Its been a glorious weekend here in Newcastle, unlike last year it really looks like we are going to have a barbeque summer! But is there a way to have a lovely barbeque and not feel guilty about the working conditions of the charcoal producers, well guess what there is.
Traidcraft & The Co-Op have teamed up to offer Fairly Traded instant barbeques, using FSC certified charcoal from Namibia, which has been produced from bushes and trees such as the acacia tree which is essentially a weed growing on farmland. By removing these trees the land can be used for agriculture, and the wood is baked in portable kilns, provided to the producers at no cost, and converted into charcoal.
This means that around 2000 producers, have got contracts, access to healthcare and education and are paid three times the national minimum wage in Namibia, and of course with the added Fairtrade premium the rest of the community will benefit.
Now in all fairness I must point out that these products don’t actually carry the Fairtrade mark, but this is because the Fairtrade Foundation and the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation have still to set standards for certifying charcoal. But given that this is Traidcraft and the Co-Op we are talking about, I think we can trust them.
Anyway you can pick these barbeques up as a three pack directly from Traidcraft for £7.99 or buy two for £4.00 from selected Co-Op food stores, go ahead, its well worth that little bit extra money, and you won’t feel guilty when you chomp on some burgers!
