London, the Fairtrade capital of the world
Today, Thursday 23 October 2008, Londoners will have more choice than ever before when it comes to selecting Fairtrade in the nation’s capital, as London becomes the world’s largest Fairtrade City. Hundreds of businesses have signed up to the campaign, meaning that Londoners will never again have to go far to buy Fairtrade.
In achieving Fairtrade City status, the nation’s capital is sending a strong message that the people of London want trade to be fairer.
The declaration, the culmination of a drive launched by former Mayor Ken Livingstone in 2003, is backed by Mayor Boris Johnson, who is a keen supporter of Fairtrade. Today’s announcement follows the Mayor’s recent Thames Festival, where there was a significant Fairtrade presence. Ian Clement, Deputy Mayor will accept the certificate from Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, in London’s Living Room at City Hall tonight. They will be joined by an invited audience of people from boroughs all over London who have worked tirelessly for today’s declaration for the last five years.
To celebrate London becoming a Fairtrade City, many celebratory events will take place in boroughs around London. Highlights include the screening of An Africa Scandal by Camden in the council chamber and Tower Hamlets will show Cost of a Cup of Tea. Croydon College will be holding a Fairtrade Feast, Fairtrade sampling will take place at Hackney Broadway shopping centre, the City of London is launching its Fairtrade Hub where businesses can sign up to Fairtrade and Westminster will celebrate by widening the range of Fairtrade products in 15 restaurants and eight bars at the Houses of Parliament.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: ‘Its super news that London is now officially the world’s largest Fairtrade city, with 20 Fairtrade Boroughs in the capital. It sends a clear message that Londoners want their products to be Fairtrade and to make a significant difference to the lives of farmers and workers in the developing world.
‘We have come a long way since Croydon became the first borough to achieve Fairtrade status in 2003 and the London Steering Group and Fairtrade Boroughs are to be congratulated for their hard work in achieving our new status.’
Across the capital, 20 boroughs now have Fairtrade status, five of which are Olympic boroughs. Almost 1,000 retailers and 600 catering outlets now sell a range of products which carry the famous FAIRTRADE Mark.
- 941 retailers and 607 catering outlets now sell a range of Fairtrade products, including iconic London institutions like the Barbican, the British Library café, Café in the Square (Trafalgar Square), the Horniman Museum, the London Eye, the National Theatre, the Royal Festival Hall, St Martin in the Fields café, Amnesty International UK, Houses of Parliament, the café at Princess Diana Memorial Gardens and many more.
- Key companies now providing Fairtrade at work include KPMG, the London Fire Brigade, the Met Police, The Bank of England, Royal Botanic Gardens, Aviva, BBC TV Centre, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, the Globe Theatre and East Thames Housing Association.
- Churches across London have stalls stocking Fairtrade products and within the Anglican church, the Diocese of Southwark, the Diocese of London and the Diocese of St Albans all support Fairtrade.
- Six universities across London, reaching 89,650 students, have Fairtrade University status. These include LSE, Royal Holloway College, King’s College London, Kingston University, Imperial College London, Southbank University.
- Currently there are six Fairtrade Schools in London and 30 secondary schools, and 45 primary schools which are registered as working towards Fairtrade status.
- London’s Square Mile has Fairtrade status, with the Lord Mayor of London’s residence, Mansion House, and the Guildhall sourcing Fairtrade goods for all events including State Banquets.
Sophi Tranchell, Chair of the Fairtrade London Steering Committee said: ‘Now London has achieved Fairtrade City status we can really stake our claim as the Fairtrade capital of the world. We are proud to play our part in tipping the balance of trade in favour of producers but we recognise that there is so much more to be done and we hope that people all over London will continue to do their bit by joining their local campaign and getting their schools and workplaces to stock more Fairtrade marked products.’
A recent CAPI OmniBus survey shows that the public’s appetite for products carrying the FAIRTADE Mark has dramatically increased in all areas. Demand for Fairtrade in schools, colleges and universities has nearly tripled from 10 per cent to 29 per cent and demand in other sectors such as hotels and B&Bs, cafes, restaurants pubs, in supermarkets and smaller stores continues to flourish. In the workplace the number of people wanting Fairtrade has more than doubled from nine per cent to 21 per cent.
When Garstang, a small town in Lancashire, declared itself the first ever Fairtrade town back in 2000, a localised consumer revolution began. Globally, more than 500 towns or communities have achieved Fairtrade status through a commitment to Fairtrade across local government, business and retail outlets, including nearly 400 in the UK. The initiative spans from the smallest Fairtrade community, Fair Isle in Scotland with just 60 residents, to San Francisco in California. Brussels, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh and Rome are all capital cities with Fairtrade status.
For more information see www.fairtradelondon.org.uk
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For more information, interviews and images, please contact Martine Julseth at the Fairtrade Foundation martine.julseth@fairtrade.org.uk Tel: 020 7440 7695/07825 827791
Notes to editors:
Fairtrade London Campaign: The aim of the campaign has been to increase awareness and availability of Fairtrade products in homes, shops, cafés, workplaces, tourist venues, schools and colleges across the capital. Promoting Fairtrade in London will not just raise awareness amongst London’s 7.4 million residents, but will reverberate internationally thanks to London’s position as a global centre in media, business and tourism. Bringing international and local communities together will raise the profile of Fairtrade and benefit more producers. London will be the biggest Fairtrade City in the world.
For London to be officially recognised as a Fairtrade City, 17 London boroughs needed to achieve Fairtrade status and two of the 47 universities in London also need to achieve status. The following five goals also have to be achieved*
1. Official declaration of intent, motion passed in the council.
2. At least 750 retail outlets and 375 catering establishments must be selling and serving products that carry the FAIRTRADE Mark.
3. One flagship employer in each Fairtrade borough and faith groups need to be made aware of the campaign across London to raise awareness across all cultures.
4. Media coverage across London-wide media.
5. Steering Group established to catalyse the process.
*criteria set by the Fairtrade Foundation who receive, and process applications.
Fairtrade London Boroughs: Camden, City of London, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow, Islington, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest.
London’s Fairtrade companies: London is really the Fairtrade capital of the world. It is home to some of the most exciting dedicated Fairtrade companies :
· Cafédirect the trailblazing Fairtrade beverage company established in 1991, first branded Fairtrade company in the world, proving that consumers were prepared to pay a little more knowing the benefit would go to the producers www.cafedirect.co.uk
· Divine Chocolate Limited the leading farmer-owned Fairtrade chocolate company in the world established in 1998, winner of Enterprising Solutions Award 2007 www.divinechocolate.com www.dubble.co.uk
· Tropical Wholefoods importer of tropical dried fruit and nuts, established in 1993, winner of Enterprising Solutions Award 1999 www.tropicalwholefoods.co.uk
· People Tree the fair trade fashion pioneer and online garment retailer www.peopletree.co.uk
· AgroFair, the leading importer and distributor of Fairtrade and organic tropical fresh fruit recently launched delicious new OKE smoothies. www.okefairtrade.com
· Liberation the UK first and only 100% Fairtrade nut company, established 2007
· . www.chooseliberation.com
· The Co-operative Group with members in London working in the boroughs have supported the campaign since its inception, the retail group has lead the way converting its whole chocolate block range to Fairtrade in November 2002, and its coffee range in 2003
· www.co-operative.coop