San Francisco, CA Maximizing Purchase of Fair Trade Certified Materials

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 7/12/05
Vote: Unanimous (with one absent)
Source File: http://www.sfenvironment.org/downloads/library/cofairtraderesolution53305.pdf
Text:
RESOLUTION NO. 533-05
Resolution Establishing City Policy of Maximizing Purchase of Fair Trade Certified Materials when Procuring Necessary Goods for the City
WHEREAS, the City and County of San Francisco annually spends hundreds of
thousands of dollars purchasing food, apparel and other goods; and,
WHEREAS, San Francisco has a long history of supporting fair wages and safe and
humane working conditions for employees of those entities providing services or selling
products to the City; and,
WHEREAS, the City must be cognizant of the comprehensive labor conditions that may
be supported by its actions as a major market participant, including fair wages, sustainable
production practices and a work environment free from toxins; and
WHEREAS, the City has recently established an ordinance sponsored by Supervisor
Maxell entitled the Precautionary Purchasing Ordinance (file number 050595, introduced April,
2005) that requires the City to purchase products that protect human health and the
environment; and
WHEREAS, “Fair Trade” certification is an innovative market-based system that
encourages fair labor practices and a healthy and safe work environment by identifying food
and beverage products that generate fair economic benefit to the producers of these
products—often farmers in less developed countries; and
WHEREAS, sale of Fair Trade certified goods helps these small producers in
developing countries gain direct access to international markets in order to increase living
standards, economic independence, and encourage sustainable farming practices, and
WHEREAS, Fair Trade Certified products are widely available and competitively priced
in the United States, available through over 300 providers of food products including those that
provide coffee, tea, chocolate and fresh fruit; and,
WHEREAS, The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a Resolution proclaiming
May 8, 2005 as Fair Trade Day in support of a global economic system based in fair trade,
corporate responsibility, and socially responsible investment; therefore be it
RESOLVED, the City and County of San Francisco establishes a policy to maximize
purchase of Fair Trade Certified products in the process of procuring necessary goods for the
city, when such products are available and comparably priced to non-certified materials; and,
be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Department of Environment is requested to investigate
current purchasing options for Fair Trade Certified goods and issue recommendations by
December, 2005 that identify how the city can maximize purchase of competitively priced Fair
Trade Certified coffee, tea, chocolate and other products and potentially compel city
contractors to provide such goods; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, based on these recommendations, the city will implement a
process to maximize purchase of Fair Trade Certified goods, possibly through the procurement
process established in the Precautionary Purchasing Ordinance or through a separate
ordinance if appropriate.
Category:California
Category:City-County Governments
Category:Fair Trade
Category:Resolutions
Category:San Francisco