Placing fairness at the heart of climate ambitions
Nicola Taylor • November 1, 2021
People and Planet must come first
With COP26 now underway in Glasgow, it is time to talk about “respect for the Environment” – one of the ten fair trade principles which JTS adheres to as a WFTO Guaranteed Member and one which has clearly increased in importance as the extent of the climate emergency has become ever clearer.
In September, the fair trade movement published a position paper calling on the international community to ensure that ambitious climate aims go hand in hand with trade justice goals.
The report stressed that there can be no climate justice without fair trade, highlighting that smallholder farmers and workers are part of the solution to the climate crisis. The paper calls for us to rebuild our economic system in a way which is socially-just and planet-friendly.
At JTS we have reviewed our Environmental Policy this year and the latest version is available to download below. This is not simply a paper policy – it is genuinely something that is driving actions and some examples of actions we have taken this year are given below:
- we have replaced the lighting in our warehouse with new energy efficient lighting
- we have significantly increased our organic range conscious of the benefits this brings to the planet
- we have taken an active part in Veganuary, highlighting the benefits of introducing plant-based meals to your diet and increasing the range of vegan friendly recipes on our website
- we have supported our parent charity, the Balmore Trust, as they have raised funds for the Briquette Project – led by women farmers in Malawi this is seeking to reduce deforestation and waste by creating fuel briquettes from rice husks
- we have launched new resources within our 90kg Rice Challenge packs to enable schools to teach about climate change with a real life example
- having researched the options, we are working on a project to move our Kilombero Rice into bags made from recyclable plastic in 2022
- we have initiated a strategic review of our waste streams aiming to further increase the percentage that we recycle
Join us as we continue to focus on putting people and planet first, playing our part in building an economic system which is socially-just and planet-friendly.
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We’re absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news: Ethical Consumer has extended its prestigious Best Buy status to the entire True Origin product range and Traidcraft Tea! This recognition previously applied only to our True Origin Kilombero rice, but now it covers all True Origin products — and our beloved Traidcraft Tea as well. This is a huge moment for us — and for everyone who chooses to shop with purpose. The Best Buy label is Ethical Consumer’s highest ethical rating, reserved for brands and products that go above and beyond in areas like environmental impact, workers’ rights, sustainability, and transparency. To receive this mark across our True Origin product range is a powerful endorsement of our ongoing commitment to fairness, justice, and sustainability in global trade – and of the way we do business here in the UK too. Ruairidh Fraser, researcher at Ethical Consumer, said “True Origin are clear ethical leaders in their field, so we're delighted to expand our Best Buy certification to cover all of their branded products. It’s rare to find a company of True Origin’s size which demonstrates such a comprehensive understanding of its social and environmental impact.” He continued “True Origin scored 100/100 for its approach to its supply chain, going above and beyond to ensure that workers’ rights are respected and their communities supported. From agriculture to food waste, they are rejecting greenwash and are instead focused on doing the right thing where it matters." From the fragrant Kilombero rice grown in the heart of Malawi to the rich, responsibly sourced Traidcraft Tea, from the fantastic relishes and spices from South Africa to the exotic Kenyan jams — every product in our portfolio stands for dignity, opportunity, and ethical excellence. We couldn’t have done it without our producer partners, staff and customers. Every time you choose True Origin or Traidcraft, you’re choosing a better world — and now you’ve got Ethical Consumer’s seal of approval to back that choice. 🛒 Explore the full Best Buy-approved range here . 📣 Spread the word and tag us when you share the news! Together, we’re changing trade for good. See Ethical Consumer Best Buy Label
Alistair has been a True Origin director since 2020, having spent most of his career within the food industry across a range of commercial, marketing and management roles. With 30 years in management and 25 working for food businesses including Divine and Traidcraft, he has brought a breadth of experience across several categories including hot beverages, snacks, chilled, frozen as well as enjoyable spells in confectionery and wines. Alistair has enjoyed working in fair-trade where every sale ensures fair prices and additional benefits to farming communities and has had the privilege of visiting several producer groups in Chile (vineyards and honey co-operatives), and Ghana (cocoa farmers as well as tropical fruits). “Since joining the board of True Origin in 2020 I’ve seen firsthand how resilient and adaptable the team are when faced with the challenges of global disruptions, ever changing market conditions, and the logistics of shipping products from east and southern Africa to Paisley. All this, to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and food manufacturers in the region. I am delighted to be continuing my journey with True Origin and look forward to building on the hard work that has gone before” Alistair Menzies.