING
GROWERS
**Based on typical RRP of £4.95
Firstly, we just want to say how thrilled we are that this question was raised - it shows that our customers are thinking through and questioning the entire chain which is exactly what we had hoped people would do when we launched this product! To answer this customer’s question, in true transparent form, here's a breakdown of the overall 'costs': • All staff costs/salaries • Building/warehouse costs including heating and electricity • Discounts for customers (Fairtraders - a 20% discount equals 99p which represents a large proportion of these 'costs') • Delivery costs (on average about 37p – or 7.5% of the cost of each product.) • All IT costs 4
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• A ll legal/auditing/ certification costs • A ll Marketing and Sales costs (advertising, marketing, trade events etc.) • A ll Product Development costs • A ll costs associated with trips to producers, external meetings etc. • C osts of running a closed pension scheme
The profit of 15p is what we, Traidcraft plc, expect to make over the course of the year across all of our products. It is not possible to break down exact profit to each product yet as this requires a level of cost apportionment that we don’t yet have in place. This 15p multiplied by all of the products we sell means that at the end of the year Traidcraft plc will make a profit of around £150,000 on a turnover of around £5m. This profit is then used to buy more stock or invest in new machinery for the warehouse. It also means that we do not have to borrow quite so much from the banks to finance our work. We hope that publishing this helps you to gain a deeper understanding into the costs throughout the supply chain of this coffee and we urge you to continue asking questions like this. This is an exciting journey and we’re so pleased to have you with us!
Exclusive Catalogue Offers Not to be missed… 12th Feb – 7th April inclusive
THE LONDON TEA COMPANY
25%
OFF!
20%
Each exciting flavour includes 20 traditional envelope tea bags.
OFF!
Singles £2.20 NOW £1.76 Cases £11.88 NOW £9.50 12th Feb – 7th April inclusive
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Cafedirect Fairtrade San Cristobal Drinking Chocolate 48656 (250g) £3.00 NOW £2.25 53526 (6x250g) £16.20 NOW £12.15
25%
OFF!
12th Feb – 7th April inclusive Cafedirect Fairtrade Kilimanjaro Ground Coffee 58752 (227g) £4.25 NOW £3.19 45266 (6x227g) £22.92 NOW £17.19
New
New
A. S encha Green Tea 59578 (40g) 60604 (6x40g)
E. R aspberry Inferno Tea 60340 (44g) 60966 (6x44g)
B. Pure Chamomile 59714 (30g) 60628 (6x30g)
F. V anilla Chai Tea (LIMITED EDITION) 47982 (44g) 48338 (6x44g)
C. P ure Peppermint Tea 59812 (30g) 60812 (6x30g)
G. W hite Tea & Pear Tatin Tea 48194 (44g) 48436 (6x44g)
D. P each & Rhubarb 60474 (44g) 61162 (6x44g)
H. Z ingy Lemon and Ginger Tea 60098 (40g) 60866 (6x40g)
SEE OUR FULL ONLINE CATALOGUE HERE
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Exclusive Offers Not to be missed… 20%
Bio-D Fragrance-Free and Hypoallergenic Fabric Conditioner
OFF!
27916 (1L) £2.45 NOW £1.96 27950 (12x1L) £26.40 NOW £21.12 Bio-D Fabric Conditioner with Lavender 30000 (1L) £2.85 NOW £2.28 38162 (12x1L) £30.60 NOW £24.48
10th Feb – 11th March inclusive All products on this page
Bio-D Hypoallergenic Washing-Up Liquid 69616 (750ml) £2.20 NOW £1.76 69648 (12x750ml) £23.76 NOW £19.01 Bio-D Hypoallergenic Washing-Up Liquid with Grapefruit 69836 (750ml) £2.40 NOW £1.92 69870 (12x750ml) £25.92 NOW £20.74 Bio-D Dishwasher Rinse Aid 30070 (750ml) £3.20 NOW £2.56 30312 (12x750ml) £34.56 NOW £27.65
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Bio-D Fragrance-Free Laundry Liquid 25740 (1L) £5.30 NOW £4.24 26244 (12x1L) £57.24 NOW £45.79 Bio-D Laundry Liquid with Lavender 26988 (1L) £5.65 NOW £4.52 26990 (12x1L) £60.96 NOW £48.76
Bio-D Fragrance-Free and Hypoallergenic Laundry Bleach
Bio-D Fragrance Free and Hypoallergenic Non-Bio Washing Powder
27016 (400g) £2.10 NOW £1.68
69580 (1kg) £4.35 NOW £3.48
27244 (12x400g) £22.68 NOW £18.14
69602 (10x1kg) £39.10 NOW £31.28
traidcraftshop.co.uk
from Kirsty & Lizy
Product Update NEW IN!
