One hundred percent Fair Trade Certified

Planet Bean coffee joined Transfair Canada in 1998 making it one of the first Certified Fair Trade coffee companies in Canada. Since that time we have been committed to only roasting and selling Certified Fair Trade coffee.

Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers in the global South. This definition was developed by FINE, a coalition of four major Fair Trade organizations.

At Planet Bean we add a few elements. We believe that Fair Trade should be focused on small producers, small farm families that have access to land. We also believe that fair trade should link producers and consumers in a meaningful way. We also believe that the ideas promoted by fair trade should not just be a condition for people to participate from the Global South, but should also be applied to organizations in the north. This is why Planet Bean is owned and operated by the Sumac Community Worker Co-operative.

For us, Fair Trade does not just mean a better price. A better price certainly improves the home economy of the farmer families we work with, but the power of Fair Trade lies in its ability to create social infrastructure and community initiatives. Producer groups, usually organized as co-operative, are making huge changes to their communities. Many co-ops have developed clean water programs, heath centres, schools, roads, credit unions, even new enterprises. These are the result of people getting together to build a better community and a better world. The power of co-operation is reflected in the remarkable stories of Cafe Femenino and the Oromia Coffee Farmers Union, two of Planet Bean's coffee suppliers.

Planet Bean is also committed to the certification work of Transfair Canada and the Fairtrade Labelling Organization (FLO).

To make sure the Fair Trade Standards are followed and producers are receiving the benefits, an independent system exists to monitor and certify each step in the production chain. FLO is the international umbrella organization that oversees the Fair Trade Certification system. FLO’s membership includes 20 labelling organizations from countries where Fair Trade Certified products are sold, and 3 international producer networks. FLO-CERT, the independent certification body affiliated to FLO, certifies the earlier stages in the production chain, and TransFair Canada monitors and certifies the product once it reaches Canada.

TransFair Canada is the only organization in Canada responsible for certifying Fair Trade Certified products, and the only Canadian member of FLO. Companies that want to sell Fair Trade Certified products become licensed by TransFair and must do financial reporting and receive audits to make sure all products being sold as Fair Trade Certified have indeed met the Standards. TransFair Canada also works with partner organizations (including NGOs, licensee companies, and community groups) to build the market for Fair Trade Certified products and raise awareness about Fair Trade Certified and Fair Trade issues.

The Fair Trade Certified system offers many benefits to producers, including:

• Creating sustainable livelihoods for rural families by offering higher and more stable revenue. This limits the rural exodus of farmers moving to often overcrowded cities, and allows rural farmers, including many Indigenous groups, to preserve their culture and agricultural practices.
• Increasing access to education and health services. More children are able to attend school full-time, and many producers are able to pursue university studies
• Community projects & infrastructure, including micro-credit programs, better factories and technology, etc.
• Greater environmental sustainability, including less chemicals put into the environment, more organic certification, and the protection of biodiversity, all of which contributes towards better health for farmers and workers
• Empowerment of producers and workers through the development of strong local organizations. Joined together in a cooperative or workers organization, producers can gain better knowledge of the market, increased bargaining power, access to training and technical support, a stronger ability to plan for the future and becoming actors in their own development.

Planet Bean is committed to working with our producers, our workers, our customers and our community to bring fairness into economic relationships everywhere.