Interrupcion

Interrupcion, founded in 2000, is a global organization comprised of non-profit and for-profit organizations and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Interrupcion works to integrate social change into everyday life by actively facilitating and promoting community involvement, responsible consumption (eg. the purchase of fair trade products), and microcredit enterprises. As of June 2006, Interrupcion has offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina, New York City, United States, and Barcelona, Spain.

History

A group of university students from different universities of Buenos Aires, Patagonia and Cuyo, got together to create an organisation that would creat the bases for a new society without poverty and with joy for work, respect for the environment, possitive social impact in every process behind a progress and an institution where every private action will contribute for public good. Fair Trade, Organic Farming, Renewable energies and Sustainability are the 4 action programs of interrupcion. Today, it is a membership based organisation with more than 100 producer members in South America.

Programs

see http://www.interrupcion.net

see also http://www.interrupcionfairtrade.com

interrupcion* fair trade*:

When producers have financial stability, they can devote special attention to the product and sustainable operations to produce a tastier, healthier product.

interrupcion* creates socially responsible, fair trade supply chains spanning from the seeds to the consumers- linking producers to global markets and implementing the Interrupcion Fair Trade* (INFT) sourcing process to generate investment in quality product, quality of life and a sustainable future.

The Interrupcion Fair Trade* pricing model aims to empower and invest in producers to create healthy, sustainable environments for workers while providing a wage premium that enriches lives and quality of production.

INFT* Price: Market Price + Wage Premium + Sustainability Premium

1) Market Price: Current market price

2) Wage Premium: Allows workers to create a financially sustainable life for their families providing better nutrition, doctor’s visits, school tuition and more.

3) Sustainability Premium: Goes toward investment in sustainability and working conditions at the site of production. This includes projects such as recycling programs, water / waste management, employee benefit plans, safer working conditions and more.

Premiums are distributed to producing partners to ensure a long-term supply of quality, sustainable production. A more efficient direct trade model is employed, which generates strong relationships with producers and efficient value chains.

Based on international Fair Trade standards, INFT* criteria focuses on four principal areas of improvement: Economic Development, Social Investment, Labor Conditions and Environmental Sustainability. In each area there are minimum standards which must be met before selling to Interrupcion Fair Trade* and progress requirements which provide a path for continual sustainable development.

INFT* standards are verified at the producer level by Interrupcion Social Responsibility*, a non-profit sister company of Interrupcion Fair Trade*.

ee also

*Ethical consumerism
*Fair trade
*Microcredit
*Sustainability
*Sustainable living
*Sustainable agriculture