Beyond Fair Trade Chocolate: Sustainable trade in services and FairSource at Green Festivals DC
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Fair trade chocolate is something we can all identify as part of the green business movement - great product, good working conditions for farmers, and a just trade system delivering it to us. But what about the services in the economy, which make up over half of all economic activity in the world? Service companies are often left out of sustainability initiatives, and so the leadership of companies like ifPeople becomes crucial. ifPeople has been chosen to select at this year's Green Festival in Washington, DC on fair trade services and sustainable services businesses.
Fair trade today
Chocolate - along with commodities such as sugar, coffee, and
artisan goods - have their own standards for fair trade. Yet even if
all the commodities traded globally were using available fair trade
standards (which is a long way from reality), there would be a gaping
hole in sustainable trade in the world. That hole, made up of services,
would represent over half the global economy.
Beyond chocolate: fair trade services
Services, not touched by the existing fair trade standards,
are increasingly sourced in the global market. With the proliferation
of cheap telecommunications and travel options, global service supply
chains are a trend here to stay. From offshore outsourcing of software
development to tax preparation to call centers, the need for consumers
to be aware of the sustainability of services has never been greater.
At this year's Green Festival,
Christopher Johnson, cofounder of ifPeople, will talk about the roll of
fair trade in service businesses and what you need to know to
distinguish sustainable service companies. The presentation will also
feature FairSource, ifPeople's initiative to
create a network of social enterprises in South America for software
development using a fair trade model. You will learn about the
innovative FairSource business model as well as the entrepreneurs
involved.
About the Green Fesivals
The annual Green Festival events, sponsored by Coop America, creator of the National Green Pages, and Global Exchange,
a leading proponent of international human rights and Fair Trade, are a
rejuvenating convergence of learning, celebrating, exploring, and networking. See an article about Green Festival DC 2005. ifPeople, a Coop America Green Business, has been represented at all the Green Festivals to date! Read more about ifPeople's sustainable business practices.
Schedule of Green Festivals:
- Washington, DC: October 14-15, 2006
- San Francisco, CA: November 10-12, 2006
- Chicago, IL: April 21-22, 2007