We’re thrilled with the feedback that you’re loving our new herbal tea range from The London Tea Company. So much so, we’re launching two new, exciting flavours! Please note that you won’t find these in the catalogue, but they are available to purchase online.
Limited Edition
New
London Tea Company Vanilla Chai Tea 47982 (44g) 48338 (6x44g)
This gorgeous blend of black tea, liquorice, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, pepper and vanilla is a real treat for the taste buds. It’s a rich, thick and creamy vanilla chai tea, made from Fairtrade Assam, grown on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, blended with the spices traditionally used to make an Indian Masala Chai.
New
London Tea Company White Tea & Pear Tatin 48194 (44g) 48436 (6x44g)
See all The London Tea Company’s Fairtrade, herbal blends
If you’re looking for an unusual, refreshing, Fairtrade tea, this blend of white tea is sure to impress. This herbal blend has been lovingly made by the experts at The London Tea Company, blending white tea with Fairtrade ginger and the warming flavours of a pear tatin dessert.
View the range Read about The London Tea Company
Read More
Singles £2.20 NOW £1.76 Cases £11.88 NOW £9.50
WE'RE STILL HERE! Along with the two new teas, the following products aren’t in our catalogue, but we’re pleased to announce that they are available to purchase online!
Counter Display
Zaytoun Olive
Stand for Cards 68660 £16.00
Oil Tube 69558 £25.00
Maroma Update Our Maroma beauty range has been extremely popular; so much so, we’ve sold out of our first batch. When we came to reorder, our supplier informed us that there would be a four to five month lead time (meaning late June/early July) on the Maroma goods, but that they would attempt to deliver sooner if possible. We are as disappointed as you are and will continue to update you with any updates from our supplier. Thank you for your patience and please accept our sincerest apologies.
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Oops!
Out of Stock!
Catalogue mistakes to note
The following products are included in our Spring / Summer Catalogue, but have been so popular that they’ve already sold out. We will not be getting any more stock in of these products this season. Divine Salted Caramel Thins (Available again in Autumn) 32948 / 28560
Cafédirect Freeze Dried Coffee (100g)
Divine Dark Chocolate Ginger Thins
Costs £4.60 for a single and £24.90 for a
(Available again in Autumn) 61086 / 40658
case (not £4.80 and £25.80 as catalogue would suggest)
Divine Fair Trade Tangy Orange Milk Chocolate Egg (100g) 59928 / 59208
Both Cafédirect Machu Picchu and
Elephant Incense Gift Sets 49474 and 49480
singles and £22.92 for cases (not £4.65 and
Kilimanjaro Ground Coffees are £4.25 for £25.20 as catalogue suggests)
Why not buy instead...
Traidcraft Burundi Kayanza Coffee Beans – Code for single is 46906 and a case is 46994 (not 31356 and 33138 as catalogue suggests) Hot Chilli Pesto - 61814/61576 – is 180g (not 330g as catalogue suggests) Divine Himalayan Salt Easter Egg -
Offer until 8th March inclusive Divine Dark Chocolate Mint Thins 46198 (200g) £4 NOW £3.20 34668 (12 x 200g) £43.20 NOW £34.56
34356/37400 - is 90g (not 100g as catalogue Elephant Candles -
suggests)
Set of 5 53846 £3.99
Handmade Recycled Star Light - 55536 use up to 40W bulb Velvet Recycled Star Light with LED Lights - 55602 - Batteries are not included
Divine Milk Chocolate Hot Cross Bun Easter Egg with Mini Eggs 42322 (260g) £10.00 40974 (6 x 260g) £54.00
Floral Easter Cards - 46526 have been delayed leaving the Philippines, and wont be leaving until 12th March, so it's unlikely we'll receive in March as per the catalogue - we hope to have them ASAP!
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Easter has Arrived at Traidcraft!
Olivewood Treasures
It is with great excitement that we can confirm all of our Easter range is now in stock. So, whether you’re after delicious, Fairtrade chocolate eggs, unique decorations for your Easter tree, an Easter gift for that special someone or some FSC-certified cards to send to friends and family, we’ve something for everyone in our biggest Easter range yet! Take a look for yourselves…
Greetings Cards Spread the joy of the Easter season to friends and family, near and far, with one of our wonderful FSCcertified cards.
