- Sainsbury’s launches new pilot project – Fairly Traded
London, 2017-May-26 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sainsbury’s has today (23 May 2017) launched an innovative pilot project – Fairly Traded – on key lines of bySainsbury’s tea. This new approach to sourcing will guarantee a minimum price and social premium while also, crucially, making farmers’ businesses more resilient against the mounting challenges of the 21st Century.
- Sainsbury’s unveils ambitious pilot – Fairly Traded – that will strengthen sustainability standards and secure future supply of the UK’s favourite product – the great British cuppa.
- Pilot marks new approach to sourcing, guaranteeing a minimum price and social premium – while also supporting farmers in the developing world to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
- Scheme will be underpinned by a new set of world-class Sustainability Standards and overseen by a new expert advisory board.
Fact Sheet: Sainsbury’s Sustainability Standards
Fact Sheet: Fairly Traded Pilot
Farmers and producers in the developing world are facing increasingly complex issues – from climate change, drought and diseases, to volatile prices, global competition and wider political instability. By guaranteeing a minimum price and a social premium, and enhancing this funding with long-term relationships, advanced data and individually-tailored practical advice, Fairly Traded aims to boost tea farmers’ resilience and ability to adapt to these challenges.
At the same time, the new sourcing model secures a sustainable supply chain of the UK’s favourite drink for the future.
Sainsbury’s Group Chief Executive, Mike Coupe said: “I’m immensely proud to be launching the Fairly Traded pilot today, alongside the new Sustainability Standards and advisory board. Ethical and sustainable sourcing are at the heart of our business and as the world changes we cannot stand still. That’s why this innovative pilot will build on our existing work and relationships and we’re aiming to deliver significant benefits for our farmers, our business and our customers.
“The business case is clear. Our farmers and growers can expect financial security through long-term relationships and a greater level of support to help them plan for their futures. At the same time we safeguard the future quality and availability of the great British cuppa for our customers.”
The Fairly Traded pilot project will be launched in conjunction with:
- A new advisory board, composed of experts who will lead sustainable sourcing work and develop the support projects, called the Sainsbury’s Foundation programmes, to support farmers and growers. Advisory board members will include independent specialists from charities, academics and NGOs and will be set-up and run by Sainsbury’s.
- A new Sainsbury’s Sustainability Standards programme across key crops and ingredients. Using farm data and modelling, the programme will provide a framework for farmers and producers to help advance understanding of their strengths and vulnerabilities, and to jointly develop responsive strategic action plans.
Mike Coupe, added: “We cannot ignore that the 21st Century presents complex problems for our suppliers. We most certainly don’t pretend to have all the answers – far from it –and that’s why this project is about testing and developing new approaches, collaborating with expert partners and listening to our farmers and producers – finding out what works, and what can be taken to scale and adopted to secure a sustainable supply chain that benefits both our suppliers and our customers.”
Austin Changazi, General Manager, Sukambizi Association Trust, Malawi (a Sainsbury’s tea producer), said, “We wholeheartedly welcome the idea of working with Sainsbury’s on the Fairly Traded initiative.”
Sainsbury’s Fairly Traded Red Label Tea will hit the shelves in stores across the country from June.
Contact:
press_office@sainsburys.co.uk
020 7695 7295
Source: Sainsbury
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