Why Fairtrade Matters for People & the Planet?
What Is Fairtrade?
If you buy a product with the Fairtrade logo on it, this means that it has been certified as Fairtrade. This logo guarantees that the people who made the product, usually in the developing world, have safe working conditions, fair terms of trade, their local sustainability is promoted and protected and they receive fair prices for their products.
Sustainable prices never fall lower than the market price, and mean that everyone is on a level playing field, from the small producers to the traders. It also ensures that the smallest and poorest producers are not discriminated against by giving them a voice and a better position in the market.
What Difference Does Buying Fairtrade Make?
Economic:
Buying fairly-traded products supports farmers, and farm workers to earn a more secure income and be less vulnerable to poverty. This is especially important in times of flood or drought (climate change)
Fairtrade empowers communities to develop into cooperatives and improve their position in the supply chain, where traditionally they might not have had any influence
Fairtrade improves agriculture by opening up access to training in organic agriculture and business markets
Fair prices lead to investment in crops and higher yields
Social:
Fairtrade = fair wages
Fairtrade supports human rights and women’s rights where traditionally they would have less, developing gender equality
Fairtrade investment helps to improve the quality of lives in rural communities
Money generated from fairer prices can be used in developing better education, housing, schooling and medical facilities
Environmental:
Fairtrade standards promote environmental protection through energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction, soil and water quality, pest management, biodiversity protection, organic production and the prohibition of harmful chemicals and waste management that would be damaging to both the environment and the people.
Organic food production helps protect food security for the future, maintaining fertile and productive soils.
What Products Are Fairtrade?
Many products can be Fairtrade, the most common being things like coffee chocolate and bananas. Others include:
Gold (fair mining conditions)
Cotton
Flowers
Clothes
Cold drinks and juice e.g. Gusto Organic Real Cola (in store)
Sweets and snacks e.g. Chocolate and Love, Equal Exchange
Sugar, spreads and oil e.g. Equal Exchange honey, Vego chocolate spread
Wine
Beauty products e.g. Fair Squared
Just look for the Fairtrade logo in supermarkets, independent stores and online!
Source
Fairtrade 2020 – Fairtrade UK