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25/11/2019 12:07
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Hand-carved Olivewood Pocket Cross 47968 £5.00
Hand-carved Olivewood Holding Cross 48024 £9.50
26/11/2019 12:36
25/11/2019 12:07
Spring Flowers Cards Pack of 6, 3 Designs 59448 £4.50
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31/10/2019 10:21
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31/10/2019 10:19
31/10/2019 10:17
Furry Friends Cards Pack of 6, 3 Designs 59216 £4.50
Set of 4 Hanging Wooden Cross Decorations Coming Very Soon! 46666 £17.84
Olivewood treasures from Holyland Handicrafts, a WFTO-certified cooperative in Palestine.
Hand-carved Olivewood Keyring 47844 £5.00
Hoppy
thoughts
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31/10/2019 10:31
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09/12/2019 09:20
31/10/2019 10:42
Spring Fun Cards Pack of 6, 3 designs 59016 £4.50 24466.190.indd 1
Hand-carved Olivewood Bracelet 48108 £7.20
16/10/2019 09:50
Set of 4 Small Floral Hanging Wooden Egg Decorations Coming Very Soon!
The Way, The Truth and the Life Cards Pack of 6, 3 Designs 58990 £4.50
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09/09/2019 11:54
46382 £14.40 traidcraftshop.co.uk
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Stock up with our eggs-tra special range Organic
Organic
New
Traidcraft Organic Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Easter Egg • Organic • Comes with fair trade surprise inside • Plastic free packaging • Super thick shell 28494 (240g) £12 61468 (4 x 240g) £43.20 "This egg is just so moreish. Nice, thick shell and the surprise gift is inside; you don’t get that anymore!" - Kirsty
New
Traidcraft Organic Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Easter Egg • Organic • Vegan* • Comes with fair trade surprise inside • Plastic free packaging, super thick shell 61212 (240g) £12 61498 (4 x 240g) £43.20 *May also contain other nuts, milk, soya and gluten “Perfect for dark chocolate lovers – less rich than the milk – so can eat more!” - Gina
10 traidcraftshop.co.uk
The Real Easter Egg Milk Chocolate
The Real Easter Egg Dark Chocolate
• Comes with Easter story pamphlet • Plastic free packaging
• Comes with Easter story pamphlet • Plastic free packaging
47424 (150g) £4.50 25710 (6 x 150g) £23.94
48808 (180g) £5.95 50266 (6 x 180g) £33
A. Divine Milk Chocolate Luxury Easter Egg with Praline Mini Eggs 62084 (260g) £10 43862 (6 x 260g) £54
A
B
Vegan
Vegan C
B. Divine 70% Dark Chocolate Luxury Easter Egg with Mini Eggs 29078 (260g) £10 36810 (6 x 260g) £54 C. Divine Dark Chocolate Raspberry Easter Egg 32134 (90g) £5 32108 (6 x 90g) £27
Organic
D E
D. Divine Milk Chocolate Easter Egg 33104 (90g) £5 32274 (6 x 90g) £27
Vegan
Organic
E. Divine Pink Himalayan Salt Dark Chocolate Easter Egg 34356 (100g) £5 37400 (6 x 100g) £27 F. Divine Flight of Flavours Dark Chocolate Easter Egg Selection 44794 (100g) £8 44134 (6 x 100g) £43.20 G. Divine Flight of Flavours Milk & White Chocolate Easter Egg Selection 39458 (100g) £8 44492 (6 x 100g) £43.20 H. Divine Milk Hot Cross Bun Egg with Milk Mini Eggs 42322 (260g) £10 40974 (6 x 260g) £54
Sold out!
H F
Vegan
G
Divine Milk Chocolate Speckled Easter Mini Eggs 43446 (155g) £4.75 31312 (12 x 155g) £51.30
“I’ve waited all year for these eggs to come back! Their thin shells soon soften, leaving the smooth chocolate egg melting in your mouth. 10/10.”
