The Brussels Development Briefing no. 44 on “Promoting responsible and sustainable sourcing through Fair Trade” took place on 22 June 2016 from 9:00 to 13:00, at the ACP Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium. This Briefings was co-organised by CTA, the European Commission / DEVCO, the ACP Secretariat, CONCORD and the Fair Trade Advocacy Office.

1. Promoting responsible value chains and
sustainable sourcing through Fair Trade:
A Consumer Co-operative’s Standpoint
Promoting responsible value chains and sustainable sourcing through Fair Trade – 22.06.2016
European Community of Consumer Co-operatives
Rosita Zilli
Deputy Secretary-General
rzilli@eurocoop.coop

2. General Facts
 European association of consumer co-operatives
 Members: national consumer co-operative
organizations in 19 countries
 Members’ main activity: retail
General Numbers
 5,000 local consumer co-operatives
 500,000 employees
 36,000 points of sale
 32 million consumer- members
 > € 76 billion annual retail turnover
Overview of Euro Coop
Promoting responsible value chains and sustainable sourcing through Fair Trade – 22.06.2016

3.  Represent the members before the
EU Institutions
 Exchange of experiences, best
practices, know-how
 Providing information on key policy
issues
Main goals
www.eurocoop.coop
Promoting responsible value chains and sustainable sourcing through Fair Trade – 22.06.2016

4. Different entrepreneurial
model based on
values and principles
The Co-operative Difference (I)
VALUES →
Promoting responsible value chains and sustainable sourcing through Fair Trade – 22.06.2016

5. The Co-operative Difference (II)
PRINCIPLES:
1. Voluntary and Open Membership
2. Democratic Member Control
3. Member Economic Participation
4. Autonomy and Independence
5. Education, Training and Information
6. Co-operation among Co-operatives
7. Concern for Community
Promoting responsible value chains and sustainable sourcing through Fair Trade – 22.06.2016

6. Co-operatives and Sustainability
 Because of their specific
entrepeneurial form based on values
and principles co-operatives are
generally considered as
inherently sustainable businesses
 The concept of sustainability is rooted in the one of sustainable develpment,
which we intend as indicated by the United Nations
“A mode of human development in which resource use aims to meet human
needs while ensuring the sustainability of natural systems and the environment,
so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations
to come”
(Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development."
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 42/187, 11 December 1987)

7. Responsible value chains &
Sustainable sourcing through FT – Why?
 Obliged option because of the
co-operative nature
 Way to respond to consumers’ needs,
expectations
 Fair Trade but not only, e.g. fair supply chains in Southern Italy for oranges and
tomatoes
 Way to address global challenges in an economically sound way
(e.g. climate change/poverty)
 Chance to show more transparency to general public, NGOs, regulatory
environment

8. Responsible value chains &
Sustainable sourcing through FT – How? (1/2)
 Strenghtening relationships
w/ co-operatives in the South of the World
 Creating long-lasting working relationships
 Promoting goods that take environmental,
social aspects into specific consideration also
via public procurement
 Key role of own brands

9. Responsible value chains &
Sustainable sourcing through FT – How? (2/2)
 Consumer-members information,
training, education
 Increase availability/accessibility
of sustainably sourced goods
 Make the “right” option (e.g. local, seasonal, Fair Trade etc.) the
“easiest” option
 Further co-operation and mutual understanding along the food
supply chain

10. Some good examples (1/3)
The Co-operative Group (UK)
 UK’s largest convenience seller of
Fairtrade products
 Worldwide first own brand product with
Fairtrade mark: sugar, tea, hot chocolate,
roses, cotton wool
 « Beyond fairtrade » programme supports farmers, co-operatives and producer
associations in ACP countries
 Since 2009, 250000+ people benefitted from 16 projects
 Fairtrade hub – Growing stories

11. Some good examples (2/3)
Coop Italia (IT)
 First IT retailer to sell FT products in 1995 (coffee)
 2003: creation of the own brand
« Solidal » line
 2015: « Solidal » turnover =
35 million €
 Special focus during
« EXPO Milan 2015 »
with the meetings:
« Travelling around food »

12. Some good examples (3/3)
Coop Denmark (DK)
 Several FT branded products
 Coops Africa initiative → Focus on increased trade with
African countries to strengthen
their production, competitiveness (« The Best of Africa »)
 Own brand line « Savannah » Coop suppliers
abide by strict rules defending human and labour rights;
cooperate with independent auditing
Coop Norway (NO)
 Café Futuro → FT own brand coffee sourced from 2001 from the Guatemalan Coop
« Fedecocagua”
 Mix 3% Café Futuro in standard own-brand coffee to increase use volumes

13. Thank you for your attention!
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