PostedMay 12, 2022, 8:11 p.m.
Fairtrade Max Havelaar has published its 2021 annual results. For the first time, the consumption of fair trade products per inhabitant exceeded 100 francs in one year.
The 2021 turnover of the sector’s products was 925 million francs.
Patrick Gutenberg/Max Havelaar
A record was set in 2021 in the sale of Fairtrade products in Switzerland: “The turnover of the sector increased by 7.5% to 925 million francs”, announced Fairtrade Max Havelaar this Thursday by publishing its annual results. With per capita consumption of 107 francs in one year, “Switzerland is becoming the world champion of fair trade”, continues the foundation. “For the first time, per capita consumption has exceeded 100 francs in one year”, rejoices Kathrin Amacker, chairwoman of the board of the Fairtrade Max Havelaar foundation.
Not all products experienced the same progress. The one that has progressed the most in 2021 is chocolate. Next comes gold. “Gold, a relatively young Fairtrade product, shows a significant growth gain. This gain is due in particular to a significant increase in the participation of the Zurich Cantonal Bank (ZKB)”, continues Renato Isella, director of Fairtrade Max Havelaar. Biscuits, milk drinks, dried fruits, hazelnuts, rice and flowers also recorded significant growth.
Conversely, “the obligation to work from home as well as the closure of catering establishments have led to a significant drop in turnover in the catering sector”, recognizes Renato Isella. This has notably led to a drop in sales of coffee, juice and bakery products. Other products such as yogurts, sugar, spices and cotton products also recorded a drop in sales. “Despite this, the decline in coffee turnover was compensated by sales from retail and e-commerce,” concludes Fairtrade director Max Havelaar.
Selling products on Fairtrade terms allows “many farmers and workers in Africa, Asia and Latin America to benefit from guaranteed incomes and better working conditions,” the press release explains. “These successes should not hide the fact that certification alone is not always enough to address major challenges, including human rights due diligence and closing the gap between current incomes and subsistence income levels,” says Kathrin Amacker, Board Chair of the Fairtrade Max Havelaar Foundation.
As a result, Fairtrade Max Havelaar wants to strengthen its commitments in the future, “by offering additional services and projects in order to minimize risks, further increase wages and income, improve transparency and strengthen the impact of fair trade”.
(comm/aze)