10%
- Sarah
OFF! Divine Milk Chocolate Easter Egg Box 25778 (120g) £5 NOW £4.50 26864 (6 x 120g) £27 NOW £24.30
Divine Milk Chocolate Foiled Mini Easter Eggs 35646 (152g) £4.75 | 30240 (12 x 152g) £51.30 Divine Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Praline Foiled Mini Easter Eggs 49188 (156g) £4.75 | 31392 (12 x 156g) £51.30 Divine Dark 70% Chocolate Foiled Mini Easter Eggs 25428 (152g) £4.75 | 30244 (12 x 152g) £51.30 traidcraftshop.co.uk
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FAIR TRADE, A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME.. The magic begins when EVERYONE is the CEO of their own role
L
BY ROBIN ROTH
ast week we underwent our annual review from “Investors in People.” IIP is a voluntary certification scheme for companies who want to be recognised for the way they treat their staff and we were keen, after our difficulties last year, to make sure that we were still recognised as a good employer. The auditor was fascinated by how we work: we are in the process of abolishing our hierarchy and replacing it with a self-management process. This structure ensures that we are all “the CEOs” of our own roles. We don’t have performance reviews, management chats or the dreaded “one to ones”. We don’t have to wait for permission to do stuff and we don’t have to see if the boss is in a good mood or not before presenting a new idea. Our auditor wanted to understand how this works with lots of questions that started with “But what if…” and each question was grounded in the assumption that if you let people just get on
12 traidcraftshop.co.uk
with their work, then something will go wrong, or somebody will go out on a limb and do something stupid. Oh, we of little faith! In the early days of Fairtrade there was an enormous debate, often passionate, usually heated, between two wings of the movement. Some campaigners insisted that fair trade was all about relationships with producers and that relationships were based on trust, not control. Their desire was for premium monies to be sent to producers without any catches or clauses. Others felt that some kind of auditing or certification was necessary to ensure that corruption or misappropriation of funds could be avoided. It was important, they argued, to know how the money had been spent and whether it was properly accounted for. The argument was never really resolved philosophically but as layers of standards, auditors, certification and “courts of appeal” were introduced, the pragmatists appeared to win the day.
Over the years I have had many opportunities to witness farmers discuss what to do with their premium monies. Sometimes their choices seemed quite banal to me; a safe place for migrant workers to lock up their belongings when out working in the fields; a toilet with a lockable door; a bus stop with a shelter for the monsoon months. Sometimes the projects appeared enormously ambitious right up to building medical centres or even roads to ensure that produce could get to market on time. But whatever I thought, the choices were made by the farmers, their families and their communities and were important to them. When I began to understand the context – or had the opportunity to stand outside in a monsoon downpour, for example, - then the choices they made began to make perfect sense. In fact, they became obvious – I just didn’t always get them from my initial standpoint.
"W E AR E L E A R N I NG T O R E S P E C T E A CH OT H ER ’S A BI LI T I ES AN D F O C U S ". I remember a young woman in India who used to ask her father who the “men in black cars” were, who used to regularly visit the tea estate where she lived. Her father had to ask the estate manger and was told they were lawyers. The girl wanted to know what lawyers were and did, and so her father had to go and ask the estate manager again. When he came back and explained to her what a lawyer was, she decided that she was going to become one to help her family. Her poor father was instructed to request financial help from the premium fund for her education, and this was duly given. She told me
...and everybody else as well this story while she was visiting her family on the estate – she was revising hard for her final law exams at a major university. Her ambition was to return and help her village on the estate ensure their communal rights were ring-fenced. I had no idea how fragile their existence had always felt. She did, and she understood what she needed to do to protect her family. One of the great principles of fair trade is respect. If we respect farmers, respect their families, respect their understanding of what they need, then the magic happens. We are doing the same here at Traidcraft. We are learning to respect each other’s abilities and focus. Not surprisingly, a lot of magic is starting to happen, and it is wonderful to watch. I have been following the youth climate movement with great joy and exhilaration and one of the many things I have learnt from watching young, inspired and passionate campaigners is their understanding that just as traditional corporate and government structure have gotten us into this climate mess, it is unlikely they will have the flexibility, skills or awareness to help get us out. Their demand for a citizen’s assembly – a democratisation of power - is downright scary, but it’s what we fair traders have been preaching for 40 years. If only we trusted our own values enough to implement them in our own workplaces and our own communities. Incidentally, WFTO principle #1 is “Opportunities for disadvantaged producers”. Perhaps we should add “...and everybody else as well.” traidcraftshop.co.uk
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Traidcraft Shine the Spotlight on:
Earth Squared: A Brief History
You may have noticed our ever-growing range of bags, purses and accessories from our fair trade suppliers, Earth Squared. If you’re interested in finding out more about this forward-thinking fashion brand, join us as we shine the spotlight on exactly who they are and what differences they continue to make to the lives of many Vietnamese communities.
Who are Earth Squared?
