Tip Me: Say Thanks to the People Who Made Your Stuff

Tip Me is an initiative to help consumers ensure that the producers of their stuff receive a decent wage. Offering more transparency than conventional Fair Trade label however - by dropping a few coins into an electronic tip jar.

Author Julian Furtkamp:

Translation Julian Furtkamp, 08.15.17

The Tip Me initiative wants to create a direct connection between consumers and producers and allow the former to ensure the producers receive a fair wage by topping up their pay with a tip. When it comes to fair trade products, a large proportion of the costs that the customer pays actually go to intermediaries or end suppliers, with unfortunately only a tiny share landing in the pocket of the original producer.

With the Tip Me system, the tip that’s given goes directly to the people who made the product.

The whole process happens digitally: when the product is in your basket you can decide how much money you would like to pay – on top of the price – as a tip. Kind of like when you’re asked if you want to offset your C02 emissions when you fly. It’s easy as can be. But with the system currently only available for online purchases, it means that you won’t be able to use the system on your next trip to the supermarket.

Can Tips Change the World?

The tips that are given go directly to democratic cooperatives and are meant to supply start capital that can be invested in the beginning of the production chain – capital which can be used to improve profits. Investments could include land and extra machinery or also improved school education for the children of the producers.

It sounds like the concept is only designed to work for products with simple supply chains – and there doesn’t seem to be any easy way to reward anyone else further down the chain, such as the people in charge of logistics or any kind of refinement processes. In the textile industry, known for its very low paid work, the product is produced in several stages – from the cotton pickers to the spinners to the weavers and dyers and finally those in charge of sewing. How would a tip system work for this kind of supply chain?

In my opinion, tips can’t replace a decent basic wage that covers all basic local costs and allows people to save for the future. Although the Tip Me system is still in development, there’s a big focus on transparency, and the idea that you – and others – will be able to see exactly what happens with the money you give (100% of which will land by the producers).

And offering us the possibility to express our thanks and gratitude to the people who worked hard to make your stuff – that’s not a bad thing at all. 

This article is a translation by Marisa Pettit of the original article which first appeared on RESET’s German-language site.

TAGGED WITH
How to Find International Volunteering Opportunities (That Are Low Cost, Sustainable & Ethical Too)

From trail building in the Appalachian Mountains to rescuing sea turtles in Costa Rica, when looking for volunteer opportunities abroad, the options are seemingly endless. But before you get caught up in the excitement of planning your big adventure, take some time to ensure your good intentions turn into positive results.

Want to Invest Ethically? There’s an App for That

The app Shape helps potential investors find investment opportunities that align with their own personal ethics and values.

The RESET App Check: aVOID-ing Child Labour with a Web Plugin

What can consumers do to combat child labour in the fashion industry? The plugin aVOID filters users online shopping trips to help shoppers avoid buying clothing and goods that have been produced under exploitative conditions. We put it to the test. 

Well Bread: How a Loaf Is Building a Healthier, Fairer Food System

A grassroots community is using one key ingredient to help improve the diets of local residents, stimulate local economies and create fair trade deals between farmer and retailer: bread! Take a look at how the Bread Matters team is going against the grain to revolutionise the food system.

Follow Your Food From Harvest To Plate at This Soon-to-open San Francisco Restaurant

Concerns about what we put in our mouths are multiplying. Is the food healthy? Does it contain unnecessary enhancers? Were pesticides, hormones, or antibiotics involved in its production? Was it sustainably sourced and produced in a socially responsible manner? Such questions are complex and can either put us off eating altogether, or they can make us bury our heads in the sand.

What is “Fair Trade”?

Fair Trade is an organised social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries obtain better trading conditions and promote sustainability.