For a number of years now, BNP Paribas Fortis Belgium has invested in the promotion of Fair Trade. Since 2005, central purchasing has provided Max Havelaar coffee to employees in the vending machines for hot drinks. In 2006, for the launch of its ethical investment fund, employees were invited to a tasting of Max Havelaar coffee pods. And, since 2008, a special “Fair Trade” menu has been served annually in the company restaurants.

In 2009, BNP Paribas Fortis decided to create other initiatives in this area in addition to the special Fair Trade menu: for one week, Fair Trade honey candies and Fair Trade leaflets were distributed in BNP Paribas Fortis branches and offices. Employees received a 10% discount on articles sold through Ethicstore. A quiz competition was organised, a second Fair Trade company restaurant menu was created in October, and Max Havelaar coffee is now available in all vending machines, along with Fair Trade snacks …

To continue to develop our efforts in this area, BNP Paribas Fortis participated in Max Havelaar’s Fairtrade@work event in May 2009, and won an award in recognition of the bank’s involvement in and commitment to Fair Trade. We are very pleased to have received this award. We hope to make as many employees as possible aware of Fair Trade issues and to convince them of the importance to Fair Trade of purchasing Fair Trade products at a fair price.

This year, BNP Paribas Fortis will once again support and participate in Fairtrade@work actions, because, as the Max Havelaar association puts it: “The more employers opt for fair trade products at work, the more employees will follow this example at home, and the more farmers will be able to work for a more humane existence and a better future.”

Other actions will also be carried out throughout the course of 2010, including contests, discounts, providing Fair Trade fruit juices and coffees for meetings, continuing to offer special Fair Trade menu, etc. We are relying on our employees to stand by us once again in supporting these different efforts, and to use ethical products both at work or at home!

In France, this initiative is known as the “Pause Equitable”