Ethical, North Berwick-based company, Earth Squared, are passionate about their products, their customers and the entire supply chain. They are accredited by the British Association of Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers (BAFTS) and their partners in Vietnam are members of the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). As well as addressing injustices throughout the supply chain, Earth Squared are also on an ever-evolving journey to minimise their carbon footprint, and as of this season, have removed single-use plastics from their bags completely. 14 traidcraftshop.co.uk
Earth Squared started out almost 20 years after founder, Alison Henderson, returned from two years’ volunteering in social projects in Guatemala. Passionate about social justice and with a head for business, Alison wanted to start a fair trade business with an emphasis very much on quality and design. Sourcing the globe for potential suppliers, Alison decided to focus on Vietnam which, at the time, was struggling to export overseas, and after some trial and error, Alison was delighted to forge a relationship with a supplier who shared Alison’s vision for distinctive, ethical products to appeal to mainstream consumers. As a result, they are able to combine contempoary designs with fantastic craftsmanship and offer a huge range of timeless pieces.
pay roll, employees are encouraged to learn new skills and work their way up the career ladder.
How Do Earth Squared Make a Difference? The majority of artisans who make Earth Squared’s products were originally rice farmers earning an irregular and inconsistent wage. The rice farmers in Vietnam are very dependent on the weather and other environmental factors which are out of their control. They also have unfair supply chains to contend with; even working all day long, these farmers are still unable to earn enough money to feed their families sufficiently, or send their children to school.
The artisans working with Earth Squared have retrained, and now have multiple new skills to their names. Working as a seamstress or in quality control, for example, a person can earn a good standard of living and can also afford to send their children to school and fund them through higher education. Earth Squared’s partners also pay National Insurance for each staff member, covering medical costs and a pension for retirement, all of which is above the national legal requirements.
Earth Squared have also worked with their partners to create specialist workshops for women with minor disabilities, who may have otherwise found it difficult to find work and receive a regular and fair income. Their partners give these women the opportunity and support to improve their lives through secure work, training and a healthy working environment, giving them financial security as well as boosted self-confidence. Read on to hear from some of these women, who share their fascinating and inspiring stories with us – and give us even more reason to invest in their effortlessly stylish pieces!
Earth Squared: Meet the Makers…
Meet Dzung. She’s been working with our supplier since 2004 and tells us it’s really improved her quality of life, artisan skills, and her confidence levels. In the past, Dzung found it difficult to integrate into society because of her disability. Over the past 16 years, she has been encouraged to develop her skills and has now reached the prestigious position of Technician Manager; teaching others tailoring skills, creating samples and managing production.
Unlike many non-fair trade working environments in Vietnam, the working conditions within the workshops are safe, clean and regularly audited, with employees being given regular breaks and days off. These workshops are also extremely beneficial for workers with children, as they are allowed days off to look after ill children and there is flexibility for mothers who are breastfeeding. Once on the traidcraftshop.co.uk
15
Bright and bubbly Oanh joined Earth Squared’s supplier in 2008. She started her career as a buyer, purchasing new and exciting fabrics for the company, and was responsible for ensuring that these fabrics were of the highest quality, before they were distributed to the artisans to be made into products. Two years later, she reluctantly left the company, upon her father’s request, to move into a state-owned company, as he believed this would be a more stable job for his daughter. Unfortunately for Oanh, her new role was not what she or her father had expected; she was made to work long hours with no breaks. After realising her mistake, she went back to her first place of work in the hope she would be welcomed back – and, of course, she was welcomed with open arms! Her new role within the company is within the production management department, where she’s loving being part of a solid team. She encourages artisans to meet deadlines and gives them a helping hand whenever they need it. Diu's Story Growing up in a remote province of Vietnam, from an extremely poor family, Diu’s parents could not afford to send her to school. She travelled to Hanoi in search of work to support her family’s low income, and ended up working in poor conditions, washing dishes for an unimaginably poor wage.
Artisans working with Earth Squared have retrained, and now have multiple new skills to their names.
Since then, Diu’s world has been turned around; she has worked at one of Earth Squared’s partners since 2006, where she began as a packer and spent some time in the quality control department, before working her way up to managerial level in a relatively short amount of time. Diu now, along with many other responsibilities, trains her colleagues to improve their skills. Not only has this meant that Diu been able to move up through the company and gain many skills and much confidence throughout her journey, but the company have financed her studies, too. She now has enough money to be financially self-sufficient, provide for a family of her own (she has recently had a beautiful baby boy with her husband of two years) and has enough left over to send to her family back in her home province. 16 traidcraftshop.co.uk
Keep an eye out in our Spring Summer 2020 Catalogue for a huge range of Earth Squared bags, purses and accessories, made by people just like Dzung, Oanh and Diu. SHOP ALL EARTH SQUARED
the people tours
Wo n d e r f u l s c e n e r y , meet the people tours
Amazing people.
u n fo r g e t t a b l e e x p er i e n ce s . . .
