Yeo Valley signs up to Ethical Trade

09 March 2012

Yeo Valley, the UK’s biggest organic brand, is the latest addition to the Soil Association’s Ethical Trade scheme. This means that all the milk used for Yeo Valley products – yoghurt, butter, cheese and milk – is now certified to Soil Association Ethical Trade standards. Following a major rebrand, their new packaging – which includes the Ethical Trade logo - went on sale this week. [1]

The Soil Association Ethical Trade symbol can be found on organic products which have met, and been independently certified to, high ethical standards across the whole supply chain from field to finished product. The standards cover trading relationships, employment conditions and social & cultural contributions. [2]

Soil Association Ethical Trade standards are an added extra to the Soil Association’s existing organic standards. Organic businesses certified to the scheme can use the symbol to help demonstrate to consumers that they have gone the extra mile. The standards were launched in 2008 following long standing calls to create a ‘fair trading’ scheme for organic farmers, in both the UK and abroad. [3]

There is clearly an appetite for fairer trading among the public as figures from the Co-operative’s latest Ethical Consumerism Report show - sales of Fairtrade food increased by 36% in 2011 and overall spend on ethical food and drink was up 5%. [4]

Sarah Compson, Soil Association Ethical Trade project manager, said:
“One of the Soil Association’s driving aims is to ensure that good food is available to everyone in society. For us good food is not just organically grown, minimally processed, fresh and seasonal, but it is also produced fairly – fairness being one of the four principles of organic agriculture as outlined by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.”

Tim Mead, Yeo Valley managing director, said:
“We’re proud to display the Soil Associations Ethical Trade logo as we’ve always strived to do the right thing and this logo shows consumers that we’re recognised for doing just that.  While 95% of gaining the certification was simply demonstrating how we have worked for years, meeting the standards led to us refining the way we do some things.  As far as we’re concerned, meeting the standards endorses our objective of doing the right thing and, crucially, helps us tell our customers why they should choose our products.”

Ends

For press enquiries contact the Soil Association press office:
Clio Turton, press office manager - 0117 914 2448 / 07795 562 556
Josh Stride, press & e-communications officer – 0117 314 5170 / 07717 802 183
press@soilassociation.org

Notes to editor:

[1] Read more on the Soil Association Ethical Trade webpage - www.soilassociation.org/ethicaltrade

[2] What are the Ethical Trade Standards?
Our Ethical Trade standards apply to the whole supply chain and cover every step from field to finished product. The standards cover three main areas:

• Fair trading relationships: to ensure that trade negotiations are open and transparent, with long-term commitments in place and a fair price agreed.
• Fair employment conditions: this ensures that everyone involved in making the product has good working conditions and a fair wage.
• Social and cultural contributions: businesses are asked to demonstrate what they are doing in the wider community. It might be anything from getting school children onto their farms, to sponsoring local events.

[3] The following businesses are also signed up to the scheme:

Calon Wen milk cooperative
Calon Wen is a group of 25 organic family farms across Wales.  Roger Kerr, director at Calon Wen, agrees that the standards help give customers confidence in what they’re buying:
“We really believe that there has to be a fair return for everyone in the supply chain. As a small company, Ethical Trade underwrites this belief by independently endorsing our ethical position and clearly explaining it to customers – all of which we would find very difficult to do without it.”
www.calonwen-cymru.com

Doves Farm, organic and gluten free flour specialists
Doves Farm make organic and gluten free products including bread flours, biscuits, cookies, cereal bars, breakfast cereals, pasta & baking requisites. Michael Marriage, Doves Farm founder and managing director, is enthusiastic about helping to pioneer the scheme:
“I have always held a strong belief that an ethical approach to trade is essential, so I would urge other farmers and food companies to join this great scheme, akin to Fairtrade for the UK, as it gives visible recognition to the good practices that many are already engaged in.”
www.dovesfarm.co.uk

[4] If you want to support fairer, ethical trade in the UK you can:

• look out for the Ethical Trade symbol on products
• buy direct from your local farmer – e.g. through farm shops and farmers’ markets
• contribute to your local community by joining a CSA project or an organic buying group
• donate to support the Soil Association’s work

About the Soil Association
The Soil Association was founded in 1946 by farmers, scientists, doctors and nutritionists to promote the connection between the health of the soil, food, people and the environment. Today the Soil Association is the UK's leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use. To find out more please visit our website www.soilassociation.org