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Jane Hudson – Israel’s Concrete Connections With Fair Trade
As a highly developed and populous country, Israel enjoys a level of variety in its consumption on par with the biggest economies in the world. Hand in hand with this consumption has been a commitment to giving a fair deal, and Israel has been noted as a strong supporter of fair trade ever since the launch of a national association in 2014. Given the sometimes difficult nature of procuring kosher goods of all types, this is encouraging and indicative of the attitude of Israelis as to the importance of ethical consumerism. Today, many of the most popular products in Israel offer a good deal to consumers.
The coffee trade
Coffee is one of Israel’s most popular drinks. The geographical and political history of the country means that the full range of coffee drinks are enjoyed within the nation, from Italian-style espresso through to Arabic and Turkic coffee variants. Coffee, however, has not always had an illustrious past; a 2017 study reported by Phys.org noted that Ugandan children were being denied an education in favor of coffee production. Furthermore, industry standards like Fair Trade have not always been associated with genuinely positive fair deals, and, to boot, the products involved have been sub-standard. As an alternative, numerous small growers have secured both fair trade and kosher standards in order to provide alternatives to Fair Trade for the Israeli market, with the resulting product often better quality than Fair Trade certified produce or the alternative. SID-Israel highlight Deans Beans as one example.
The clothing industry
According to the HRW, the international clothing industry is facing a serious challenge with regards to the ethics of clothes production. Some of the biggest brands in the world rely on the low cost of labor in countries like Bangladesh in order to continue promoting and selling their apparel. While these clothing companies operate in Israel, a strong counter-movement of equitable clothes purchasing has emerged that provides a fair deal while also keeping prices down. According to Israel21c, one noted platform created by students has provided a way for clothes to be bought in an ethical nature, and has reached significant popularity.
Helping marginalized communities
This pattern of pro-ethical consumerism not only benefits the world, but Israel, too. According to the World Fair Trade Organization, there are large sections of Israeli society that are deprived of working skills and so do not have the same job prospects that they would be afforded if not. Through purchasing WFTO certified products, the idea is that these people are given a platform upon which to develop themselves and help to contribute to society, in the process becoming more stable in their own private lives.
All over Israel, the patterns of consumers and the demands being placed on retail markets indicate that there is a real desire for ethical, equitable trade. This has been to the benefit of schemes across the world, including in food, clothing, and now, within Israel itself. As consumers become more aware of their responsibility, expect to see greater levels of manufacturing go towards ethical ends.