. . . t h e s e a re w h a t m a k e a h o l i d a y e x t ra s p e c i a l . Yo u c a n e x p e c t a l l of t h i s a n d m o re o n a M e et t h e P e o p l e To u r a n d i t ' s w h y w e h o p e y o u w i l l j o i n u s o n o n e t h i s y e a r.
meet the people tours
With our new Meet the People brochure
On our website you'll find all the details of our
comes a new programme of holidays in
2020 and 2021 (www.meetthepeopletours.co.uk/
2021, where a whole host of inspiring fair trade visits await. You can order yours now at: www.meetthepeopletours.co.uk/brochure
availability) and browse photos from previous tours to find your perfect holiday. Lots of our holidays are filling up – if a tour has caught your eye, let us know and we can keep you informed!
Our holidays are special and we love to talk about them. Call Hannah or Lizzie on 0191 2651110 or email us at traidcraft@skedaddle.com for more information and check availability.
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WASTE LESS WATER
Starting with your Wardrobe! Despite 71% of the earth’s surface being covered by water, the UK has less water available per person than most other European countries. For example, did you know that London is drier than Istanbul? As the population increases, the demand for water gets higher, and with climate change playing a huge part in the scarceness of this commodity, a heightened strain is being put on our water supplies. The World Economic Forum has even identified water scarcity as one of the top ten global risks to society over the next ten years. With awareness initiatives such as World Water Day, Waste Less Water Week and Water Saving Week cropping up in our calendars, as well as the climate change crisis being more readily and openly discussed in mainstream media, people are becoming more and more aware of the importance of protecting our invaluable resource, H20. 18 traidcraftshop.co.uk
HOW CAN I SAVE WATER? There are so many ways to cut back on your water wastage in your everyday life! Here are a few ideas to get you started: • Turn off your tap when brushing your teeth • Invest in a rain barrel/ water butt for your garden • Only boil the water you need for a cup of tea or coffee •
Shower rather than bath
• Get an eco-shower head or use a shower timer • Install water-efficient taps in your kitchens and bathrooms • Save your dirty clothes and dishes for a larger wash •
Check your pipes for leaks
• Re-use water that you’ve used to boil vegetables • Invest in clothing which has been made with water conservation in mind The final point may raise a few eyebrows, understandably so. What many people don’t realise is that the fashion industry relies on water throughout the whole production process; as a solvent for dyes and chemicals, as a medium for transferring dyes and chemicals to fabric and as a washing and rinsing medium.
In fact, almost 3,000 litres of water are needed to make the average T-shirt – which is more than the average person drinks in three years! The fashion industry consumes around 80 billion cubic metres of water per year, which is enough to fill 32 million Olympic-sized swimming pools. The shocking statistics go on and on… Our friends at Thought, suppliers of contemporary, Organic and sustainable style, are acutely aware of their responsibility to reduce the water usage when producing their new ranges. With eco-friendly ‘force of nature fabrics’ such as model, Tencel™, hemp and Organic cotton making up the vast majority of their collections, they’re proud to be making a difference to the fashion industry.
HOW DO THOUGHT’S ‘FORCE OF NATURE’ FABRICS CONSERVE WATER? MODAL Modal is soft, breathable and luxurious, similar to silk, and has even been dubbed the ‘softest fabric in the world’. This wonder fabric is made from beech trees, which are notoriously easy to grow and require less water to grow (up to 20 times less) than other trees. Because of this, the environmental impact of modal on soil is also relatively low. Additionally, 95% of production water waste is recovered and recycled during the production of the yarn.
Psst! Keep an eye out for an expanded modal clothing range, coming your way in the near future!
SHOP ALL THOUGHT CLOTHING
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TENCEL™ There are so many reasons to love Tencel™; firstly, it’s absorbent, smooth, cool and silky soft with a beautiful drape and sophisticated handle. It’s also simple to launder, strong when wet, and has been developed to be wrinkle resistant, much more than its cotton counterparts, making it the ideal fabric to pop into your suitcase when travelling. Not only is Tencel a great fabric to wear, it’s also an environmentally friendly option; in fact, its manufacturing process has earned it the highly prestigious European Union’s ‘European Award for the Environment’. As far as water consumption is concerned, Tencel™ is up there with the very best of them, using a closed loop production process, recycling 99% of water waste. To find out more about Tencel™, including exactly how it’s made, see our blog post An Introduction to Tencel™.
