KFC fast food packaging - No good for rainforest

by Ian Duff, Forest Campaigner,
Greenpeace International

KFC fast food packaging is made from pulped rainforest. Please help us change this before time runs out for Sumatran tigers – there are only 400 left in the wild.
KFC - No Good For Rainforests!


KFC’s bosses continue to deny links to rainforest destruction, even though we have proven they are using packaging made by Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), one of the world’s most notorious forest destroyers. We‘re asking KFC to stop buying from APP, and introduce new policies to rule out deforestation from their supply chain for good.

When you sign up, we’ll create a unique “KFC packaging revolt” page for you. Share this with your friends to grow the revolt. A message is sent to KFC every time a new person joins, adding to the pressure on the company. I can’t get KFC to listen, unless they know you’re with me. Once they see enough customers join our packaging revolt, they’ll have to change.

Let’s not stand by and watch rainforest end up in a fast food trash can. Join the revolt today and help KFC stop trashing the rainforest.

Read More

What is Fairtrade?

by Natashia Fox, Green Life Store
 
The Fair Trade Certified standards work to ensure farmers and farm workers in developing nations receive fair compensation and healthy conditions for their product. Products must be grown by small-scale producers democratically organized in either cooperatives or unions. Certified organizations are also encouraged to help the community with social development efforts such as education and healthcare. You'll find this label on widely consumed, and historically exploited, items such as coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, bananas, flowers, sugar, and rice.

TransFair USA, the official U.S. certifier and member of the Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International, explains, "Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace."

Some consumers are skeptical of Fair Trade practices voicing concern over high prices, potential food miles, overproduction of certain crops, and the farmer's dependence on hand-outs. Yet Ian Bretman of Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) argues that, contrary to the free trade argument, fair trade agreements don't trap farmers by subsidizing unprofitable production; they help farmers invest in improving quality and diversifying into other crops.

Fair Trade in Africa : THE FAIRTRADE LABEL

The FAIRTRADE Label is now the most widely recognised and trusted ethical label in the world. When a product carries the FAIRTRADE Label, it means that both producers and traders have met Fairtrade Standards and that they are audited annually to ensure compliance.
The graphic symbol inside the Fairtrade Mark shows a person with a raised arm representing the optimism of producers. The blue sky of potential is connected to the green of growth.

Fairtrade wines

South Africa produces some of the finest wines in the world and contributes up to 4% of the international wine production. Over 100.000 hectares are planted with vines for wine production and over 900 million litres are produced every year by local wineries, this equals more than 1,2 billion wine bottles.

South Africa hosts the first ever Fairtrade wine operation in the world - Thandi Wines - which achieved Fairtrade certification in 2003. Since then wine has become one of the most important Fairtrade products in South Africa: we currently have 16 Fairtrade certified wine grape producer organisations and over 39 companies involved in Fairtrade wine-making and trading (March 2012). In 2010, over 17 million bottles of Fairtrade wine were drunk globally and two thirds of those were from South African farms. Wine contributes significantly to the growth of the South African Fairtrade movement: half of the estimated ZAR 18,4 million spent on Fairtrade products in South Africa during 2010 was generated by locally produced Fairtrade wines. South Africans will be happy to know that for every Fairtrade labelled bottle they buy, 50 cents goes back to the farm workers to use for social and economic investments. These investments are made into various projects; some of which include funding of education and training programmes for the workers and their families or the improvement of services and infrastructures (read more about how the Fairtrade Premium changed these people's lives here). Fairtrade certification also ensures that the wine is produced sustainably in accordance with Fairtrade Standards and that full traceability is in place.

Fairtrade wines available in South Africa:
RHYTHMS OF NATURE
Traded by: Deetlefs Winery

SIX HATS
Traded by: Citrusdal Wines

Fairtrade coffees

Coffee is one of the most valuable primary products in world trade (it is the second most traded commodity after oil!!) and its cultivation, processing and trading provide employment for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Coffee production and export is also crucial to the economies of several countries in the South, where the cultivation of coffee usually accounts for the majority of foreign exchange earnings.

The global market for coffee has been often characterised by extreme price volatility and over-production, which exacerbated in a real coffee crisis at the beginning of 2000s. Almost overnight, world coffee prices fell to an extreme low of US$45 cents/pound, which brought thousands of small farmers in Africa, Asia and Central/Latin America to lose their livelihoods.

Fairtrade's response to the unpredictable coffee market is to provide a security net that allows producers, usually small farmers organised in cooperatives, to receive a fair price that covers their costs of living and sustainable production - US$1,35/pound. A Fairtrade Premium of US$0,20/pound is added to the price and is used for social and economic investments that the small farmers find necessary for their business and their communities. 25% of the Premium must be spend in productivity and quality improvements.


