Guernsey Electricity has become a Fairtrade Workplace by switching all of its refreshments for the 200 staff employed by the utility to certified Fairtrade as part of its focus on sustainability.
The change follows research undertaken by the company’s Environmental Initiative’s Group into the costs and benefits and will see the introduction of more sustainable items, including tea, coffee and sugar, over the next five years. Not only will the refreshment products support farmers and cooperatives in the global south but money will also be saved as the purchase costs are less than the current supplies.
Sally-Ann David, Chief Operating Office at Guernsey Electricity, said: “Environmental sustainability is at the core of our business so this small step makes good business sense for us. It also benefits these third-party suppliers and upholds our commitment to sustainable trade.
“To be Fairtrade certified, producers and traders need to meet strict criteria covering key areas of environmental protection. This is particularly appropriate for Guernsey Electricity as we are buying into standards that include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil and water quality, and biodiversity protection.”
Hannah Davis, the secretary of the Fairtrade Guernsey Steering Group, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Guernsey Electricity to the Fairtrade family.
“There are many reasons why switching to Fairtrade purchasing makes great commercial sense, as well as being the right thing to do: it is a clear demonstration of responsible business practice; it provides a feel-good factor for staff; and it offers great value for money, with certified products usually being of higher quality and – as demonstrated in this case – not always more expensive. Local businesses have always played an important role in Guernsey’s Fairtrade campaign, and we applaud Guernsey Electricity for leading by example in this way.”
Guernsey Electricity staff currently use approximately one hundred 750g tubs of coffee, 120kg of sugar and over 27,000 teabags a year. As part its commitment, the company will receive a certificate confirming it is a Fairtrade Workplace and has now been registered with the Fairtrade Foundation.
Fairtrade is a unique independent certification mark established over 25 years ago – widely recognised and trusted both by the public and by other sustainability frameworks, such as B Corp and ESI Monitor in Guernsey.
Producer organisations receive a minimum, stable price, set at a level that aims to cover the average costs of sustainably producing their crops. In addition, they are paid a Fairtrade Premium, an extra payment over and above the product price that goes into a communal fund for workers and farmers to use as they see fit to improve their social, economic and environmental conditions.
Mrs David added, “We are proud to become a Fairtrade Workplace and would encourage as many local businesses as possible to simply switch their supplies of tea, coffee and sugar to certified Fairtrade and help support a more sustainable world.”
“To illustrate how much we use and how it could benefit Fairtrade, if you lined up all of the teabags we consume each year side by side, it would extend to just over a mile, so once around the power station!”
The main picture shows Guernsey Electricity staff enjoying a morning cuppa after the company switches to Fairtrade products as part of its focus on sustainability.