HEMP Hemp is a fantastic fabric, with a very low impact on the environment; it’s 100% biodegradable and typically grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilisers. It is a strong fabric, despite being soft, lightweight and absorbent, making it great for everyday wear. When it comes to water wastage, hemp uses around four times less water than non-Organic cotton in its production and can grow with little irrigation. Fabrics like cotton also tend to be grown in parts of the world where water is more scarce, whereas hemp lends itself to being relatively easy to grow in any part of the world.
ORGANIC COTTON There are many reasons why Organic cotton is good for the environment. For example, most Organic cotton is grown in rainfed areas, which means less strain on local water supplies. Organic cotton also uses around 84% less water during production, than regular cotton. The farmers of Organic cotton use natural methods like composting to create healthier soil; soil which hasn’t had lots of chemical fertilisers used on it will soak up water during floods and hold it for longer during droughts. Some scientists are warning us that soil is being eroded so fast that we may only have between 60 and 100 harvests left before it’s gone completely - have a look at our feature on healthy soil for more information about our soil and how we can prevent losing it all together. For more information about Thought, their heritage, processes and vision for the future, see our interview with Rachel Kelly, co-founder of Thought Clothing, talking all things slow fashion.
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READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH THOUGHT CO-FOUNDER
ON THE ROAD
Exciting news! Our all-new roadshow itineraries have been released. Remember, throughout the day, you will be able to browse our new spring/summer range, as well as get your hands on some exclusive bargains! There’s still time to sign up!
10.00AM ONWARDS
SPRING/SUMMER '20 Browse our newest range of products 12.30 - 1.00PM
LONDON SIGN UP
TALK 1 Robin Roth from Traidcraft PLC
MIDLANDS SIGN UP
1.15 - 2.00PM
TALK 2 Zaytoun TEA BREAK 2.30 - 3.00PM
TALK 3 Traidcraft Exchange 3.15PM
TALK 4 Meet the People 4PM
Q&A traidcraftshop.co.uk
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Win a prize, change the world…
What are the prizes? 1st PRIZE A once-in-a-lifetime trip to India with Meet the People tours
2nd PRIZE A two-night stay at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa in the Lake District
3rd PRIZE Apple iPad
Plus the chance to win one of 4 fair trade hampers from Traidcraft PLC
How do I order tickets? Yes, really! Try your luck in Traidcraft Exchange’s raffle and you could win an unforgettable trip to India or a luxury stay on Lake Windermere… and you’ll be making the world a fairer place, too. Tickets cost just £1 each, and all our prizes have been donated, meaning every penny raised will go towards Traidcraft Exchange’s vital work to transform lives through trade. You can sell them to friends and family, too – they’d make a great addition to your Big Brew, your Fairtrade Fortnight plans, or any other events you have lined up in the coming weeks. The raffle will close on 21st April, so don’t forget to buy and sell your tickets, and send the counterfoils and donations back to us by then! 22 traidcraftshop.co.uk
Go eco! Buy paperless tickets online here. Order paper tickets to sell to family and friends here. 1st prize: choose either a tour for 2 people (2 x tours, no flights included) or a tour for 1 person PLUS return flights from the UK. Subject to tours running. Your tour must be taken by 30th April 2021. 2nd prize: 2 nights Bed & Breakfast at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, dinner on one night and a bottle of fizz in your room on arrival. Subject to availability. Does not include stays over bank holidays or Christmas/New Year. 3rd prize: 2019 Apple iPad Air 10.5”, A12 Bionic, iOS, Wi-Fi, 64GB, Space Grey. For full terms and conditions go to www.traidcraftexchange.org/raffletandc
What your donations mean However you support Traidcraft Exchange – whether it’s selling raffle tickets, holding Big Brews, or generously giving what you can, when you can – you help people like Maleka to change their lives. For many years, Maleka couldn’t grow anything on her small plot of land in Moynakuri, Bangladesh. Her soil was too sandy for vegetable crops and she had no money to buy saplings. But thanks to the support of people like you, she learnt to use her land to grow tea and earn an income. Here's what she had to say. “I spent around fifteen years of my life working in the company tea gardens. It was a very difficult life, but now I work for myself!
All the hard work, the difficult times that I have passed – I cannot remember it any more. They seem so far away now. I am planning to make my home bigger, you know. The family is growing! We are saving up money to buy some more land and start another small tea plantation. What I love most is that we all work together now – everyone makes a contribution.” Thank you for supporting Traidcraft Exchange.
