The article provides wonderful pictures from the port of Hamburg. When you look behind this facade, in addition to the blue sky, there are also some grievances that could not be discussed in detail in the article, which we would like to mention here. Many currents converge in the port of Hamburg. This is where trading happens. The world’s largest warehouse complex, the Speicherstadt, also represents Hamburg’s colonial history and not just architecturally. Colonial continuities are still the foundation for a prosperous Hamburg. The trade orientations of business and politics do not sufficiently take into account the origin of the supply chains, so that those affected in the producing countries neither receive a living income nor a say. The exploitative structures continue to be largely served. The future EU supply chain law should change that. We can only hope that the new government quickly implements the law at the national level and does not override the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.
The Hamburg company el rojito shows a good example of how things can be done differently. Contrary to the exploitative and capitalist system, there is one here solidarity economy been practiced and lived for quite some time. This should actually be the standard when we buy coffee. Unfortunately, only every 6th cup out of 100 is fair trade. So there is room for improvement here.
In the article, viewers are shown various stations along the coffee retail chain, from the port of Hamburg, to the coffee roastery and the café of el rojito, to the World shop in Eimsbüttel. A brief insight into the coffee harvest from el rojito’s trading partners in Latin America is also provided. Christine Prießner, specialist promoter for fair trade and coordinator of the FTS, and Christoph Kleine, managing director of el rojito, talk about their personal commitment and topic close to their hearts – a fairer world. With their work they want to encourage rethinking and raise awareness. Christine in her role as a networker between various actors in society, Christoph as part of a company run in solidarity. Things can only become more solidarity and fair if the power imbalance is reduced and the beginning of the supply chain and thus the producers in the Global South don’t fall by the wayside. It is emphasized that the living conditions of farmers can be sustainably improved through fair, ecological production conditions and knowledge of their importance. This is the only way to do it all Those involved along the retail chain benefit.
The fair city map of the Fair Trade City of Hamburg offers orientation for those interested, in which shops, cafés and educational institutions depict the landscape of fair trade in Hamburg. With its help, customers can navigate easily through the city, e.g. B. to find a world shop nearby and find out about the origin of products. Through the transparency that fair trade ensures, consumption patterns can be changed sustainably.
Christoph Kleine: I agree with Christine. Another significant challenge is the competition from conventional trade practices that often overlook ethical standards. To overcome this, we should promote fair trade as not just a niche market but as a viable and necessary approach to sustainability in commerce. Increasing partnerships and collaborations among fair trade businesses can also amplify our collective impact and reach.
Editor: Welcome to our interview today! Could you please introduce yourselves and your respective roles in the fair trade movement?
Christoph Kleine: Christine Prießner: Good morning! My name is Christine Prießner, I work as a fair trade specialist promoter for the Fairtrade Towns & Schools competition in Hamburg. I am also a member of the Fairtrade City Network Steering Committee, which encompasses all Fairtrade organizations in Hamburg.
Christoph Kleine: My name is Christoph Kleine and I am the Managing Director of el rojito. el rojito is a fair trade coffee company based in Hamburg, Germany. We source our coffee directly from small-scale farmers and cooperatives in Latin America and sell it in our café and online shop.
Editor: Thank you for your introductions. Let’s dive into the topic of fair trade and its importance in the coffee industry. How did you both become involved in the fair trade movement?
Christine Prießner: My personal connection to fair trade began during my studies in development economics and social geography. I volunteered for a project in Nicaragua and saw firsthand the difficulties faced by small-scale farmers in accessing international markets. When I returned to Germany, I started working with Fairtrade Germany and haven’t looked back since.
Christoph Kleine: As a social scientist, I was always interested in alternative economic systems and fairer trade practices. I studied in Latin America and witnessed the injustices of the global coffee market. When I returned to Germany, a friend introduced me to el rojito, a company committed to selling fair trade coffee. I quickly became involved and have been part of the team for over 15 years.
Editor: Fair trade has been around for some time now. What do you think are the key challenges it faces today, and how can we overcome them?
Christine Prießner: One of the main challenges is the low level of awareness among consumers about fair trade and its impact on the lives of small-scale producers. We need to continue educating people about the importance of fair wages, environmental sustainability, and transparency in supply chains. Additionally, we must keep pressuring policymakers to implement legislation that supports fair trade practices and holds corporations accountable for
