17.10.05

This is a joke of a website and sadly it is not a hoax but it is real!

The reason I found this was because I sent the following email:
Dear Hilary Parsons,
With reference to the Partner's Blend coffee product, I welcome Nestle's commitment to ensuring that ''farmers in the developing world not only receive a fair price for their coffee, but that their sources of income are developed to support their families into the future in a manner that respects their lands and communities.'' I support Nestle's decision to work with the Fairtrade Foundation in order to ensure that a percentage of the producers with whom it works are receiving a fair deal.

However, in order for this step to be viewed as a genuine commitment to Fairtrade principles, it is essential that Nestle now moves towards ensuring that the rest of its products comply with Fairtrade standards.. Having guaranteed a certain (and extremely small) percentage of the producers with whom Nestle works a fair and stable price, social premium payment, pre-financing if requested, long-term trading relationships, and the right to democratic organisation, I strongly urge the company to extend this commitment those not involved in Partners Blend, in order to prove a sincere commitment to Fairtrade principles and standards. Undergoing the independent auditing required by the Fairtrade accreditation process will also prove Nestle's commitment to transparency in their practices.

Finally, despite the fact that Nestle have launched a Fairtrade product, I will be continuing my boycott of the company due to what I regard as its unethical practices in other areas, most notably the marketing of baby milk. I strongly urge Nestle to ensure that its practices in all areas meet basic human rights standards in order to prove that the launch of a Fairtrade product is not merely a marketing device but a sign of a genuine commitment to human and workers rights.

from which I got the following reply:
Dear Ms Lesley
Thank you very much for your email about Nescafe Partners Blend. I was pleased to read that you welcome this step and support our decision to work with the Fairtrade Foundation.

We are approaching this very seriously and are committed to working with our partners and Fairtrade to extend the market for their beans.

Nestlé has been collaborating directly with coffee farmers for over 30 years when the first Nestlé agronomist gave technical advice. We also have a large direct purchasing scheme which operates in seven coffee producing countries and which enables farmers to retain more of the value of their coffee.

This has evolved into a sustainable approach, which is now reflected in Partners' Blend. This involves working with our farmer suppliers in El Salvador and Ethiopia to ensure that not only do they receive a fair price but also that their sources of income are developed to support their families into the future in a manner that respects their lands and communities over the long term.

Nestlé recognises that Fairtrade has a useful role to play in helping smallholder producers cope in today's global economy. By joining forces we believe that we will help make a sustainable difference to our partner farmers.

The model we have developed for Partners Blend is based on working with some of the smallest farmers to ensure they improve their incomes through having sustainable businesses. However we recognise that stability of income is needed to help them address immediate issues as well as plan for the future.

I note that you also express concern about the baby milk issue and would refer you to the following website www.babymilk.nestle.com where full information is available which I hope will reassure you.

Thank you once again for getting in touch.
Yours sincerely
Hilary Parsons
Head of Corporate Affairs
Nestle UK Ltd

posted by Amy @ 15:45

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