Ganesha is an alternative trading outfit that markets the traditional industries of India, working directly with the producers.

Our aim is to add as much value to handmade products, through quality in design and making, as we possibly can. In this way, we maximise the earning potential of the (often rural) producers, at source. And this puts more money into local economies.

It's about extending the market for marginal producers (marginal, because sometimes they just are, not by any particular design, e.g. producers in a geographically isolated place) and marginalised producers (e.g. women, low-caste, religious minority, disabled, producers). Sometimes the groups are co-operatives of craftspeople. Sometimes they are organised as social enterprises, diverting profits into community resources. Sometimes they are charities. Sometimes they are marketing associations helping artisans sell their products. You can check out the producers by clicking on the names in the lefthand menu, and explore them for yourself.

Trading in this way, from our direct experience in the field, we see how empowering it can be -particularly for women, and how alternative trading gives people more control and the chance to fulfil their potential and direct their own futures.

We buy and market goods on the following basis:

• Most goods are bought from co-operatives and producer associations whose aims are to benefit society as a whole. We also buy goods from indigenous groups and small-scale producers concentrating on traditional materials and industries. Most of our producers are members of IFAT (International Federation for Alternative Trade)
• Producers will be paid equally regardless of gender, race and caste.
• Producers will be paid (at the very minimum), the rate set by their co-operative or marketing association or a fair rate determined by the cost of materials and the time involved in the production of the goods.

• We aim that the producers should receive an income that improves their standard of living and community. We work to increase wages in India.
• We will offer a 50% advance or the cost of materials to producers and settle payments promptly.
• We believe in, and actively support the empowerment of local communities, with particular reference to the role of women.
• We believe that any community development should be the initiative of the people themselves and that we should not impose our own ideas and values.
• We support community initiatives through our fair trade partnerships, which can involve paying a premium for a product, such as microfinance schemes (though this is dependent on what the market will bear).
• Where producers are employed they should be free to join trade unions or member associations. We would also expect a fair contract and a good standard of working conditions.
• We will respect traditional seasonal working patterns and not expect goods to be produced during periods when the producer might be occupied with agricultural activities such as harvest time.
• We are committed to sustainable development. We will pay a premium for local materials and encourage the complete processing of materials in the community itself.
• We actively encourage value added in the communities of origin, and undertake product development with this in mind. In this way, more money goes to local economies.
• We undertake product development with our producers and continuity in the trading relationship is a cornerstone of our fair trade policy.
• We will support enterprises involving organic agriculture and intermediate technology.
• We respect traditional designs, however we are aware that many producers are dependent on outside design input in order to produce marketable products. We want to raise the awareness of producers on market trends and provide sufficient support so that they can be self dependent and confident in their own designs and marketing.

Ganesha environmental policy

We wish to work sustainably and aim to examine, and limit, the ecological impact of Ganesha at home and overseas. We are particularly concerned with the following issues:

The environmental and social costs in the production of cotton. The farming of cotton is extremely intensive, in terms of energy (fertiliser demand) and water, and in common with other intensive production systems is damaging to the environment. Scarce resources, such as water are often diverted from domestic use to cotton production, which can create shortages for rural communities, while pesticides and fertilisers are often prone to over-use, which may actually exacerbate crop pests, and lead to pollution of water channels, loss of biodiversity, etc.. Intensive methods of production are also usually achieved at the expense of soil conservation, and are therefore inherently unsustainable.

Little organic cotton is produced in India, though this is gradually beginning to change. We would prefer all our products to be produced from organic cotton, however for most small-scale craft producers, it is difficult to obtain. There is also a logistical and financial constraint in obtaining organic certification for the producers, which instantly discriminates against small-scale production. We therefore buy cotton from intensive production methods, but the trade-off is that the cotton 'economy' is critical to small-scale producers in India.

That said, where we can use organic cotton, we do, and have introduced ranges of organic cotton bedlinen, towels, and also T shirts into our product mix. We aim to stock more organic cotton products in future.

The dangers of dyes to producers and consumers and their disposal All dyes both natural and synthetic can be hazardous to the producer and environment. We are concerned that producers should use the safest dyes and dispose of dye waste in a responsible way with due respect to the environment and local community. Consequently, we are in dialogue with our producers regarding best management for dye waste. It should be acknowledged that even small, home-based industries have an environmental impact, though this is very localised for small-scale industries, and negligible compared with large-scale industrial production.

We prefer the use of natural dyes as this gives the producer more control over the dye materials and process, and are possibly safer. Also, the collection of dye material provides additional employment and adds value to local forest products.

Azo dyes in clothing products have been banned by several EU countries as these dyes are carcinogenic. All our suppliers in India seem to have been prepared for this ban. We have however had conflicting views on how this may affect small-scale producers; one organisation expressed the concern that 'safe' dyes are not manufactured to the needs of the small-scale producer.

environmental policy: at home

Energy -Ganesha aims to minimise energy use.

Energy supply We use a 'green' energy supplier, (Good Energy) which supports the market for energy from renewable sources, rather than from finite fossil-fuels.

Energy efficiency Ganesha believes that energy efficiency is critical. We use energy-efficient bulbs in all our lighting - saving energy also saves money!

Transport Directors routinely use public transport. Where the use of a vehicle is unavoidable, it is borrowed, or rented. In this way, we avoid the high energy costs involved in the production of automobiles, as well as the inefficient use of fuel a private vehicle represents.

Waste -We aim to reduce our waste in the following ways:

Recycling Ganesha directors recycle the following: glass, paper, aluminium, cardboard, clothing.

Ganesha directors compost domestic organic waste, for use in the garden. Rainwater is also collected and used in the garden and pond.

Reusing materials Ganesha directors support reusing good clothing and home accessories- buying and donating.

Wastebusters Ganesha is a member of the green business club 'Waste alert'. Services include the opportunity to be 'eco-audited', with a view to minimising waste and energy.

Perhaps the most innovative aspect is the waste-share the club co-ordinates. Members advertise their 'waste', anything from cardboard packaging to furniture and electrical equipment, and advertise any 'wants'. Members share waste. Ganesha hopes to acquire office equipment this way - re-using resources that might otherwise end up in landfill. (A similar arrangement seems to work very well in nature - one organism's waste product is another's resource!)