Creating Fairer Trade ASEAN Forum Magazine Creating Fairer Trade October 11, 2015 ‘Creating Change Through Expanding Fair Trade. While fair trade has traditionally been associated with niche markets, the movement is growing, and small organisations in the Philippines and elsewhere are gradually breaking into the big league. BY JOANNA MAYHEW Fair trade’s goal is clear and simple: offering an alternative, and just, approach to trade in order to improve the livelihoods of workers, ranging from small-scale farmers to factory-based sewers – and everyone that fits in between.’ Review 07/11/2015 WFTO and Fairtrade International are two globally recognised leaders of the charge towards fairness. Fairtrade International is best known for its certification system designed for commodity products – and holds the well-known yellow and blue ying-yang logo – while WFTO adopts an organisational approach’ The article interviews Czarina Gragera, of CCAP which coordinates 25 community-based groups that employ about 800 workers, all based in the export sector. Its partnership with WFTO – since 1998 – has reaped huge benefits, as 90 percent of CCAP’s buyers belong to the network. But CCAP see a growing trend working with commercial buyers. The article also mentions the work of Bangladesh-based fair trade organisation Prokritee, the buyer The Body Shop, and Philippines- based BMPC. The article discusses the both challenge of Fair Trade such as price as well as the benefits: staff loyalty, the unique proposition of Fair Trade, reliable supply chains, and the link to the organic movement. Read the full article and comment on line http://aseanforum.asia/creating-fairer-trade/