The press has been full of the most amazing reports which say that Nestlé and Fairtrade have been talking together about chocolate! Not just any chocolate, but Kit Kat itself, the number one chocolate bar! Wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing, Fairtrade and therefore traffik free chocolate in all the vending machines, in the corner shops, in the supermarkets – not just Cadbury Dairy Milk, but also Kit Kat! It would be a huge step forward.
Of course, talking isn’t quite the same as doing. It is encouraging, but what we really want to know is… when will we see the first fairtrade Nestlé chocolate?
Now is the time to send a message to Nestlé that fairtrade is what we want, as it is a way towards ending trafficking in Ivory Coast. It is a way for children to be free to go to school, and to have hope for the future.
We would like everyone supporting STOP THE TRAFFIK to help us by sending a tweet. You can do this, by going to your twitter account (or setting one up if you don’t have one) and tweeting this message
Press saying Nestlé are talking to Fairtrade. When will we get our first ethical Nestlé chocolate? Tell us Nestlé!
This will be good news for farmers in the scheme, if it is properly and independently audited, but those outside the scheme will still be subject to Nestlé’s bad business practices.
Remember, Nestlé made a national campaign in the UK of Fairtrade certification for its Partners’ Blend coffee, involving just 0.1% of the coffee farmers dependent on it. Nestlé has been accused of driving down prices for the millions of farmers outside the scheme, sometimes below the cost of production.
Nestlé KitKat will remain on the list of products to boycott over its aggressive marketing of baby milk, whether it is Fairtrade marked or not. We recommend that people concerned about promoting real change for people in developing countries support the boycott and buy their products from companies with positive business values, not just token initiatives. There are companies whose entire output is Fairtrade certified after all.
Nestlé systematically violates baby food marketing standards, undermining breastfeeding and contributing to the needless death and suffering of babies around the world. This is why it is one of the four most boycotted companies on the planet – the changes we have been able to force on Nestlé are because of the boycott and it will continue until Nestlé brings its policies and practices into line with international standards.
which companies do you know of who’s ‘entire output is Fairtrade certified’? do you mean Co-op. I usually buy my fairtrade sugar, bananas, tea, coffee & chocolate from them, but haven’t been able to find any large tins of chocolate sweets in tins to give as gifts – for example to the nurses at the hospital where my daughter is being treated. so I reluctantly bought cadburys ‘Heroes’ because of their ‘token gesture’ dairy milk bar, thinking well they were pressured to start somewhere and Rome wasn’t built in a day. we must keep the pressure on and where ever possible buy the fairly traded produce.
Divine chocolate for one.
http://www.divinechocolate.com/
It is not only 100% Fairtrade, the farmers own 45% of it.
A Fairtrade marked product does mean the suppliers of ingredients have been treated more fairly (though there are still concerns that the bulk of the money goes to the processor, and trade rules prevent producers in developing countries accessing industrialised countries with finished products).
But a company like Nestlé could have a far more significant impact by delivering on its promises to the Horkins-Engel Protocol for ending child slavery in its cocoa supply chain, changing its trading practices for cocoa, coffee, milk etc. which are blamed for forcing farmers into poverty and abiding by the international marketing standards for baby milk.
The boycott forces Nestlé to make changes and will continue, with Fairtrade KitKat on the boycott list for those who wish to avoid all Nestlé products.
I’m delighted that 4 finger Kit Kats will be FAIRTRADE in the UK from January 2010.
But WHY only 4 fingered kit kats and why only in the UK?
I understand that it’s hard to make all products traffik free overnight but I hope this is not just a token gesture. I’d like to enjoy all chocolate without the bitter aftertaste.
I would like every bar in every shop to be traffik free!
Please continue the good work.
When will Nestle’s Milky Bar be fairtrade? I’ve nearly forgotten how good they taste.
Come on Nestle, you know it makes good business sense to clean up your image! The Jedi are watching.
May the Force Guide You
Jedi Richard Strange
The Jedi are watching. Fantastic. Bit creepy but fantastic!