MEDIA RELEASE 16 October 2009

On the eve of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ) today urged big business to continue the fight against poverty through simple every day changes such as choosing Fairtrade.

FTAANZ Operations Manager Cameron Neil called on businesses across the country to make the change and be part of making poverty history for the almost 2 billion people globally for whom that is reality daily.

“Simple changes in the workplace, such as switching to Fairtrade Certified tea and coffee in the staffroom, can make a huge difference to the everyday lives of developing country farmers and their families,” Mr Neil said.

“Not only does it mean these farmers can grow and develop their business but they can send their kids to school, build roads and ensure access to better health care in their communities,” he said.

As part of Anti-Poverty Week, FTAANZ awarded Fair Trade Workplace status to National Australia Bank (NAB) following the Bank’s switch across all its offices and branches to Fairtrade Certified coffee and tea, and its commitment to promote fair trade to its staff and customers.

“To be awarded Fair Trade Workplace status a company must have a number of key criteria in place including Fairtrade procurement policies,” Mr Neil said.

“NAB has met these criteria, and now staff across the country can enjoy their morning coffee and tea in the knowledge that each cup is helping build a better future for the Fairtrade farmers who grew it,” he said.

Mr Neil said with 800 workplaces across the country NAB’s commitment made it Australia’s largest Fair Trade workplace so far.

NAB Group Executive Group Business Services Gavin Slater said NAB's nationwide switch to Fairtrade coffee and tea reflected the Bank’s broader commitment to sustainability.

"Supporting Fairtrade tea and coffee will provide improved working conditions, stability and trading potential to disadvantaged communities and also give our people a reason to be proud,” Mr Slater said.

"Since making the switch to Fairtrade we have been inundated with positive feedback from our people and I encourage other businesses to take this small step to help support a more sustainable future," he said.

Using business procurement company Corporate Express, NAB now offers instant ground coffee from Jasper Coffee as well as Scarborough Fair black and green teas in all workplace staffrooms and canteens.

As one of the many other Fair Trade Workplaces around Australia, Corporate Express is playing a leading role in assisting Australian businesses, workplaces and local councils to achieve Fair Trade Workplace status by offering an extensive range of Fairtrade Certified products.

Corporate Express Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Jennifer Williams said the company offers a range of Fairtrade Certified coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sugar and cotton products available through its catalogues and promotional marketing products.

“Corporate Express is proud to be a Fair Trade Workplace and to be taking an active part in the fight against poverty by helping other businesses and organisations across Australia to do the same when it comes to ordering products for their workplaces,” Ms Williams said.

Mr Neil said he looked forward to other Australian businesses taking the lead from Corporate Express and NAB.

“NAB has really set a benchmark for big business across the country to take its lead and help make a significant contribution to fight against poverty,” he said.

“Making the switch to Fairtrade for your tearoom supplies, choosing Fairtrade cotton business shirts for your staff uniforms, making sure your work sports teams only use Fairtrade sports balls – each of these are small steps Australian companies can take but ones that make a big difference in the fight to make poverty history,” Mr Neil said.

For more information on how Fairtrade is helping tackle poverty for developing country farmers and their families, download a copy of the “Tackling Poverty Through Trade” Report from www.fairtrade.com.au/Producersandimpacts