Bewley's pledges to only use fair-trade coffee by year end
Coffee brewers Bewley's say they aim to switch to 100% fairly-traded coffee by the end of 2017.
The company is one of several retailers promoting Fairtrade Fortnight, which starts today.
Tomorrow is day one of the annual Fairtrade Fortnight, in association with @Fairtrade_ie ! #Fairtrade pic.twitter.com/YupMq4BZ4u
— Bewley's Ireland (@BewleysIreland) February 26, 2017
Sales of Fairtrade produce across Ireland increased by 9% last year.
Peter Gaynor, head of Fairtrade Ireland, wants consumers and suppliers to do more to seek out ethically-traded products.
"It's good news that it's growing, it's not grown quick enough," he said.
"All of us could do a lot more in terms of our purchasing habits and I think we need to make the effort to go and look for the products, to ask for the products when they're not available, and to ask the retailers why they don't take more responsibility themselves for making this thing happen to a greater extent so more people in developing countries can benefit from better terms of trade."
The move to 100% Fairtrade wais described by Mark Saunders, Brand Director of Bewley’s, as the company’s commitment to high quality for the consumer and a fair deal for the producer.
He added: “With Fairtrade you have the power in your pocket to change the world every day.
“Fairtrade is the only certification that guarantees a minimum price to farmers and an additional premium for social development projects in coffee producing communities.
“Having pioneered Fairtrade in Ireland for over 20 years, we’re very proud to continue this commitment and what better time to by bringing all of our branded fresh coffee products under the Fairtrade banner.”