Fairtrade coffees available in South Africa:

BEAN THERE
By: Bean There Coffee Company
Organic: yes
Available at: selected Pick n Pays, online, and in Bean There coffee shops

WOOLWORTHS COFFEE
By: Woolworths
Organic: yes
Available at: all W Cafes in South Africa

Fairtrade Chocolate

Cocoa is one of the fastest growing products in the Fairtrade market. Global Fairtrade cocoa sales doubled to an estimated 30.000 tonnes in 2010, driven by growth in international markets where more than 120 companies now sell over 500 Fairtrade chocolate confectionery products.
Around 85.000 farmers from 62 producer organisations in 16 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America benefit from supplying Fairtrade cocoa. For small-scale farmers' organisation, Fairtrade offers a stable Minimum Price that covers costs of production and allows planning for the future, access to credit, and an additional Premium to invest in business improvements such as quality control programmes and in community projects such as clinics, schools and clean water. Fairtrade environmental standards promote sound agricultural practices focusing on minimised and safe use of agrochemicals, responsible waste management, maintenance of soil fertility, protection of water resources, and no use of genetically modified organisms.

Fairtrade chocolate available in South Africa:

CADBURY DAIRY MILK [plain chocolate]
Traded by: Kraft Foods South Africa
Organic: no
Available at: everywhere!

Fairtrade Food

Fairtrade certification is open to a wide range of agricultural commodities, which goes beyond coffee, tea and wine. Producing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America supply the world with Fairtrade fruits, vegetables, honey, nuts, rice, sugar, herbs and spices - many of them are still not available in South Africa, but we are working to expand the offer of Fairtrade labelled food products.
Fairtrade food products available in South Africa:

FAIR TRADE ORIGINAL GRINDERS
Traded by: Turqle Trading
Available at: Woolworths

Packaged with Compassion

Article by Shannon Jenkins, SAFindit


‘You do not have to be a barefoot, tree-hugging vegan hippy to work in the Green industry.’ Rather, says Natashia Fox, you need to be ‘’optimistically realistic’ about what you can do for your environment. However, this doesn’t mean you lack passion for your cause!

Natashia started Green Life Store – an online eco-store – in 2008. As a green consultant, surfer, sailor, free-diver and ocean-lover, going into this field was a natural choice for her.
‘’After getting involved in project managing the re-fitment of a charter yacht in 2004, I found a new life calling – at sea. Sailing and living at sea for 4 years I realized the need to conserve and protect the Oceans. I have set out to dedicate my life to making a difference,” Natashia explains.

At the time of launching Green Life Store, she had over 2000 products listed, but in 2011, her business became a global partner to Vegware UK and the focus shifted to importing, exporting and selling a range of eco-friendly food packaging – Vegware. As the UK’s first and only completely compostable food packaging firm, Natashia was excited to get on board and is now the Vegware distributer for Africa.
“All of our eco packaging products are made from annually-renewable or recycled materials, and are all biodegradable or compostable,” Natashia says, “Some of our products are made from bagasse, which is biodegradable and compostable, that is made from sugarcane fibre left over after juice extraction.”

Though there is a perception that eco-friendly food packaging is substantially more costly to clients, Natashia says the industry has become more competitive and as the market expands and her volumes increase, so the prices would adjust accordingly.
“Becoming a sustainable society will take time but the Green wave has started in South Africa and I am confident that it will spread from the more eco-conscious communities that can afford to drive the Green wave, and later to the poorer communities as prices comes down,” she says.
“Becoming more sustainable is, in my opinion, about living more sustainable yet having the same lifestyle. We do not need to compromise on our way of living, going 50 years back, lighting candles to save electricity. We need to choose the more sustainable options available to us. Choose to support the restaurants that support Sustainable Seafood and use eco-friendly packaging.”

Still, Natashia says that the majority of local consumers are still ignorant of their sustainable choices.
“Sustainability is consumer driven. Large companies will not switch to more expensive packaging if they are not made aware that they are losing profits due to consumers choosing their Greener competitors. Consumers have the power to insist on products being eco-friendly.
Choose wisely.”

It’s a long road in terms of seeing a major impact, but Natashia is happy knowing that her business is a part of the solution: that every item packaged in her eco-friendly packaging is guilt free and no plastic will end up floating around our ocean currents for hundreds of years to come.

