There is no such thing as purely “free trade” because powerful countries have created an uneven playing field that disadvantages producers in poor countries. Unfortunately the world’s conventional trading systems are not enough to protect producers from poverty and exploitation and properly care for our environment.  Workers are not always paid a fair wage for their labour or given appropriate working hours in good working conditions.  Discrimination against women and those with developmental disabilities is all too common. Fair trade helps individuals and communities improve their economic situation and decreases the negative by-products of unfair trade.  By being in a fair trade partnership, producers can improve their education, knowledge, and/or skills and better care for their families and community.

Fair trade is not charity. It is a transaction where money is given for a particular product.  When you give to an NGO you may receive the satisfaction of knowing that your money is used to advance a cause or provide food or services for those in need.   In fair trade, the price you pay is the actual value of the product you are buying, which you will then own and be able to use however you wish.  Fair trade producers aim to produce products which are competitive in the market despite the disadvantages they may face by living in a poor country or being subject to unfair conditions.

A number of organizations, many of them NGOs, have developed fair trade certifications that can be used to assure consumers that the products they purchase are truly fair trade.  Although producers may claim that products were produced in “fair” conditions, with fair trade certification consumers can know that this truly was the case as well as learn more about some of the benefits provided to the producers from whom they purchase.  There are hundreds of fair trade certifications provided globally and two of the major certification groups are the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and Fairtrade Labeling Organization (FLO). Certification is often shown via a mark which is part of the packaging of a product. Although you can be assured that products with the fair trade mark are fair trade items, not all fair trade products have such a mark.  Why is this the case?  The cost of getting this certification may be too expensive for very small or new producers.  Additionally, with some types of products certification may be more difficult or even impossible due to the nature of the supply chain or materials used to create the product.

First of all, fair trade products do not necessarily cost more. Sometimes, by cutting out middlemen and sourcing directly from producers, costs are lower.  However, with other products, prices may be higher than you are used to.  This is usually due to the higher salary, benefits, and better working conditions provided to producers in the fair trade system. Is fair trade still worth it for consumers if the price is higher?  Often the quality of fair trade items will be much better.  The satisfaction of knowing that you supported fair trade is also worth far more than any extra price!  You can also make the choice to reduce your own overall consumption so you can afford to increase your support of fair conditions for producers.

• Fair price: Trading in ways that support sustainable answers to poverty.
• Fair share: Agreeing to appropriate profit share through dialogue and participation.
• Fair chance: Developing producers’ skill sets and access to new markets, local and global.
• Fair work: Ensuring no abuse of child labour, gender equity and safe conditions.
• Fair growth: Investing in community improvement, with producer cooperatives setting priorities.
• Fair deal: Ensuring transparency and accountability at each level of trade.
• Fair care: Applying environmentally responsible methods of production.
• Fair mind: Encouraging shoppers to buy Fair Trade.

The FLO, as well as other groups and certifying organizations, has a “fair trade premium” given to producers in addition to the fair price paid for their products.  Producers collectively decide how to use this money to improve their community, with common projects including education, healthcare, or repair or improvement of facilities. Starting in 2009, Crossroads’ Global Handicrafts has offered producers a 10% fair trade premium for strategic investments in their workplace or community.   Producers decide how to use this money.  Only producers in developing countries who are not already part of the FLO system are eligible for this premium.  For more information email us at marketplace@crossroads.org.hk

Global Handicrafts is one of the four parts of Crossroads Foundation.  It is a crossroads between the world’s needs and resources where consumers and producers come together.  Fair trade products are available through the Crossroads Marketplace as well as the Silk Road Cafe.

Workplace standards are determined based on a producer group’s culture and environment.  Crossroads distributes questionnaires to producers regarding their workplace environment before establishing a partnership.  If improvement is necessary, the group is asked to set goals and achieve incremental progress.

Producer groups must not exploit child labour to be part of a partnership with Crossroads.  If any child labour is used it must comply with a number of guidelines.

Global Handicrafts prioritises groups that empower women through vocational opportunities and training because women traditionally suffer more marginalisation than men.  Equal opportunities for women through training and/or promotion are encouraged.  Producer groups must pay equal wages for equal work and Crossroads’ Global Handicrafts encourages wages to be paid directly to women producers rather than their husbands.

The Marketplace is a physical space in Crossroads Village dedicated to promoting and selling fair trade products from all over the world.  It is a crossroads where the world’s resources (consumers) and the world’s needs (products in need of a market) come together.

The products come from all over the world, including Hong Kong! The Marketplace is organized by geographic regions of the world and in each section you can purchase products from that region. The products on sale come from people who struggle, in their different countries, to emerge from hardship and challenge.  Many of the products are created by individuals working with NGOs.  Others are created by small businesses or cooperatives in the developing world.

The producers are people in poverty or disadvantaged situations.  Some of the factors Crossroads considers are: whether products are needed from a specific region, whether the producer follows fair trade standards or is willing to make improvements in how it conducts business, whether the group’s mission and objectives match that of Crossroads, whether the supply chain is short and efficient, and the environmental consciousness of the producer. Crossroads commits to maintaining a long-term relationship with a producer once they have established an initial trading relationship with them.

Some of the factors Crossroads considers are: the quality of the products, the appropriateness of products for the Hong Kong market, whether the products may tie in to simulations held by Crossroads Global X-periences, whether the minimal order size is small enough for the Marketplace, and any external certification of the products including fair trade or organic materials.

The producers receive a fair price for their products.  Producers set their own price for handicrafts based on the cost of production and the margins required for a decent income.  The Marketplace commits to purchasing products at a fair price even when it means it cannot make a profit.

Please send an e-mail to marketplace@crossroads.org.hk.  It is important that you include sample photographs of your products and information about your group.  The Marketplace will respond to you if your products and organisation are a good fit.

Like the Marketplace, the Silk Road Cafe is a Crossroads between the world’s needs and resources.  A number of fair trade products as well as products from local social enterprises are available for purchase.  The cafe’s design honours today’s Silk Road and the people served by Crossroads’ branch office in Central Asia.

The refreshments purchased provide a fair income for producers of goods like coffee, chocolate and sugar, in struggling economies and also support disadvantaged individuals in Hong Kong.  The fair trade and social enterprise producers receive a just price for their products.

Products offered at the Marketplace include a variety of handicrafts created by artisans around the world as well as handbags, clothing, canned and packaged food, and dry tea and coffee.

The cafe has a range of hot and cold coffee beverages and hot tea as well as chocolate beverages.  Cold juices, smoothies, and soft drinks are also provided.  A wide variety of snacks and some particularly delightful sweet treats are available for purchase.  Full meals are not offered.

The Marketplace and Cafe are located in Crossroads Village at the Gold Coast area of Hong Kong, near Tuen Mun.

At this time most sales take place at Crossroads Village, though Crossroads also sells at fairs around Hong Kong.  In the future products may be sold at other Hong Kong outlets. Products are available for online purchase at http://shop.globalhandicrafts.org/.

Both the Marketplace and Cafe are open from 10:00 to 17:00, Tuesday through Saturday (closed on public holidays).  They can be open at other times by appointment.  If you need to schedule an appointment, please contact marketplace@crossroads.org.hk.

Feedback forms are available in both the Marketplace and Cafe.  You can also send an email to marketplace@crossroads.org.hk.