The fair trade market in the UK is worth £500 million a year making it the largest fair trade market in the world.
More than 3,000 retail and catering product lines now carry the Fairtrade Mark.
Fairtrade status
- Number of Fairtrade churches: 4,344
- Number of Fairtrade synagogues: more than 30
- Number of Fairtrade mosques: 2
- Number of Fairtrade towns, cities and villages: 342
- Number of Fairtrade Universities and colleges: 76
Fairtrade Mark
The Fairtrade Mark is awarded by The Fairtrade Foundation to products which meet international fair trade standards set by FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International).
Traidcraft was among the organisations which helped set up the Fairtrade Foundation.
70% of the UK population recognise the Fairtrade Mark.
Fair trade or Fairtrade?
The Fairtrade Mark is awarded to products which meet internationally agreed standards. However, there are many products for which a standard has yet to be agreed. (Typically, craft, paper and many textile products).
Reputable organizations such as Traidcraft, Tearcraft and the British Association of Fair Trade Shops have for many years sourced these products to standards at least equal to those applying to products covered by the Fairtrade Mark.
To distinguish between these categories of products, we use Fairtrade (one word, capital ‘F’) in relation to those which carry the Fairtrade Mark, and fair trade (two words, no capitals) for the extensive range of products for which the Mark is not yet available.
