About People for Fair Trade

People for Fair Trade (PFFT) are a voluntary network of people in Australia who are committed to fair trade with producers of goods, through the support of education and alternative trade.

 

Our vision is for justice, empowerment and improvement in living conditions for the developing world.  We seek to make this dream a reality by breaking down the traditional international trade structures and practices by engaging in fair trade with third world producers. We see our role as not to simply sell products, but to create an awareness of the real difference that just trade has on development and empowerment of poor and exploited communities.

 

Our principles of fair trade:

 

Fair prices

We set aside a Fair Trade Premium from all that we sell, and use this to make additional payments to communities of growers towards community development projects, as an attempt to deliver to them a fairer price for their products.

 

Local value added

We give top priority to selling products where the processing and packaging has taken place in the country where the product was grown, by locally owned companies.

 

And more people

We see those we sell the product to as people who are partners in the cause we believe in, not customers to market to!

 

 

PFFT distribute fair trade tea and coffee throughout Australia. Wherever possible, PFFT products are grown, blended, packed and imported directly from producing countries. This ensures the products are high in quality and the producers earn a just wage for their work. Many of these products come from certified organic growers who use natural processing methods. We also offer a range of herbal teas and other items.

 

You can download an order form online or contact PFFT directly.

 

We are also committed to informing people about fair trade through education and providing information on related issues. You can arrange for one of our volunteers to come to your church or community group and talk about fair trade.

 

People For Fair Trade Association Incorporated is a member of IFAT, the International Fair Trade Organisation, and an incorporated not-for-profit association registered with the Victorian Office of Fair Trading and Business Affairs. Our Reg No is A0024766A. Our Australian Business Number is: ABN 86 658 440 944.

 

 

Frequently asked questions

 

 

How does PFFT do Fair Trade?

 

PFFT is a network of volunteers committed and focussed on fair trade. We’re registered with the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), and a number of our products are certified Fairtrade. We strive for a better deal for third world producers by contributing a fair trade premium from all sales to growers— last year about $17,500 went to development projects
amongst grower communities (about 9% of the value of our sales).

 

 

So then, why do only some of PFFT’s products display the Fairtrade label?

 

For PFFT, the Fairtrade label simply means the premium is paid via the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO). For all our other products, the premium is paid via direct payments we make to community development, or projects supported by Trade Winds, who import the tea and coffee into Australia. In fact, some of the non-labelled products are ’fairer’ in the sense that these products are processed and packaged in the country of origin, thus allowing the third world countries to benefit from value adding - take a look at this excellent article by New Internationalist.

 

 

But, aren’t the herbal teas from Australia?

 

Yes, we stock herbal leaf tea from Victoria and herbal tea bags from Queensland, to complement regular tea and coffee purchases. We are currently unable to stock herbal teas from third world countries. Meanwhile, we have chosen suppliers who share similar values with us. Plus, all sales contribute to the fair trade premium which goes to projects in third world countries.