Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO)

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive - #CSRD offers a crucial opportunity to improve accountability in the textile industry, which has long been linked to human rights violations and environmental damage. By requiring companies to report on their purchasing practices, comply with international labour conventions and report the living wages and living income of their workforce, we can significantly improve workers' conditions and uphold human rights standards throughout the supply chain. ✍️ FTAO's latest article delves into the Directive's obligations, our work to ensure adequate and sector-specific reporting standards and how this can be key to ensuring a fair textile sector. Read the full article on our website ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eyQYdZrp

In 2019, the European Union passed the Directive on unfair trading practices (UTP) to protect suppliers in the agricultural and food supply chain from abusive practices by buyers and retailers. While this legislation was a significant step towards fairer business relationships, its impact on EU and global suppliers has yet to be fully materialised. At the FTAO we have been carrying out research on the directive – due to be published in the coming weeks - which reveals worrying gaps in its implementation and enforcement outside of the EU. However, it is encouraging to see that fair remuneration for farmers and prohibiting selling below the cost of production among the European Commission’s priorities for 2024-2029.🌾 🗣️ As the European Commission prepares to evaluate the Directive on unfair trading practices at the end of 2025, the upcoming hearings of the Commissioners-designate offer a vital opportunity to address these pressing issues. We encourage MEPs to inquire about the plans of the nominee to head the agriculture portfolio, Christophe Hansen, for this evaluation and to ensure that the new Commission delivers on its promises on unfair trading practices, such as the commitment to ban selling below production costs and to facilitate the complaint processes for both EU and non-EU suppliers. The EU’s UTP Directive will only be effective in protecting suppliers in the agricultural and food supply chain if it is fully implemented, enforced, and continuously evaluated to address the evolving challenges faced by all suppliers, including those from non-EU countries. That is why the evaluation must: 🔹 Assess how well non-EU suppliers benefit from the directive, particularly in accessing legal information and complaint tools, and propose solutions where gaps are found. 🔹Identify unfair trading practices not currently addressed by the Directive such as purchasing below the cost of production. For more information, check out the comprehensive guide we developed at the FTAO on the transposition, implementation and timeline of the UTP Directive: https://lnkd.in/eUUQkUPB

🧵 Global fibre production has more than doubled since 2000. Meanwhile, the EU generates 12.6 million tons of textile waste annually, much of which is exported, posing significant environmental and social challenges for recipient countries. This overproduction is driven by harmful purchasing practices imposed on suppliers, perpetuating the exploitation of workers, producers and farmers—all masked by misleading greenwashing and pervasive marketing tactics. Although the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, adopted in 2022, marked a significant step toward greater accountability in the sector, it fell short in ambition. To make sure that by the end of the term, all Europeans can #TraceOurClothes, together with Changing Markets Foundation, Clean Clothes Campaign, ECOS, industriAll Europe, European Environmental Bureau, Fashion Revolution and RREUSE - Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises, we are calling for stronger commitments for the 2024-2029 EU legislature, focusing on three key pillars: 🔹♻️ What’s in my clothes – The EU must tackle overproduction, clean up harmful practices and power our supply chains with renewable energy. 🔹🔎 Who made my clothes – The EU must Ensure transparency and traceability in supply chains, protect workers, producers and farmers and push for trade mechanisms that support sustainable practices. 🔹🚫 How my clothes are sold – The EU must end green and social washing and promote honest messaging about our clothing. The EU's textile sector is at a crossroads, and it's time for bold action! 📣🌱🌍 Read our joint policy recommendations on our website: https://lnkd.in/eJjCQ-sw

Do you want to trace your clothes back to their origins and understand the social and environmental conditions under which they were made? 🌱🧵 The EU is currently deciding on new textile labeling rules, and the European Commission needs to see that citizens value transparency. Please take two minutes to fill out this survey by Sunday, October 27th, and let the EU know what you want to see on your clothing labels! https://lnkd.in/giQ6C9Px

We are truly inspired to witness the impact of the #WholeSchoolFoodApproach in the Czech Republic and beyond. We are proud to be part of #SchoolFood4Change and to help establish a sustainable food culture in and around schools. 👏 A big shoutout to the organisers for bringing together such a wonderful crowd! If you want all children in Europe to have access to free and healthy school meals, please sign the petition below. ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eWDTeWnP

