LONDON BUSINESSES TO GO FAIR
KPMG aims to put Fairtrade on London FTSE 100 giants’ agendas
KPMG put the purchasing of Fairtrade products on FTSE 100 agendas by holding the first KPMG/Fairtrade Business Breakfast on Wednesday 26 September. The event was hosted by KPMG’s senior partner for London , Ian Barlow and attended by key FTSE 100 decision makers. The guest of honour was the Lord Mayor of London , Alderman John Stuttard who was joined by Fairtrade Foundation’s Harriet Lamb as a speaker.
Supporting the Fairtrade at Work Campaign , the event called on more big corporations to switch their purchasing policies in favour of Fairtrade products.
Recent research has found that there is an appetite for the adoption of Fairtrade products which is not currently being met by employers. A survey carried out by YouGov and commissioned by Fairtrade Foundation last year which coincided with the launch of the Fairtrade at Work Campaign revealed that only 17 per cent of UK workers say that their companies are currently serving Fairtrade products at work. But almost two out five workers (38%) say they think their company should make products carrying the Fairtrade mark more available to staff at work.
Ian Barlow, London Senior Partner at KPMG, said: “Adopting Fairtrade products is one straightforward way in which companies can make a social impact. KPMG spends £250,000 each year on Fairtrade products. If every large company did the same, it would have a huge impact. Some large companies already do buy Fairtrade but with this initiative we hope we can encourage more to follow suit and so make a significant collective difference. Fairtrade products are excellent quality and good value for money. Britain is the world’s second largest market for Fairtrade products and we are used to seeing them on supermarket shelves. Now we want more businesses to buy them as a matter of policy as well.”
London is aiming to become the first “ International Fairtrade City ”. There are currently 14 boroughs in London with the Fairtrade label. In order to become an official Fairtrade city, London needs 17.
The Fairtrade At Work Campaign was launched in June 2006 and aims to raise awareness and support for Fairtrade products in London by ensuring that all 7.4 million Londoners have the opportunity to buy Fairtrade products by encouraging shops, cafes, businesses, educational establishments and community organisations to sell or serve them.
KPMG adopted a Fairtrade products purchasing policy in 2003 which includes buying Fairtrade tea, coffee and wines for corporate hospitality and a wider range of Fairtrade products for employee consumption in staff shops/canteens. The firm has developed a close relationship with the Fairtrade Foundation and actively contributes to the London Faitrade Campaign through the GLA led steering group to make London the first international Fairtrade city.
In greeting KPMG's initiative, Alderman John Stuttard, Lord Mayor of the City of London said: "As the world's leading international finance centre, the City's prominence has been built on trade. Since the days of Magna Carta we have been free traders, now we wish to become fair traders as well. After all, responsible globalisation is all about bringing and giving access to international markets to an ever wider circle of producers. This is in everyone's best interest and we applaud KPMG's initiative.”
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, commented: “We’re delighted that KPMG has taken the initiative in hosting this Business Breakfast for FTSE 100 representatives. Issues of conscience are no longer leisure-time activities – people spend so much time at work, they want to know they and their companies are playing their part in the important challenges of our times. KPMG was among the very first companies to see Fairtrade as a key component of their CSR and procurement strategies. As one of the first companies in the City to engage with Fairtrade, they have exercised inspiring leadership in driving awareness with their staff, clients and partners, complementing the public campaigns of the Fairtrade Foundation. Now we hope their example will be replicated in more of the UK ’s top companies.”
For further information please contact:
Arti Mohan, Corporate Communications, KPMG in the UK
Tel: 020 7694 8735. Mobile : 07768 848 085. e-Mail: arti.mohan@kpmg.co.uk