Upcoming in Stellenbosch in June 2012

WHEN : 8 June 2012
WHAT : Barista Coffee Festival
WHERE : Woodmill Lifestyle Market- Stellenbosch
WHY : A five hour session where you can expect coffee samples, food and live music! Learn about the various different ways to make and brew coffee at home, visit your favourite Barista browse your way through the contemporary Woodmill Market.The baristas have been trained to prepare the coffee based on the guidelines of the roaster, so broaden your horizons coffee at its best!
HOW MUCH : Tickets cost R30 (includes a unique mug and tastings) ENTRY to the Market is FREE.
CONTACT : Call 083 755 2877

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHEN : 22 June 2012
WHAT : Bob en Sop
WHERE : Woodmill Lifestyle Market - Stellenbosch
WHY :
An intimate, unique show that pays tribute to all the great Bobs of the music world - Dylan, Seger, Johnson, Marley…
The backbone of the show is an all-star band consisting of Dale Collins, Basson Laubscher, Jacques Steyn and Simon Orange. Stemming from the ranks of some of SA's top acts such as the Boulevard Blues Band, Zinkplaat, the Blues Broers and the former DNA Strings, this band of eclectic musicians as versatile as they are adept, own a variety of different instruments and genres with brilliant ease.
Joining them on stage are guest artists Willim Welsyn, Dane Taylor and Voortvlugtend, each of them bringing their own mastery and soul to the party with unique and breathtaking covers of their favourite Bobs.
HOW MUCH : Tickets cost R60 (includes soup) but ENTRY to the Market is FREE.

CONTACT : Call 083 755 2877

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eco-conscious Eating @ Katerina's Kitchen, Cape Town

Fact: Most food shops are operating for profit purely and people are being punished for wanting to eat out often. Most ready food is highly fatty (as much as 30-40% of it) and made from stuff that is overly processed. To add insult to injury, the cookie cutter type food offer is not being prepared by people that are passionate and educated on food. Because profit is driving the bulk of the food offers in SA, ingredients are being selected based on price and not quality.

Katerina’s Kitchen is about real food and is as focused on people as it is on profit. Both our staff and customers are important to us and I go to great lengths to look after both of them. I grew up in a Greek home and food is an important part of our culture. It represents much more than something to fill your tummy. 

Food is about using what the earth gives us to nourish and take care of ourselves. It supports our health and happiness. Critical to this is also family and family meals. We tend to eat in huge groups and take time to enjoy a meal with each other. We would never dream of picking food to eat because it is easy or cheap. Most of our staple diet is profoundly simple with many favourite dishes only having a handful of ingredients. 

"My parents are from a Greek island called Crete and both grew up in very humble surroundings. My mom’s side of the family were subsistence farmers and even now when I go visit, their tables are full of yummy fresh simple food they have grown/ reared themselves. They would never in a million years consider eating most of the ready foods in the SA market. "

"I was very young when I developed an interest in food. I was 9 or 10 the first time I started sprinkling herbs and seasoning on toasted cheese and asking my brothers and sister what they thought of the taste."

"In 2009 I started going to night school after realizing that a career in corporate leadership was not for me. When I got the opportunity, I left corporate and spent 4 months in Crete traveling around and seeing how the locals eat and cook. "

" Cretans are said to be some of the longest living people in the world and this is largely attributed to their diet. I decided not to open a Greek restaurant just yet because I think SA needs to be eased into new cuisine.  As the brand grows and people trust me more, I will introduce loads of Cretan dishes that are wholesome and amazingly delicious.
I invite you to discover that healthy foods can be absolutely yummy... Only at Katerina's Kitchen. " 
--Cathy owner of Katerina's Kitchen - Tableview.

Tel: 021 554 1149

Cell: 079 791 8743

Email: info@katerinaskitchen.co.za

www.katerinaskitchen.co.za

Shop 8, 8 Sandown Road, Blouberg Sands, 7441

Congratulations! Vegware UK, winning Green Company of the Year!

It's official! Vegware UK is Green Company of the Year. That was the big news at the inaugural Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Awards. Vegware Uk were nominated for the High Growth Award too, but the judges felt we were the best of the five nominees up for the green award.

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce's Deputy CEO, Graham Birse, was impressed by Vegware UK as a home-grown eco success story. "We are hugely proud of Vegware – they are a low-carbon high-growth Edinburgh company, living proof that ethics and commercial success do mix. We are delighted to officially recognise Vegware's contribution both to the local economy and to improving sustainability worldwide."

During the dinner, Edinburgh's business elite raised money for Radio Forth's charity, Cash for Kids, which improves the lives of local children. Our lucky streak continued, and Business Development Manager Chris Murphy won the raffle prize to be a zookeeper for a day at Blair Drummond Safari Park.