The European Commission's recent proposal to delay the application of the EU Deforestation Regulation #EUDR, should not be used to introduce new amendments to the regulation. ❌ While the proposed one-year extension of the transition period aims to address varying readiness levels among international partners and EU stakeholders, we must ensure this opportunity is used to support vulnerable supply-chain actors, especially smallholder farmers, in adapting to EUDR requirements. The FTAO remains firmly behind the implementation of this unique legislation as one of the most precious remnants of the #EuropeanGreenDeal. However, the success of the initiative depends on smallholders having the necessary financial support to meet its strict requirements. The momentum generated by various actors preparing for EUDR implementation must be capitalised on. Companies and partners on the ground are already investing in traceability and transparency, and we need to ensure these efforts continue. ✍️ Read FTAO’s full statement: https://lnkd.in/ecMwThqt

October 17 marks the International Day to #EndPoverty. Today, we raise awareness of the link between unfair trading practices and the perpetuation of poverty among smallholder farmers and agricultural workers, who bear the brunt of unfair trade practices and trade structures. ⚖ 🌏 👩🏾🌾👨🌾 Despite being a key part of our food systems, many smallholder farmers live below the poverty line and often lack access to basic services such as housing, health and education. Recognising both the right to a living income and the right to a living wage as human rights is essential to ensuring farming communities have the opportunity to prosper and live in dignity. Eradicating poverty requires addressing the root causes of the inequalities and imbalances that perpetuate it. It is time for the EU to ensure fair living income and wages for farmers and agricultural workers who feed EU citizens, including those from partner countries who are an essential part of our food system.

FTAO welcomes two new board members 👏 As of 1 July 2024, the FTAO welcomed Magdalena Śliwińska and Prasanna Kumar G N as new Board members. They are succeeding Madeline Muga and Peter Van Dam. The FTAO warmly thanks the engagement and commitment of Madeline and Peter and their valuable contributions to our work! ➡ An overview of the new constellation of the FTAO board can be found here: https://lnkd.in/g7qasy_V The FTAO is looking forward to the future collaboration! 🌱 Find the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g2w2ZjuM

🚨 🚨 🚨 New Report! “Toxic Double Standards : how Europe sells products deemed too dangerous for Europeans to the rest of the world” 🔎 Did you know that highly hazardous pesticides, unsafe toys, polluting single-use plastics, and other goods banned in the EU are still being produced to export abroad ? Several pieces of EU legislation, including those banning some products because of their impacts on public health, human rights and the environment, do not apply when the goods produced in the EU are meant to be used or consumed in non-EU countries! In this new report, 117 NGOs - including Veblen Institute for Economic Reforms Greenpeace Amnesty International Child Rights International Network - CRIN Eurogroup for Animals Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) European Environmental Bureau Public Eye SOLIDAR & SOLIDAR Foundation Friends of the Earth Europe -  call on the EU to end this double standard which allows companies in the EU to export products to other parts of the world even when those products have been banned in Europe for safety reasons. 👉🏾 The EU has the means to adopt a horizontal legislation to put an end to these toxic exports. The signatories urge the new European Commission to take up this issue without delay! #NoMoreDoubleStandards 👉🏾 Read the full report here https://lnkd.in/e746RMCB

Happening now! ✨ 👥 Our second consortium meeting is currently being held at KU Leuven in Belgium, to discuss all our developments and the next steps for our #innovative project. Await our upcoming, fascinating updates! 💡 #CUES #Horizoneurope #FutureOfFood #Sustainable_Food_Systems #Sustainability #Innovation #Consumers #Eating #TripleChange #Farm2Fork Erasmus University Rotterdam | Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) | University Hospital Heidelberg (UKHD) | KU Leuven | Wageningen University & Research | Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) | University of Valencia | Kisléptékű Termékelőállítók és Szolgáltatók Országos Érdekképviseletének Egyesülete | Faculty of Economics & Business Zagreb | Tecnoalimenti S.C.p.A. | European Football for Development Network | Opendot | Loki Foods | Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome | Future Intelligence Ltd | Tudatos Vásárlók Egyesülete (TVE) | Q-PLAN INTERNATIONAL | KEPKA -Consumers Protection Center| ICLEI Europe | ASUFIN | Eindhoven University of Technology | EIT Food