How was your Big Brew? Thank you so much to everyone who hosted a Big Brew over Fairtrade Fortnight! Your fantastic fundraising will change lives of hardworking farmers, workers and artisans around the world. Don’t forget to pay in your donations: Online – Go to www.traidcraftexchange.org/bigbrew and follow the instructions Through the post – Send a cheque made payable to Traidcraft Exchange to Traidcraft Exchange, Turners Building, 7-15 Pink Lane, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 5DW Over the phone – Give us a call on 0191 497 6445 Don’t forget to share your pictures and stories with us! You can share them on social media with the hashtag #BigBrew or email them to us at hello@traidcraft.org. If you couldn’t hold an event over Fairtrade Fortnight, don’t worry – you can host a Big Brew at any time of year!
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A campaign gaining pace
A campaign gaining pace
3,000
MESSAGES SENT TO THE PRIME MINISTER
Over 3,000 people have already taken action in Traidcraft Exchange’s latest campaign. It’s too easy for UK companies to trample over people’s rights and the planet in pursuit of profit. That’s why Traidcraft Exchange is calling for a new law to make respecting human rights and the environment a standard business practice. With a new government, let’s put this issue firmly on the agenda.
What would the new law do? Give UK companies a duty to prevent harm to human rights and the environment. Companies do financial ‘due diligence’ all the time. They must do due diligence on human rights and environmental impact as well. Hold companies legally accountable if abuses do occur. Until companies are held liable for their actions and those of their subsidiaries, there’s no incentive for them to protect people and the planet.
What can you do now? Take action at www.traidcraftexchange.org/our-land-our-rights Watch a video explaining the campaign: www.traidcraftexchange.org/our-land-our-rights-explained Order campaign postcards and flyers to hand out at: www.traidcraftexchange.org/campaign-materials 24 traidcraftshop.co.uk
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Does my Teabag Contain PLastic? The dreaded P-word. Plastic. Not only is it littering our oceans and harming our wildlife, but now it’s cropping up in our morning brews. It’s been a hot topic of conversation, snowballing media attention of late, which is exactly why we wanted to discuss it with you, in depth, right here, right now. As you may be aware, Traidcraft's Great Taste trial basis, and the results are looking extremely Award-winning tea is packaged locally at promising. This new teabag material (PLA) Ringtons, a family-run business, dating back contains a bio-plastic, which has been made to 1907. Whilst Ringtons may have from plants. PLA material has the same been blending the freshest tea and necessary properties as its oil-based coffee for over a century, their predecessor, but is renewable, stance on sustainability certainly sustainable and biodegradable. "Since August doesn’t sit in the past. And, as Once the teabags have passed 2019, Ringtons transparency is one of our core all of the stringent tests and have been testing pillars, we wanted to share this results are conclusive, Ringtons a new, more information with you. will begin to roll out the tea environmentally bags with bio-based plastic conscious teabag All heat-sealed teabag paper content. These teabags will be material" does contain a very small amount able to be disposed of in your of plastic - if you include the tea council food bin or organic waste leaves, typically about 1% of the tea collection. bag total weight is plastic. This is in order to seal the tea bag material together when Ringtons are at the forefront of the market for heated and ensure that the leaves remain in the sustainable teabag solutions and believe that bag and that the bag doesn’t split. Historically, this new paper is the most environmentally teabag paper has contained a very small amount sustainable paper available at this moment in of oil-based plastic, such as polypropylene or time. They’re aware that although plant-based polyethylene, in order to allow it to be heatplastic is a step in the right direction, they, and sealed. the industry as a whole, are still on a journey, and are continuing to work towards the ultimate, Not content with settling for the non-sustainable plastic-free solution for teabags in the future. plastic in their teabags, since August 2019, Ringtons have been testing a new, more We will be sure to keep you informed of any environmentally conscious teabag material on a progress updates, but for now, watch this space! traidcraftshop.co.uk
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Winning DESIGN!
To celebrate, we thought we’d give the little ones in your life a chance to get their creative juices flowing, in the prospect of getting their hands on some delicious chocolate eggs! To win our Fairtrade Easter hamper, we'd like you to get creative and design the front cover of our special Easter Bulletin, with the question 'what does fair trade mean to you?' in mind when designing. The lucky winner's design will be the front cover of our April Bulletin, with runners up announced in the same issue.
If you’d like to get involved, please send your entries, along with your name, age and contact details to: VIEW FULL T&Cs HERE
E-mail: social@traidcraft.co.uk Post:
T raidcraft Easter Competition Kingsway, Team Valley Gateshead, NE11 0NE
CLOSING DATE: MONDAY MARCH 16TH 2020
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We are super excited to be launching our 2020 Fairtrade Easter eggs, with our very own Traidcraft-branded Easter eggs in this year’s range.
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a Fairtrade Easter Hamper
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